Everything was festive. Little girls danced around, clapping their hands in glee. Little boys ran shouting and laughing through the streets. The parents were too busy and too happy to stop them. Shopkeepers cleaned their windows and arranged their goods in the most pleasing manner. The street sweeper swept the street with special care. The baker put extra garnishes by his baked goods. Everything had to be perfect.

You see, King Theo was coming to town. Recently, this country coronated him as king. Things improved greatly after he took over. The farmer could tell you of certain improvements which helped him produce more. The baker would inform you that the price of flour had dropped, and the street sweeper would be sure to inform you that his living conditions were more pleasant. In general, everything was going well for the town and thus everyone was excited for the king’s arrival. The villagers had invited King Theo as a way to say thank you.

The big day came and went. The town lived in the excitement of that visit for weeks. But life settled back to normal and things returned to their former mundane existence. All day, every day, people worked. In the evenings, they gathered to talk.

“Don’t you think we should create a fountain in the center of town,” Mr. Emi asked several of the townsmen one evening.

“That is a brilliant suggestion,” Mr. Swift agreed. “I’m surprised none of us thought about it before.”

And thus began construction on a new fountain. Mr. Emi oversaw the whole project. It was a beautiful fountain. A large party was thrown in honor of it. The king was invited to attend and turn the switch to start the water. He came and did this with grace. Mr. Emi stood to the side and watched. He was barely recognized during this ceremony. That did not sit well with him.

The king went back to his palace and the town went on with life. The newness of the fountain wore away and people got tired of talking about it and admiring it. One evening, over a glass of lemonade, several of the townspeople discussed how nothing interesting ever happened there. Mr. Emi leaned against a counter drumming his fingers and listening to them.

“What we need,” he said, entering the conversation, “Is some weekly entertainment. Life is getting too dull around here.”

“That’s a great idea,” Mrs. Sophia Cosmon agreed, “We could invite the king for them!”

This got everyone excited. Mr. Emi suggested having a concert as the first type of entertainment the next week. Everyone thought this was a great idea, until Mr. Cloud asked how they were suppose to plan a concert in a week. People’s faces dropped. “There goes the concert,” most of them were thinking.

“I’ll organize it,” Mr. Emi said casually, “I know just how to do that sort of thing.”

The excitement level shot back up. For the next week, all anyone could think about was the concert. Of course, the king was invited. Mrs. Sophia Cosmon saw to it herself. Mr. Emi did know what he was doing when it came to a concert. The concert took place without a hitch. It was over and everyone started discussing the art exhibition which Mr. Emi was organizing for the following week.

And so passed the long summer evenings. Mr. Emi came up with some new entertainment each week. At first the King was always there, but then Mrs. Sophia Cosmon got busy and forgot to invite him. A few people thought about inviting him, but this was becoming so commonplace why should they trouble him? Besides, a few of the older one said, he might not appreciate the show that was happening that week. It was a little “out there.”  [ Does “out there” need quotes?]

And so the invitations stopped being sent and people stopped questioning why. Mr. Emi oversaw all the entertainment. He also suggested they make some improvements to the city roads. This suggestion was quickly approved and so he headed up a project to improve the city roads and plant trees along the common gardens in the center of town.

Just before harvest, Mr. Emi informed the town that they really needed a dance hall for their winter entertainments. Mr. Gray agreed, but wondered how they could possibly build one during harvest time. “Oh, we can split the work,” Mr. Emi said carelessly, “Some people can help me and the rest can harvest food for all the town to eat this winter.”

This suggestion was taken up and so harvest and the dance hall took place. Some of the fields were not harvested, but even Mr. Gray had to agree that the amount of food they did harvest would be plenty for everyone.

“You know,” Mr. Swift commented to some people one evening, “Mr. Emi has done a lot for our town this past year. He seems to know just how things should go and no one recognizes him. I think we should appoint him mayor at the festival.”

“That’s a brilliant idea,” Mrs. Sophia Cosmon agreed and they began planning a ceremony to make Mr. Emi mayor.

And so at the harvest festival, old Mr. Gray announced that in recognition and appreciation to Mr. Emi’s contributions to their town they were appointing him mayor of the town to help guide them. Mr. Emmett objected to this because they had a king and did not need another ruler. Mr. Gray assured him that they still would have their king, a mayor was smaller than a king. Mr. Emmett turned and walked away. He shoved his hands deep into his pocket and shook his head. “This town will have trouble,” he commented to his wife, “Mark my word. You can’t have two rulers for long in one place.”

As Spring came on, Mr. Emi started suggesting improvements to the town. Everyone fully believed in his ability and went along with what he suggested. When he told them to dam up the river just above town to create a swimming pool no one questioned him. They worked hard for a week and created a beautiful pond in which to swim and sail. This was in the midst of planting season.

Mr. Emi arranged that some people planted crops while some worked on his projects. Everyone was excited about this. The unveiling of the swimming area took place with their planting festival at the end of the planting season.

“Whatever can we do to say thank you for everything you’ve done for us,” Mr. Swift asked, shaking Mr. Emi’s hand after this. “You’ve done so much for us. I’m not sure how you know everything you do. You could be a king.”

“You could call me King Emi,” Mr. Emi said with a light laugh. “After all, I do think I could be a king, at least of a small area. I would never want to be king over a large section. You could never get to know all your subjects and their needs and thus could not govern well.”

Mr. Swift agreed to this and told Mrs. Sophia Cosmon when he saw her later that Mr. Emi was really quite smart and cared about them. “Don’t ever breath a word of this to anyone,” Mr. Swift said in a hush whisper, “But I think he would make a better king for us than King Theo. He cares about us so much. He told me so himself. He jokingly said I could call him King Emi and I think I shall. Just as a joke you know.”

Mrs. Sophia Cosmon did know. She was inclined to agree with Mr. Swift and told her closest friends this the next afternoon, being sure to emphasize how much Mr. Emi cared about them and everything that he had done for them.

In no time at all, almost everyone in the town was calling Mr. Emi, King Emi. He rose to the occasion and started giving more orders and doing more for the townspeople. All summer he organized large picnics every week and entertainments. At first, they were just picnics but they soon started to be for his honor and would bend to what he wanted. Of course, he always had some words to say to them which would be loudly applauded. Only a few held aloof from these. Everyone else was having too much fun. They told Mr. Emmett he was crazy to read a book and not attend the play King Emi brought in for them. The day the Ant[ Is this the correct name?] family went to work and did not come to a picnic brought lots of laughter and jeers at them. They had plenty of time before winter to work in the fields.

The summer passed quickly with all the entertainment and improvements that King Emi brought into the town. Before anyone knew it, harvest was upon them. The harvest was less than plentiful. Several fields were found to be withered away. The vegetables in the common gardens were all small, puny things. Other fields were overgrown with weeds. What food was available was harvested and stored. King Emi assured them it would be enough and arranged a large dance for the last night of harvest.

A week after the dance winter set upon them. The snow blew around them. No one minded. The dance hall was warm, and King Emi kept a steady stream of entertainment going on. Late one night, the first week of January, Mr. Swift knocked on the Cosmon’s door.

“Is everything alright?” Mrs. Sophia Cosmon asked opening it.

“No,” Mr. Swift said, shivering in cold, “Our roof collapsed. Could we spend the night with you?”

“Of course,” Mrs. Sophia Cosmon agreed. And so the Swifts moved in with the Cosmons. [ Should Smiths be the Cosmons?]

A week later the front door blew in during a storm. The Cosmons[ Is this the Smiths or the Cosmons?] and the Swifts moved into the Gray’s house.

Mr. Gray had a worried look during those days. The food supplies were rapidly dwindling. Already, he was rationing food to the villagers. The children no longer played during recess, they were too hungry. The streets were empty after school, and only two sleds were ever seen going down the hill. These belonged to the Emmett and Ant children. Their families still had food. Often Timmy and Sue Emmett, and Ann, Joshua, and Samuel Ant split their lunches amongst the other school kids who had no food.

King Emi kept making speeches and giving entertainments to keep people’s minds off the hardships. He promised a better year next year, but by March the food supply was nearly gone. King Emi scheduled a major performance for the evening that the last food would be distributed. He hoped it would get people’s minds off that, while he scrambled to find a solution to the problem.

But the day before the performance the dance hall caught fire and burned to the ground. The next morning a forlorn crowd gathered around the ruins. They stared in silent disbelief.

“There goes the performance,” Mr. Swift remarked sadly. “There is no where else in town big enough to hold it and it is too cold to put up a tent.”

“We could use the great hall,” someone suggested.

“I doubt it,” Mr. Swift said, “Mr. Emmett would never be talked into that.”

“Come on,” Mrs. Sophia Cosmon said, “Surely he would in this case. It’s for the good of the town.”

Mr. Swift shook his head. He did not think Mr. Emmett would budge. Mr. Emmett came walking up with Mr. Ant and Eli Uios[ Where did you come up with a name with one consonant?].

“You wouldn’t be completely cold-hearted and insensible,” Mrs. Sophia Cosmon said in a winning tone to Mr. Emmett.

“I would hope not,” Mr. Emmett replied.

Mrs. Sophia Cosmon nodded. “I thought so. The dance hall has burned down and we have our performance tonight. Can’t you open the great hall for it?”

Mr. Emmett shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he said, “That is only for the king’s business and I cannot open it without his approval.”

“King Emi would give his approval,” Mrs. Sophia Cosmon assured him.

“King Theo’s approval,” Mr. Emmett said sternly.

Everyone fell into silence. Even Mrs. Sophia Cosmon realized it was useless to argue with him. The cold wind blowing the ashes was the only sound to be heard.

“We can still have a feast,” Mrs. Sophia Cosmon said suddenly, brightening up.

“No, we cannot,” Mr. Gray said shortly.

“Why not,” Mrs. Sophia Cosmon demanded, “You are not going to be unreasonable like Mr. Emmett now are you? You’ve always supported King Emi and his decisions.”

“We have no food left,” Mr. Gray replied simply.

“Oh,” Mrs. Sophia Cosmon said. Silence again fell over the crowd.

“Nothing like this happened when King Theo was in charge,” Mr. Cloud said dryly. “We’ve only had trouble since that sneaky Emi came with all his theories. He can’t even get us food to eat. I’ll bet King Theo could.”

Some people brightened up at this suggestion, but it was remarked that King Theo had not been around in quite some time and besides he did not care about them or he would have offered improvements too.

“You have not invited him,” Mr. Cloud retorted, “Of course he’s not been around. You thought your king was better. I wouldn’t expect him to help us at this point. We are all on our own. So, maybe we better come up with a plan.”

Many plans were suggested but objections were brought up to all of them. At length, Mr. Cloud commented “We seem to be doomed. The only person who could help us is King Theo and you all shoved him away. No way will he[ missing word] help us after your treatment.”

“Actually,” Mr. Emmett spoke up, “He would help us. He said if we ever need him to call, and he would come.”

“That was before all of this,” Mr. Cloud said, “He won’t now. I’m not going to waste energy asking him.”

The others started to agree with him. “You don’t need to spend any energy,” Eli Uios said. “I’ve already asked him.”

“And he said he wouldn’t come, right?” Mr. Cloud remarked.

“Wrong,” Eli replied, “He’s coming today. He said he has wanted to help, but he cannot be king where there is another king and no one would accept his help. If you do want him to help, you will have to decided which king you want. You can only have one. Either it is King Theo or King Emi.”

“I vote for King Theo,” Mr. Swift spoke up, “I was a fool when I listened to Mr. Emi to make him king.”

“Agreed,” rang out several voices.

“Think well,” Mr. Gray said, “We cannot just change our minds again about our king. We will keep having problems if we do. Are you willing to make King Theo king for life?”

“Yes,” Mr. Cloud said, “I’ve had my fill of other kings.”

“And you won’t have your fill of this king shortly,” Mr. Emmet asked.

“No,” Mr. Cloud said, “I won’t.”

The others agreed with this. The crowd rushed to the palace. They knocked down the door and drove Mr. Emi out of town, taking his crown from him. He was given the boot and told never to come back.

When King Theo arrived a few hours later, he found the townspeople lining the road waiting for him. A mighty cheer arose from the crowd. They accompanied him in with great pomp. When they reached the top of the palace stairs, Mr. Gray put the crown on his head and humbly apologized for their going astray.

King Theo graciously accepted the honor and ordered his servants to pass food out to everyone. He gave Mr. Emmett orders to open the hall; the time of fellowship and singing they had that evening made all the previous winter’s entertainments pale in comparison.

As soon as the snow melted, King Theo helped the townspeople improve their town and repair from the winter damages. He tore down the trees around the gardens, and taught them how the vegetables needed sun to grow. They knocked down the dam that made their swimming hole. King Theo educated them to the necessity of water for their crops. Finally, he helped them learn to work and came each week for a wonderful evening of fellowship and singing.

The dance hall was never reconstructed. It’s burned foundation was left to remind the town of the dangers of following anyone or thing other than their king and the emptiness that pleasure leaves.

Even Mr. Swift and Mrs. Sophia Cosmon had to declare that what King Theo gave them was better entertainment than anything King Emi had provided and that the town was so much nicer since they asked King Theo to help them.

And so, the townspeople lived happily ever after.