Perry's Little Arrangements
Children's Story
Perry skipped and sang as he danced his way to the Elf King's palace. As the Elf King's chancellor, Perry had the most important position in the kingdom, after the king himself. Perry had to ensure the smooth running of the whole kingdom, and collect the rent from the emerald, ruby, diamond and sapphire mines once a month.
The king was a good master, just but generous. All the elves in the kingdom loved him, for they knew he would do anything for them. If any elf was too sick to go down the mine, the king himself would make sure the elf's family had lots of good food to eat, and good wine to drink.
Perry liked his job, but he was a trifle lazy. Sometimes he would party all night long, dancing in the fairy ring or playing games with the pixies, and then he was often too tired to get up in the morning and do his job. So he worked out a good scam. When he was delivering the king's good food and wine to sick elves, he'd keep back a few choice items of food here and a bottle of two of wine there for himself. Then, when he was too tired to work, he'd eat and drink and sleep until he felt more like working.
He was aware some of the elves had discovered his little scheme and mostly disapproved of it, but he didn't much care. As long as he collected the rent from the mines, no-one important would know about his other activities. So he skipped and sang as he responded to the king's summons.
But when he reached the king's palace, Perry's mood changed, for the king's face was dark with anger. "What's all this I've been hearing about you?" thundered the king.
Perry stood silent and stared at the ground. How much had the king found out? Perry didn't dare answer in case he gave too much away.
"You're fired!" shouted the king. "Go and collect the rent books and bring them straight to me."
Perry gulped, and ran out of the room. Whatever was he going to do? He'd never been strong enough to work in the mines, and there was no other work available for elves like him. And if he didn't work, he wouldn't eat. At least the king hadn't thrown him into jail. That was something. He was still free. And he knew the king was generous and kind. If only he could think up a scheme to throw himself on the king's mercy.
Perry ran back to his office in the trunk of the old oak tree as fast as he could. He called his pixie helper and ordered him to race to all the mines and urgently summon the overseers to the office in the oak tree. He knew they'd come, for they'd never had such a summons before.
When the overseer of the ruby mine arrived, Perry handed him the rent book. "I've persuaded the king to give you a special bonus for all your hard work this year," he told the ruby overseer. "Your rent is halved. Quick, alter the figures in the book here, before the king changes his mind."
The ruby overseer was delighted and proud, thrilled that all his hard work had been recognised by the king. He made the alterations, and sped back to the mine to share the good news with all his workers. There'd be such a party tonight.
Perry did the same with all the overseers from the different mines. He told each of them their rents were halved because of their excellent work, and he told them he himself was responsible for the king's generosity. There was such excitement and delight all over the kingdom, for this was the first time the king had ever made such a generous gesture. And the whole kingdom was grateful not only to the king, but to Perry for arranging such a good deal.
The last overseer had just disappeared when the king came striding into Perry's office, demanding to know why he was such a long time bringing the rent books. Perry's hand shook as he handed over the books. What would happen now? Would the king have him arrested?
There was a long silence as the elf king perused the rent books. At last he said softly, "So that's what all the excitement's about! I suppose they're already celebrating my generosity?"
As Perry timidly nodded, the elf king continued, "You're such a rascal, Perry! If I throw you out now, the whole kingdom will be up in arms against me. And I can hardly tell them there's no bonus after all, when they're already celebrating! I ought to put you under lock and key for this, or expel you from the kingdom for ever, but - well, the fact is, I love you! All right, Perry, you're forgiven. You can continue as chancellor. Go and join the parties!"
And the king walked off, chuckling to himself. Perry could hardly believe his good luck. He ought to be in jail, but here he was, free and forgiven. And he was still chancellor. As he went off to join the party in the diamond mine, he resolved he'd finished with his little schemes once and for all. And he'd try to never let the king down again.
The king was a good master, just but generous. All the elves in the kingdom loved him, for they knew he would do anything for them. If any elf was too sick to go down the mine, the king himself would make sure the elf's family had lots of good food to eat, and good wine to drink.
Perry liked his job, but he was a trifle lazy. Sometimes he would party all night long, dancing in the fairy ring or playing games with the pixies, and then he was often too tired to get up in the morning and do his job. So he worked out a good scam. When he was delivering the king's good food and wine to sick elves, he'd keep back a few choice items of food here and a bottle of two of wine there for himself. Then, when he was too tired to work, he'd eat and drink and sleep until he felt more like working.
He was aware some of the elves had discovered his little scheme and mostly disapproved of it, but he didn't much care. As long as he collected the rent from the mines, no-one important would know about his other activities. So he skipped and sang as he responded to the king's summons.
But when he reached the king's palace, Perry's mood changed, for the king's face was dark with anger. "What's all this I've been hearing about you?" thundered the king.
Perry stood silent and stared at the ground. How much had the king found out? Perry didn't dare answer in case he gave too much away.
"You're fired!" shouted the king. "Go and collect the rent books and bring them straight to me."
Perry gulped, and ran out of the room. Whatever was he going to do? He'd never been strong enough to work in the mines, and there was no other work available for elves like him. And if he didn't work, he wouldn't eat. At least the king hadn't thrown him into jail. That was something. He was still free. And he knew the king was generous and kind. If only he could think up a scheme to throw himself on the king's mercy.
Perry ran back to his office in the trunk of the old oak tree as fast as he could. He called his pixie helper and ordered him to race to all the mines and urgently summon the overseers to the office in the oak tree. He knew they'd come, for they'd never had such a summons before.
When the overseer of the ruby mine arrived, Perry handed him the rent book. "I've persuaded the king to give you a special bonus for all your hard work this year," he told the ruby overseer. "Your rent is halved. Quick, alter the figures in the book here, before the king changes his mind."
The ruby overseer was delighted and proud, thrilled that all his hard work had been recognised by the king. He made the alterations, and sped back to the mine to share the good news with all his workers. There'd be such a party tonight.
Perry did the same with all the overseers from the different mines. He told each of them their rents were halved because of their excellent work, and he told them he himself was responsible for the king's generosity. There was such excitement and delight all over the kingdom, for this was the first time the king had ever made such a generous gesture. And the whole kingdom was grateful not only to the king, but to Perry for arranging such a good deal.
The last overseer had just disappeared when the king came striding into Perry's office, demanding to know why he was such a long time bringing the rent books. Perry's hand shook as he handed over the books. What would happen now? Would the king have him arrested?
There was a long silence as the elf king perused the rent books. At last he said softly, "So that's what all the excitement's about! I suppose they're already celebrating my generosity?"
As Perry timidly nodded, the elf king continued, "You're such a rascal, Perry! If I throw you out now, the whole kingdom will be up in arms against me. And I can hardly tell them there's no bonus after all, when they're already celebrating! I ought to put you under lock and key for this, or expel you from the kingdom for ever, but - well, the fact is, I love you! All right, Perry, you're forgiven. You can continue as chancellor. Go and join the parties!"
And the king walked off, chuckling to himself. Perry could hardly believe his good luck. He ought to be in jail, but here he was, free and forgiven. And he was still chancellor. As he went off to join the party in the diamond mine, he resolved he'd finished with his little schemes once and for all. And he'd try to never let the king down again.
