THE MANDATE KING

by CHARLES ROBEY
(MOODY, AL USA)

PROLOGUE

Remember the old cliché “mind over matter”? My response is, “if you have no “never mind” on a certain matter, then it really doesn’t matter. In other words, your response of “no never mind” is basically used as a injunction to mean let alone and to suggest a disregard of a certain detail. Better still, your never mind simply means you have no concern for a certain matter.

Respecting our little king, is it really mind over matter? Does he really have a mind and does it really matter? Well, his patriotic country’s populace surely does think so.

So, if you’ve been keeping abreast with my personal fiction parables in the Little King sequence, I’m sure you have formed a pro or con opinion towards its writings.

Fiction, by its very definition of literature is a form of prose that describes imaginary events and people, and has always given a way of expressing one’s feelings or explanation of current events.

Realizing of course, as part of one’s human nature, a belief or opinion may or may not be formed as a result of one’s fiction reading. It may serve as one’s needed entertainment in today's unsettled atmosphere.

So grab a big glass of Southern ice-cold sweet tea, with its accompaniment of buttered cornbread, turn off the bed light for some much-needed snooze time and merge into the past. Re-enter that little, peaceful kingdom of long, long ago, and reacquaint yourself with its newly elected King. It’s as I see it, or perceived it to be, in The Mandate King. A Little King Sequel.

“If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.” (Ecclesiastes 5:8)

I don’t exactly know how to convey it, how unlikely it was that it happened to me, a well-established professor of biblical knowledge. There I was, relaxing in my man cave from another grueling semester at the Bible college, and suddenly, without warning a video interference caused the television to fade into silence. What happened next was totally unbelievable. Not again, not another dream world adventure.

It was another unusually nice dream, bouncing around in the clouds traveling ever so softly way up in the wild blue yonder. Then the scene quickly changed, and softly and tenderly I settled down in parts unknown. I was carried back in time, landing on the fresh green grass of a peaceful countryside. My first thought was, 'I must take advantage of this scenery and look around a bit.' So I did.

I was on the grounds of a large, picturesque castle. People, too many to count, were hustling and bustling across the big moat bridge.

That’s when my eyes were drastically opened. The people, as it turned out, were all spectators being directed to gather before an upper balcony atop the castle’s large tower. 'Might as well join them,' I thought.

However, the scenery quickly changed. 'What’s happening here?' I wondered. 'Why all the chaos? Why all the personal emotional chatter? Where did all the protest signage come from?' I understood by history that this is totally out of character for this patriotic kingdom.

Suddenly, appearing out of nowhere, there was the most unusual character. Although dressed the part of the age, he appeared to be somewhat out of character for the occasion. As if by force, this stranger began to speak in answer to my concerns.

“To answer your questions, my good man, we must turn back the clock a bit to the aftermath of the questionable election of this newly imposed king. His press conference is about to begin. Please be still and give a listen,” he said.

"Hear Ye, hear ye, fellow citizens," announced an official, "as your newly appointed Royal Press Announcer, I am now privileged to present your newly elected by an overwhelming landslide vote, your majesty the King."

He went on, "I do apologize and beg your pardon for the King's unexpected press conference postponement. I know you all will understand, the king needed a little nap in preparation for this all-important occasion."

The king emerged, staggering slightly, from beyond the balcony doorway, and appeared to be somewhat confused with the surroundings. After wiping the sweat from his brow, the new King began to speak, in spite of the impolite responses of those below.

“Greetings, my loyal kingdom citizens," he stated. "It is with a heavy heart that I announce that it has now become necessary, due to the uncommon and unlikely spread of this new virus, which was brought on by my predecessor, that I am now forced to make this unprecedented decree. Please listen up."

“The movements of the stars have now influenced this sudden and much-needed degree. With respect to the inner workings of the human body, my Royal Minister of Sooth has informed me, this is the time to act. His special almanac has confirmed the star charts, allowing him to make this diagnosis. His many diagrams also explain how the astrological formations and star signs rule over each part of the body. So, here’s this all-important decree."

“Be it decreed," the king went on, "by virtue of the authority given me by the kingdom populace that all who work in the public sector, including but not limited to private or governmental employees, must immediately and directly submit to our newly appointed Royal Minister of Sooth’s magic healing potion. Its administered elixir will be a small sugar tube upon the tongue."

"It is further decreed that any and all who refuse to take part in this emergency healing elixir will be automatically terminated from kingdom employment, with no unemployment benefits allowed and will lose all pension funds," he concluded. "Signed and sealed this date of the Royal Kingdom forthwith, by your newly-elected King of the Kingdom. That is all, you all are dismissed. There will be no question-and-answer period."

OK, I get it, kind Sir. What happens next, pray tell? Sir, Sir, where are you? Where did you go? Why the sudden vanishing trick? Oh well, it’s just like all my other dreams here of late, no real ending only conjecture. Only guesswork again, as usual.

I was back in my man cave. It was as if I had never left. Overcome by sudden astonishment, I thought, 'What day is it, what time is it, how much time have I lost? And what have I missed in the interim?'

These concerns were quickly resolved, however, with an expected all-important call from the college administrator. It was a call I had much anticipated. There would be no retirement for me, I’m moving on. Amen!

EPILOGUE

Here we have it, another in the Little King series. It was another window into this newly elected king's many imposed beliefs, contrary to the kingdom’s constitutional dictates.

Thus, another venture off into the world of fiction prose. Whether offered as information, knowledge, or entertainment, its basis may or may not have advanced your opinion of thinking, feeling or reacting. Did it move you from where you are to where you’d like to be? I trust so.

In other words, you may or may not believe in dreams or visions. It does make for good entertainment in a troubled world.

Christianity oftentimes allows for the use of fiction. Whether the fictional stories are spiritual allegory, historical fiction, or simple entertainment, we must always, as Christian fiction authors still apply the basic biblical guidelines. (II Timothy 3:16-17)

As the old adage states, 'There’s a lot of truth in fiction.' Nonetheless, I trust that you will find that my musings will always contain an element of biblical teaching. (James 3:1)

Well, good-bye for now until we meet again by the written word of musing prose. Amen