It is at times like these, as I sit in the Imperial Kitchen, waiting for a pot of fish soup to bubble, that I am inclined to consider my role as Emperor, and if I put enough salt in. As I was chopping onions earlier, I found myself recalling my father, Emperor Peng Win I's stirring words on the need for us all to remember our traditions; the tight, white layers of which can so easily and quickly be cut by the knives of progress. A tear or two came to my Imperial eyes.
I now also recall my father's brother, Imperial Brother Peng Win, who used to say that life is stranger than a sardine with legs. I think he may have been right about that. I remember how we Imperial chicks used to look forward to our uncle's visits. He used to throw us up in the air... he didn't catch us, he just threw us up in the air. He was quite mad. I often think how lucky we birdpeople are that my uncle was the younger brother.
I'm just going to put a bit more salt in the soup.
As I gaze out of the Imperial Kitchen window, I find myself thinking about the future; What will next week be like? What kind of world will our chicks and grandchicks live in? When will my soup be ready?
Anyway, we must continue to live humbly. By the way, if anyone finds a ruby it is probably mine - it dropped out of my wife's crown yesterday when we were returning from a caviar brunch. Three cheers for the Empress! Hip hip - Hooray! Hip hip - Hurrah! Hip hip - Hurroo! She's waving from the Imperial Dining Room.
Also by the way, it has come to my attention that one of our birdpeople, namely Ron, has gone missing. Please let Bill & Bobby know if you have seen him.
I am aware that some of you reading this will not believe I am making soup in my kitchen, and might be imagining I am tucking in to some kind of unimaginably gorgeous lunch with smoked salmon, crab, lobster, oysters, mackerel (maybe not mackerel), caviar - mmm! - followed by what are these things.. I mean those things.... called? Oh yes, profiteroles.
Let me just say to any of you who may be activists or members or supporters or sympathisers of the so-called Gingham Revolution, that I am in fact making soup. In fact it's bubbling away nicely now. Bloop-blop-bloop.
I'll just do a quick word count... O.K. I think that is enough. That is all I have to say to you at this time. Have a pleasant day!
Now let's try the soup. Mmm, not bad - a bit salty, but not bad. "Empress, dear! Soup's ready!"
P.s. Three cheers for the Emperor! Hip hip - Hooray! Hip hip - Hurrah! Hip hip - Hurroo!
I was sitting at my window, trying to believe in telepathy, when evening fell and I received Your Majesty's message.
ReplyDeleteLife and sardines happen to be the very topics I like. Ruby and salt are fun, too. If you see your uncle would you please ask him which is the strangest: life, a tomato, or a pair of Siamese twin trout brothers with three thighs, one niece and five ankles?