The Morning Adventure
A Tiny Kingdom story about sticks and determination
In the royal gardens of the Tiny Kingdom, the morning was still young. The air felt cool on the stone paths and the grass was still damp with morning dew. Most of the inhabitants were still asleep, curled in nests of blankets and early morning dreams.
Prince Dingus was already outside.
He had gone into the garden at the break of dawn. A little walk, a quick check among the shrubs to see who was awake. That was how it often started with Dingus.
A soft rustle in the greenery caught his attention. Dingus lifted his ears and listened. When he heard it again, he pounced into the grass.
Whatever was moving down there had his full attention. With the unmistakable focus of a terrier, Dingus pushed his nose deep into the greenery, pounced again and disappeared beneath the shrubs. Before long he was completely absorbed in whatever he had found.
The Queen watched him disappear beneath another shrub and smiled. She knew that look. Whatever Dingus had found, he was going to see it through.
When he finally emerged, she took one look at him and laughed.
One bright eye was still visible. The rest of his little face had collected twigs, leaves and pieces of garden. His little crown sat crooked on his head and strands of grass had become tangled in his whiskers.
Dingus looked up at her, perfectly pleased with himself.
The Queen crouched down for a closer look. There were leaves in his fur, something green caught beneath one ear and another twig sticking out where no twig had any business being.
Dingus stood very still while she inspected him, as though this were the most ordinary thing in the world.
There was no shame in him. Only pride.
The Queen tried to keep a straight face.
She failed.
Dingus wagged his tail.
Soon there would be water and a towel, and the royal garden would have to be removed from the royal prince.
For now, the Queen let him stand there in all his glory.
Whatever had happened beneath those shrubs belonged to Dingus.
And judging by the look on his face, it had been an excellent morning.