Long ago in the kingdom of Barkingston there lived a king called Dogsdale Woofeshter.Now as the name suggests,Barkingston was a rare kingdom for it was one of the only ones in its times to show its love for dogs.Dogs,better known as man's best friends were indeed the best friends of all the subjects of the kingdom.
One day the king came back from a long tiring day of discussing what kind of dog food was best for the dogs of the kingdom.His eyelids drooped as sleep evaded him.He walked over to his bed and leisurely plopped onto it ,not realising that poor Bruno,the Royal pet bulldog was having a nap right under the bed.
The Royal bed creaked and gave way under the King's weight.And with a poor startled whine Bruno had left for dog heaven.
King Dogsdale trembled and shook and bellowed in rage-''Minister!!Immediately!!!''
''Yes Sir!''the minister was summoned into the Royal bedroom in his pajamas.
''Bury Bruno somewhere quickly!!I can't imagine the shame of the citizens knowing that...that Bruno DIED!!''
Normal people experience grief on the death of their pets,but King Dogsdale was worried more about his reputation.How would he explain this to his citizens?The King of the dog loving kingdom had accidently sent his own dog to heaven?Blame it all on McDonalds for stuffing burgers into him?BAD idea.
And hence the minister was instructed to either bury Bruno's body or get buried himself.He chose the former.
Another dog of the similar breed and build as Bruno was brought in secretly.Life went on and Barkingston had no idea of the King's deed.
**
After a short while,the Duchess of the neigbouring kingdom of Poodlington visited Barkingston.
Her pet poodle Pamela met Bruno the Royal dog.
''Woof!Woof!I can find a bone better than you!
I can prove that you aren't Bruno,you're someone new!''
''Woof woof!Then lets have a game
Find the bigger bone is the name''
The two dogs sniffed and dug all through the Royal garden.Bruno dug for the sake of his life.He knew that if he didn't live up to the name of the Master of Bone searching,everyone would suspect.
The duchess ,the Queen and the unsuspecting King witnessed the game.Soon enough Bruno gave a shout of victory
''I found a bone!!!''he dug further.
''And another!!...And another!...And...another?''the happiness turned into shock as he realised he had just pulled out a skeleton!
The Duchess,the queen and the King hurried up to the spot while Pamela the poodle barked for all her waggy friends of the kingdom.All the dogs of the kingdom came running and barking at the top of their voices along with their owners.
''A skeleton!!!''the Duchess was shocked.
The king's face turned pale,so pale that you could actually see the right amount of makeup he applied.
The citizens of the kingdom were equally surprised.
''Sire!Whose skeleton is this?''
''The...the...the Queen..''
''The QUEEN died?''everyone gasped.
The queen who was standing right there went red in embarrasment.
''I ...I mean the Queen's dog dieed.''the King stammered even as the Queen pushed her own pet dog inside her bag.
''Woof woof!!!''the Queen's dog barked from the bag.
''Who is it barking?''everyone turned towards the queen.
''uhh..Woof!!Woof!!''the Queen immediately barked ''You see I miss my pet SO much!I need to bark in his memory''
Everyone stared at the queen as if some of her head screws had been loosened by the tragic incident.
''WAIT!Isn't that Bruno's collar?''one of the subjects pointed at the skeleton.And sure enough,the minister in his sleepy state had performed this simple glitch.He had forgotten to remove the collar which said BRUNO in big bold letters.
All eyes were now focused on the King who went red in shame.For not only had the skeletons in his closet had been revealed but that too in front of his whole kingdom.
Needless to say,King Dogsdale lost his kingdom and had to spend the rest of his life serving the precious pets of Barkingston.Poor Bruno finally got a proper funeral while Pamela the poodle was appointed the Queen of Barkingston.Fake Bruno was forgiven as it was not his fault at all and he was given a post in the anthropology department-digging up bones became his job finally!
Skeletons whether literally or metaphorically,whether in your closet ,your bedroom or in your backyard are bound to come tumbling out one day or the other.The least you can do to get out of this mess is take care of your pets,they deserve the same respect as you do.
And as the popular phrase goes-It's a dog's life indeed!
Book Talk
Anupamaa
