Offered

Offered

: Our alliance is unstoppable. You're my queen and I'm your knight.

:: I think we are two. I'm the sky and you – The land and sea.

: When I kneel before you now, please accept my offer.

The boy and the girl face the crowd with smiles. They bow slightly, and the crowd responds. The curtains close around them.

The play was planned by their teacher, Tom. It presented a impossible love story with a princess locked in a tower, guarded by a dragon. So much Tom wanted to present, but he worried the parents would lose patience.

Tom had a rich background in acting. He graduated with a B.A in acting and started his teaching career here, in Ciel elementary school. Acting proposed a challenge. Finding the right people and the right script. This years play was quit easily played with a knight doing the impossible and saving the queen, and her kingdom. His prize- become the leader of all land. A classic fantasy acted and scripted so many times all Tom had to do was google it, and choose from many options and costumes.

A man approached Tom.

: I'm a father of one of the actors. Thank you very much. Our son, until recently a shy boy, managed to make many friends and we felt he was committed to the cause. Today it's no small feat with everything a click away, and kids attention spam is as long as a Tik Tok clip.

:: Practice leads to perfection, sir. You're welcome.

As Tom headed home, He recalled his past. He too felt a player in the larger skim of life. It made him feel humble. And hungry.

: Can I get my burger and fries, please?

Across the dinner he noticed a beautiful women. She seemed lost and depressed and that to him made him feel like a knight wearing a armor suit.

: Are you…sad?

:: Hi, is that obvious?

: I'm Tom.

:: Elizabeth. Call me Elize.

Tom pondered over his next question. She not only seemed like a stranger, but she also had a sad look.

:: My husband, he passed away. He was from this town. I…

Tom nodded. He collected his wallet and phone. If you need a friend, someone local. Nice to meet you.

That night he dreamed about Elize. In his fantasy he held her hand and gently stroked it. He then gave it a brush with his lips. He dismissed it the next day. When entering the principal office, She congratulated him." Excellent work. The parents keep thanking me. The kids are happy too". "Just doing my job. Remember how risky it was at the start. Not only did we need actors but people to create the background, costumes. It was very hard recruiting the board on our side."

"Well, thanks to our gamble of ours, the school made a considerable profit."

She pressed something on the phone." Let her in please"

A women wearing a expensive looking suite gave the principal a smile.

"She has a proposal, Tom. Listen carefully"

Tom listened. She talked about increasing the school budget, about the importance of giving back to the community.

"Look at it socially, the more money the school has, the more money you will have"

She basically wanted the same play they've been working on throughout the year, to tour the state. Tom felt panic rising inside. Touring the state would require more costumes, different actors to circle with." You make sure the kids are smiling and excited All the time, we'll provide transportation, resources and media coverage."

The principal caught Tom's eye. Sleep over it.

Tom never considered making money from teaching. He is quite overwhelmed. He swallows a sleeping pill before going to sleep. As he drifts to sleep, he asks himself what can go wrong. He can sell the rights and publish a book, even offer to Opera's show. It cannot be worse than now, right?

The time has come. Tom and his kids were competing in final's for a grand prize. Their play "A prince, A king" was live. Broadway hosted the evening, and three more schools were dueling it out. Another play "Pink Annabel" about Queen Annabel and her generosity.

Tom was backstage. The kids were putting make up making last adjustments for their costumes. The dragon, A big red creature with small wings, was on a kid named Berney. Berney could make sounds of breathing fire and howling. He had two small holes to see, and the dragons head stretched high, making the dragon taller. His hands were hidden between two pairs of wings, enabling him to move them.

The princes had long black hair, she had black liner, and her cheeks blush red. Her lips rose colored and she wore a gold crown. Her dress was a magnificent blue and yellow, her sleeves stripes of red and white. Her gown stretched behind her giving her a majestic look.

The knight had His sword is in its sheath, he wore simple body armor and boots.

"I've been alive for thousands of years, and I shall keep the princess with me for the next century. I take what I want and when. She belongs with the rest of my gold and silver", said the Dragon." He that challenges me will die".

" I will follow you to the end of earth, The princess belongs to her people. Only she can rule over the great land. I shall beat you and claim your gold and silver to myself", said the knight." As evidence of my victory I shall lock you back in your cave and raise the flag of the double head eagles, the house of shire".

A horn was blown, and the duel begin. The knight unsheathed his sword and attacked, whirling it in the air. The dragon made fire breathing noises and flapped his wings. The queen followed the duel with worrying eyes, turning from the knight to the dragon and back. Finally the battle was over, the winner triumph.

The knight carried the princess on his arms, and settled her on his war horse. She wrapped her arms around him." Your people await you, princess. Yet I must take of my men, too." They rode for seven days and seven nights. Finally, the knight disembarked. He handed the rains over to the princess. The knights silhouette became small in the morning dusk.