The Jesters New Clothes

Deep sobs echoed throughout the normally quiet forest. Old Man Troll had been sent to investigate and carefully climbed atop the old fallen oak tree. Holding onto a small branch, he nervously looked over the side.

There before him, a young man sat with his head buried in his hands and sobbing loudly.

“OI! What is up with you?” Troll yelled.

“I am so sad, I won’t get to enter the contest for the Princess,” the young man said as he looked up.

“Who… Who are you?” the young man asked in a startled voice.

“I’m Old Man Troll, the keeper of the forest.” Troll said in his deepest voice. “Now what is this about the Princess?” He asked.

"It’s the Princess’s tenth birthday tomorrow and the King is holding a contest for the Jesters. The winner gets ten gold pieces and will entertain the Princess for a year." The Jester stammered.

“Are you any good?” Troll asked.

“Yes, I’m the best Jester in the land.” He said, with pride in his voice.

“What is stopping you from entering?” Troll asked.

“Look at me! Just look at me!” The Jester screamed.

“Hmmm." Troll said, as he looked down at the Jester. His bedraggled coat hung in tatters from his thin body. His toes poked through his shoes and his hat lay on the ground crumpled and bent.

“I wouldn’t be allowed in the castle dressed like this and I’m so poor, I can’t afford new clothes,” he moaned.

“Yes, I can see what you mean,” said Troll.

The Jester lay on the ground and began sobbing.

“The Princess should have the best Jester in the land,” Troll yelled, as he took a whistle from his pocket and began to blow.

A bright musical tone filled the forest and Pixies, Elves, Fairies, Leprechauns and Trolls emerged from under leaves and from behind the shrubs. They gathered around, tittering and chatting excitedly. It had been a long time since Old Man Troll had summoned a gathering and it usually meant something important.

The Jester lay motionless, watching and wondering what was about to happen.

Old Man Troll held up his hands and the forest was silent.

"Little people of the forest, the Jester is in serious trouble and needs our help. Dressed like he is, the King wont let him attend his court to entertain the Princess. He needs our help to make him new clothes." Troll told them.

“Fairies,” Troll Shouted. “I need you to gather the silkworms and spiders to spin a new coat, hat and shoes.”

“Pixies and Elves, you gather the berries to colour them and Leprechauns could you please gather the mixing pots.”

“Trolls, it will be your job to measure the Jester for his new clothes.”

Old Man Troll clapped his hands and the little forest people excitedly set about their tasks.

The forest was soon a hive of activity and Old man Troll paced up and down the old oak tree, supervising and directing as he went. Before long, the silkworms had spun a nice new coat and the Elves and Fairies took it to the Leprechauns for colouring.

The Spiders finished the shoes and started making new pants whilst the silkworms finished the hat. The Elves and Trolls made new bells for the shoes and hat.

By the end of the day the Jesters new clothes were finished and when he emerged from behind the ferns, the little forest people gasped in awe. The clothes fitted so well and the colours were so bright. The bells on his shoes and cap rang out a happy tune.

The Jester was so happy; he took up his fiddle and began to entertain the little people.

The next day the Jester performed his magic tricks, dances and songs for the Princess.

The King was pleased and the Princess was impressed. She invited him into the garden. And as they slowly walked through the trees, the princess asked, “Jester, where did you get your lovely clothes?”

“My good friends, the little people of the forest made them,” he told her.

“Oh Jester, you are so funny, she laughed. I am going to tell the King you have won the contest.” She said, as she ran giggling through the garden.

The Jester turned to follow and looking up noticed Old Man Troll sitting in a tree.

“Did you hear that?” the Jester shouted.

“Yes,” Troll, replied and with a wink and a wave, he disappeared.