The young man strode about the ballroom, giggling one moment, crying another. After all, Gerald thought, he is a fool.

“Jumping jesters just jar jelly jam!” stuttered the fool.

“A fool speaks nothing but foolishness,” countered the king with a grin.

“But if the fool right some of the time and that time is all of the time, especially if it runs its hands, it is only a matter of time till time ticks to tell a fool some wisdom.” The fool danced about merrily, bells ringing.

“Bah! If fools are so wise, why aren’t you on the throne?”

“It is ever so pleasing to fool about without having many to please. For while I have but one to please, you have many.” The fool did a jig, eventually landing on his head.

“Please who? I am the king, am I not?” The king asked.

“But a king,” the fool winked, “is only as strong as his strongest supporters.” The fool reeled about. “Though to be honest, if I were King, I would to have a nose as large as your majesty’s, which would be a tragedy.” With this, the fool tumbled out the door.

Gerald started forward, “Sometimes I wonder who is the wiser, him or us.”

The king shifted uncomfortably, “So do I Gerald, so do I.”