MEET ME ON UMBRELLA ALLEY

Just Eddie Unpacks

King Eddie wasn't able to stop thinking about the girl from Umbrella Alley , as he unpacked.

Truthfully,  it was for the first time in his life.

Brian heard a box drop which made  him run over.

"Are you ok?" He asked the king.

"Yes, just wandered off in thought...go back to whatever you were doing." The king stated.

"Eddie...oh heck in private...I just can't do it ...when it's just us...I'd rather stick with Your Highness?" Stammered  Brian, who felt out of his element.

"Please try. I don't want an accidental slip up." Said Eddie.

"Alright Eddie...are you sure you don't want me to put those things away?" Replied Brian.

"No...I need to do more to blend in." The king said.

Brian worried the king was setting himself up for failure.

And, how would he keep the king safe ?

If things went wrong it would be his fault.

The queen had made that very clear.

While the kings mind  wondered if he would see that strange sleeping beauty again, she seemed genuine.

Maybe he recognized grief? Well, since he too  just lost his father.

Whatever, it was he hoped they would meet again.

"What do you think...does this monkey look ok here?" Asked the king.

"Honestly?" Replied Brian.

"Of course," answered Eddie.

"I hate that monkey...I loathe it...where did you get that stupid stuffed animal. It doesn't go with the cottage theme." Said Brian in truth.

"To be honest it was a gift from a dying ten year old girl who just wanted to thank me." Replied a more serious king.

"Well, geez don't I feel like a fool." Said Brian regretting his words.

"Good." Laughed Eddie.

He threw the monkey at his friend.

"If you must know Connor gave it to me." Laughed the king.

"Conner...awe I love that kid....why didn't you just say that?" Asked Brian.

"Now I want that monkey." Laughed Brian.

Connor stole the hearts of the whole palace. He talked the kitchen manager into giving him exclusive rights to serving the palace lemonade.

He was trying to work so one day he could grow up to be a Dr.

His parents were poor. And, told him they couldn't send him to college like he dreamed of.

Did that stop him? No, he started various businesses.  The last Eddie heard Conner already had $5,000 saved.

Little did Conner know when he reaches college age...the king already made plans to give him a full scholarship.

Due to it coming from a special kid King Eddie treasured the weird monkey...

This child was a straight A student with a bright future before him.

"if you insist I can keep it boxed up." Teased Eddie.

"No...no...nothing from Conner gets boxed. " Laughed his relieved assistant.

"No...I may want to get to know the locals...Your feed back that you loathe it...is something for me to consider...So, maybe i should keep it packed away." Laughed Eddie.

"Your not going to let me forget this are you?" Asked Brian.

"Not really." Laughed Eddie.

"So...what are we doing Here? There's not much to do. You don't plan on staying the whole time here do you?" Asked Brian.

"Honestly, I've decided I'm going to enroll in school.  Maybe you can be the janitor or something?" Said Eddie.

"Your Highness." Sighed Brian.

"I told you I will only  answer to Eddie." Said Eddie.

"I can't imagine a worse job a school janitor with all those unruly kids leaving piles of trash everywhere they walk. Sighed Brian.

"You picked up after me all these years." Laughed the king.

"No we've been friends...and you had a nanny...a house cleaner...various attendants..my job was just to make you look good." Sighed Brian.

"And so it still is old friend." Laughed the king.

"Just in a janitors suit." Replied Brian.

"Now you're getting it." Teased the king, who was determined from this day forward to simply be just Eddie.

And, he had a lot of unpacking to do yet.

So, he and Brian worked hard to get their cottage rental to look a bit more lived in.

Yes, Eddie had many plans. But, they could be done later. For, tomorrow had the potential for a fresh start. It was going to be a new day....

At least that was Eddie's hope.