The Crown

Thirteen.

The Crown

One lonely Monday morning, Charcoal went to the market with her mother to buy a turkey for their upcoming family Christmas dinner. It would be just the two of them this year like always. Charcoal was looking at the fattest turkeys when she heard a mother and her daughter talking about her. "Mother, why is a dark slave girl buying in the market? Shouldn't she be working?" The girl asked her mother. "I do not know, we should carry on before we catch a disease from her." The mother said, walking away from where Charcoal was. It was painful and embarrassing every time a stranger said something about her insecurities. Charcoal just wanted to be like other girls and as much as she tried, nothing seemed to change. The tears that always felt from her eyes were tears of sadness and hatred. Her depression and anxiety were worsening and building up and becoming her greatest nightmare, herself. She refused to tell her mother what had just occurred because she knew what she would say. "You are beautiful, just the way you are and do not define the righteous king's work." She so badly wanted to believe that she was beautiful just the way she was and she did not want to deny the righteous King's creativity. She went home that following day and prayed that was all she could do when her mother heard her praying and interrupted her. "How many times have you made that prayer?" Her mother asked her. "I know I have made it quite a few times but what else can I do?" Charcoal asked her mother as she cried. Alba came around and sat down next to her, wiping her tears with a handkerchief. "The only thing left that you have to do is have faith and believe in the righteous King, my child. When times get hard, get tough, you must believe in Him. Tell me what happened, was it at the market?" Charcoal's mother asked her as she nodded. "I was choosing the best turkey for us to buy when I heard a child ask her mother why black slaves like me are buying instead of working at the market." Alba comforted her daughter, rubbing her back. "I know how painful that must feel my dear, I want us to try something tomorrow. I want you to say something nice to the next person who says something rude to you. It will boost your confidence and show the person that their words do not offend you. Charcoal did not know if she could do it but she would try.

The next day came when  Alba and her daughter Charcoal went to the Market to buy more things for Christmas when Charcoal saw a well that she had not noticed was there before. "Mama look." She said, pointing to the stoned well near the bushes. Soon Charcoal ran over to the well to see if it had any water inside, it did not. "I do not understand dear, what is so special about an old well?" Alba caught up to her daughter asking. "I am going to test my faith in the righteous King." Charcoal explained as she threw a stone, watching it fall down. She heard the 'plop' sound, letting her know that there was water at the bottom. "Tomorrow, it will rain. It will rain because the farmers need their crops to grow. It will rain because some places need water. It will rain because I am trusting in the righteous king that it will come to pass." At first, Alba thought that it was ridiculous what her daughter was doing because she did not understand. But she saw the positivity in her daughter's words, the faith in her actions.

"If it isn't the black slave girl that was sacked out of our school because of her whore mother."  A young girl who looked around the same age as Charcoal giggled with her friend. Charcoal remembered not to get offended but to show love instead. "It has been a while, how are you, girls?" Charcoal asked them, making sure to plaster a fake smile on her face. "We are fine, but we do not care to know how you are." They said, trying to hide their surprised faces. "Okay then, have a great day." Charcoal nodded before walking away, leaving the girls confused. She could not believe that she had just done that, and she felt so happy doing it too.

The next day came and Alba could not go out because the streets were flooded with water from the rain. The righteous king had blessed the people with water. Charcoal saw this and was very thankful, she realized just how powerful words are.

~*~

Charcoal swallowed deeply as she followed Aaron into another sitting room where she noticed the prince reading a popular book she used to read in school by John Bunyan. He placed the book down when he noticed her entrance.

Aaron bowed before leaving and Charcoal curtsied as she stood before him with both of her hands in the middle.

"My Lord, you asked to see me?" She asked him, her hands were trembling with fear, but she reminded herself that this is possible.

"My thoughts are simply a bother and I feel as if I am cursed. We called the best advisors in all the land and only two told me exactly what you told me, which means you were correct. As much as I hate admitting it, you are." He said. Charcoal felt the relief but did not make an expression.

"I want you to explain my revolution again. Tell me what I am missing. I do not quite understand." He said, offering her a seat across from him.

Explaining the same thing again would not do much good, Charcoal remembered an easier way to help him. A way her mother always made her understand a situation. Charcoal also remembered how many times the good prince in the righteous King's book would use stories to help his confused followers.

"I will use an easier method, people call them stories but the good prince called them parables. There was once a King who had the wealthiest kingdom, everyone in his kingdom loved him and served him. He was noble and kind. But one day, evilness spread in the country and they needed a sacrifice to save the people. So the princes' father the king, sent his pure son to die for them. It was a very hard decision. The prince was His one and only son. The prince accepted his life as an offer, he did not ask his father why he chose him to do the task, he did not complain, he did it out of love."

Manuel listened carefully this time, trying to understand this parable.

"And so the prince died for the people, some who did not even see him as a prince, some laughed and made jokes, mocking him by placing a crown of thorns on his head. But the prince did this so that they may be saved from the evilness. The prince begged his father, the king to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing. The evilness had covered their country, it was controlling them, they were no longer themselves."

"This prince was doing it with a kind, ready heart. He put aside any selfishness, pride, and arrogance. You see my Lord, duty is not always easy but when you are doing it out of love it makes it easier." Charcoal said finally.

Manuel nodded, accepting the truth.

"This is not a parable, is it? It seems very similar to the revelation I had." Manuel said.

"Yes, it is not a parable but the full story from the righteous king's book." Charcoal nodded. Manuel didn't seem confused, he was actually considering her idea and that made her proud.

"Well, I am angry because my father died saving the people of Spain. Even though it was out of stubbornness. He still tried to save them. And those are the same people wishing me off the throne. Now I am tied with giving up my families most loved possession or the people's lives. People who do not love nor respect me. I thought my mother was by my side by sadly she betrayed me."

"My Lord, the people love you. I see your name being praised on the streets, and remember when we went to Barcelona? People greeted and bowed as you passed by them. The people love you but they need to be reminded of that every day. And I cannot say much about mothers because I only knew mine for sixteen years. But what I can say is that she loved me so much, she did things to protect me and she did not always tell me everything which I am thankful for, I did not always need to know everything. I was her daughter and she, my mother. I wish I spent more time with her because it is too short, she taught me so many things, encouraged me and made me a better person. I will forever cherish her."

Manuel started to feel ashamed for ignoring his mother all this time. He missed her dearly. Charcoal was right but he was not going to admit that to her. He needed his mother by his side and he had to bring himself to repent.

The Crown