Soap King

Soap king

In one of the far Eastern kingdoms, a dynasty of the greatest rat kings ruled. For many years, the rat state was ruled by talented kings, each of whom became famous in his own way.

The Fat - king was famous for feeding all the rat to their fill. Not just with garbage and leftovers from the Royal table, as many did, but rice grits as well. Unfortunately, the king did not rule for long. The Kingdom did not have the opportunity to feed grits to the rats every day, so the Rat king was eaten, considering him greedy.

The Peaceful - king was famous for never cutting off the tails of rats as a punishment. He believed that punishments were relicts of the past and that everyone should move on without paying attention to old mistakes. Unfortunately, the king did not rule for long. Without punishment, the rats killed and ate each other, knowing that there would be no consequences. Soon the Rat king was eaten, considering him characterless.

The Amiable - king was famous for listening to the complaints of almost every rat in the Kingdom at a Royal reception. For some, the Rat king allocated more grain, for others, he provided security by sacrificing his Royal guard or placed them at the head of the state, next to him. Unfortunately, the king did not rule for long. Trying to please everyone, the Rat king surrounded himself with the most vicious and envious rats from the entire Kingdom. Soon the Rat king was eaten, considering him frivolous.

Such was the Royal dynasty in this Kingdom. Worthy rat kings who wanted only the best for their rats became a rat's dinner. Changes were needed. Perhaps cruel, but just changes. Perhaps not big changes, but radically changing the rat's life. One thing is certain – the changes were necessary.

The next king, after the Amiable - rat - King, should be the young rat king, who had no nickname yet. Since he didn't have a nickname yet, he was called just the King.

The only thing the young king wanted was not to end his reign like his predecessors, like his father, rat - King - Amiable, and like his grandfather rat – King - Peaceful. The young king was wise in spite of his age. He tried to learn from the mistakes of his ancestors and give his rats what they really needed.

The young King thought that no one knew what ordinary rats needed, except the rats themselves. So he decided to ask them about it himself. However, he decided to do this not like his father – rat – King - Amiable, asking everyone, but to choose only one rat worthy of speaking for all, which the King himself will choose.

For this purpose, the young rat King, disguised as a poor rat, went without guards to the poorest streets of the Kingdom. His expectations coincided exactly with what he had seen there – devastation, starvation, theft, cannibalism. The king was not even surprised. Perhaps it was because his father, the rat King - Amiable, and his grandfather, the rat King - Peaceful, had always told him about it. They called on him to fight it when he became King.

After passing through the poorest streets of the Kingdom, the young King did not find that worthy rat who could share with him knowledge and experience, who would make it clear to him that ordinary rats do not have enough for a better life. He was about to return to his castle when he smelled burning.

It wasn't a fire, and there was no smoke in sight. The young King trusted his sense of smell and went to the source of this unpleasant smell. He reached a hole with a very pungent and at the same time pleasant smell and knocked on the door with huge cracks.

The young King was answered by a poor rat with cute ears, a curious nose, and a mobile tail. The king immediately realized that the smell of burning that he had smelled was like a hint from fate. Fate had told him. It is this nice rat that will prompt and tell him everything he wants.

The young king asked the poor rat.

- Something's on fire, my lady. I could smell it. - the King said it softly and not deftly.

- I am frying sugar, my King. It's a little burned.

The king didn't know why he should be surprised. That poor rat found out she was the King, or that she was frying sugar.

- How did you know I was the King? - the young rat King decided to start with that question.

- In the poorest streets of this Kingdom, no one has ever called me “my lady”. Besides, I've seen you in portraits. You look better in person.

There was an awkward pause in the conversation.

- Go inward. The king is not allowed to stand in the doorway. –said the poor rat, inviting the king into his hole.

The king was surprised when he entered. There was old furniture all around, an equally old carpet on the floor, and an ancient fireplace near it. The king felt a sense of home, which he missed so much in the castle. He loved that hole, except for the dirt. The room was nice and cozy, like a doll's house, but there was dirt everywhere. On the old carpet, and in the fireplace, and the furniture seemed to be made of dirt.

- Why are you frying sugar? - the King asked suddenly.

The poor rat darted into the kitchen and brought the King a smeared tablespoon.

- Try it. - said the poor rat.

The young King was alert.

- If I wanted to poison you, I would have poisoned you at my door.

The young king trusted the poor rat and licked the spoon.

- Caramel. That's what it is. - said the King, with childish delight.

- I made the molds. While the caramel is hot and thick, you need to pour it into these molds. Later it will harden and turn into lollipops.

- Funny. - the King thought. He'd eaten lollipops so often, but he'd never really thought about how they were made.

- Why have you come, my King? - the poor rat came to the point. – you don't want to marry me, do you? I already have a husband and beautiful children. I will not be your wife.

- I don't … - began the King.

- I'm just kidding. Don’t hesitate. You're blushing. Sit down in a chair and tell me why you came.

The poor rat was very hospitable. She showed the King an old yellow chair in the corner of the room. It was comfortable enough, but like everything else in the hole was covered with a layer of dirt.

- You've probably heard of my great-king ancestors. Their actions were indeed great, but their methods were not decisive enough. I want to change the life of my rats, I want to make it better and happier. For that, I need determination and ... your help. The king spoke confidently. He had prepared the speech in advance.

- Mine? But I'm a poor rat. What can I do for you?

- Advice. I need your advice. What can I do for the rats to worship me afterward?

- But why me? You can ask all the rats. – said the poor rat excitedly.

- No. I'm afraid I can't do that. That was the mistake my father made. He was eaten right on the throne.

- I'm sorry about your father. –squeaked the poor rat.

- I have not come to you for pleasantries, but for advice. –said the young King, with a firm and threatening voice.

The poor rat was silent for a long time. She understood the responsibility that lay with her. Her incorrect words can lead to irreversible consequences. But they can also improve the lives of thousands of rats for the better. She was in no hurry to answer.

- What have you decided, my lady? - the King whispered.

At that moment, the poor rat was ready to answer, but still waited for such a question.

- Soap, my King. - the rat whispered back.

- Soap?

- Rats need soap. Our holes are dirty. We have dirty tails, whiskers, and paws.

- Soap? Is that your advice?

- Believe me, my king, the rats will not forget your noble deed. If you want to help us in any way. Give soap to each family.

The king took the poor rat's advice. At first, he was unsure, but as he walked alone to his castle, he realized that this would help the rats live a little better. So in the evening of the same day the young rat King issues an order:

I order each family in the rat Kingdom to be given two bars of soap: one for personal use and hygiene, and one for personal burrowing and cleaning. If there are more than five rats in the family, give them three bars of soap. The order takes effect the next morning.

After a long and difficult day, the young King went to bed. While he slept, the Royal guard carried soap wrapped in paper to every hole in the Rat Kingdom. Into every hole, rich and poor. Everyone got soap, except the young King, of course.

The next day, the young king awoke in the afternoon. He rarely woke up so late, but with a sense of accomplishment, he slept too well that night. Before the King could get out of bed, a Royal servant ran up to him with the unpleasant news.

- My King, the Rats ... All that soap we gave out last night, they had eaten it.

At first, the King took this as a joke, but then he saw with his own eyes how all over the Kingdom rats were shouting his name and thanking him for a strange but delicious breakfast. The king was pleased with the rats' reaction, but still expected a different result.

Now everyone knows what he looks like and can even identify him by his tail. So, the King could not get into the hole of a poor rat from a poor street, from whom he took advice. He had to write her a letter and send the king's servants to get an answer.

In the letter the King wrote:

I am glad that now everyone knows my face, that artists make my portraits voluntarily, and amateur sculptors put up monuments to me in the city squares. Although I only gave them soap. But I wasn't expecting this result. How do I fix it? I need another piece of advice, my lady.

For several days, the King received no answer, but he still hoped and waited. When the reply letter arrived, the young King was overcome with emotion.

In a reply letter, the poor rat wrote:

I am not of noble blood, my King. My word should mean nothing to you. I believe you – you are wise and reasonable for your young age. Our Kingdom needs a determined King, not a King who listens to the advice of a simple, poor rat.

During the Royal feast, the young King did not eat anything. He carefully considered the decision he had already made. At that time, he was thinking not about how to improve and make life easier for ordinary rats, but about how to become the greatness of his already deceased father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Finally, before going to bed, he ordered the entire rat Kingdom to be called together in the square in front of the castle. He personally wanted to express his decision.

The next morning the young King made a statement to all the rats:

A few days ago, each family received a few bars of soap as a gift from the crown. Contrary to the general misconception, this soap was not intended for food. It wasn't your breakfast, and it wasn't worth eating. I order each family in the rat Kingdom to be given two bars of soap: one for personal use and hygiene, and one for personal burrowing and cleaning. If there are more than five rats in the family, we gave them three bars of soap. This time I made a radical decision. Every bar of soap will contain poison. It is harmless if you use the soap as intended. In the opposite case - its use will lead to instant death. The order will take effect immediately.

In the square, for some reason, no one paid any attention to the King's words, so everyone dispersed quietly and peacefully. On the same day, as the young King had ordered, each family was given a few bars of soap again.

The next day, the young king awoke early in the morning. It was rare for him to wake up so early, but with a sense of duty unfulfilled, he was completely unable to sleep that night. Before the King could get out of bed, the king's servant ran up to him again with unpleasant news.

- My King, The Rats...Some of them didn't believe what you said yesterday. They ate the soap anyway.

The streets of the Kingdom changed that day forever. Many families buried their relatives, friends, and acquaintances. There were no plots against the crown. The rats were warned. Those rats who had not eaten soap that day, but had done their laundry at home, or had finally taken a bath, considered the King's action wise and decisive. Cruel, but determined.

The king understood something else that day. All changes and perfections are possible only when the world around you changes. You can't achieve perfection without being cruel.

That morning the King summoned the whole Kingdom to the square again and made a new statement:

From now on, my friends, it will be so. Those who are ready to change, stand here, next to me, with you we can change everything, and those who are not ready to change ... They are no longer with us.

After these words, the past night was called "Soap night". And the King was given a nickname - Soap - King.