XIII: HAROLD'S LUNCHEON
by Abbie Farwell Brown · from Kisington Town
Adapted Version
Harold sat with the Red King. The King was asleep. Harold had read a book to him. Now the King slept. Harold could not go home. He had to wait. He would be patient. He sat down quietly. Harold had a little basket. He opened it. Inside was a big piece of pie. It was apple pie. The pie smelled sweet and good. Harold loved apple pie. He smiled. He wanted to eat it. He opened his mouth to take a bite. Then the Red King opened his eyes. He woke up. He looked around. "What is that?" the King asked. "It is pie," said Harold. "Would you like some?" "Yes, please!" said the King. He sat up. Harold cut the pie into two pieces. He gave one piece to the King. The King ate it fast. "Yum!" he said. "This is the best pie! I love apple pie!" "I love it too," said Harold. He ate his piece. "My mother made this pie," Harold said proudly. "She made six pies for me!" "Six pies!" said the King. His eyes were big. "Where do you live?" "I live in a city," said Harold. "I will remember that," said the King. "This pie is special," said Harold. "It is a King's Pie." "What is that?" asked the King. "It is a story," said Harold. "A very good story." The King thought. He liked the pie. He liked stories. "I will stay another day," he said. "I want to hear that story tomorrow." Harold was happy. He smiled inside. The pie helped him get more time. His city was safe for another day. Harold packed his basket. He felt good. He had more time now.
Original Story
XIII: HAROLD'S LUNCHEON
When Harold finished reading the story of the Hermit Gnome to the Red King, he looked up to see how his listener had enjoyed the tale. And lo and behold! Red Rex was fast asleep! He lay on his back in the afternoon sunshine, and a noise came from his half-open mouth rather like the Gr-r! of the lion-doll, when its tail was screwed.
"Well!" said Harold to himself; "I cannot return to the city until His Majesty wakes up; for that would not be polite, and his bodyguard would not allow it. I may as well make myself comfortable and be patient. The longer he sleeps the longer time we shall have in safety to wait for help from our King."
Harold opened the little covered basket to replace the green-and-gold volume from which he had just been reading, and in doing so caught sight of the luncheon which his thoughtful mother had packed, in the fear that he might be hungry ere his return. He took out the folded napkin and peered eagerly below. There was a huge wedge of apple pie! Harold licked his lips and his eyes sparkled, for there was nothing of which he was so fond as apple pie. "I must have at least a bite this minute!" he said to himself, and opening his mouth very wide he prepared to bite into the juicy wedge.
Just at this moment Red Rex opened his eyes.
"Pitikins!" he cried, "what is going on? Is this part of the story?" For at first he did not know that he had been asleep.
"No, Your Majesty," said Harold; "it is a piece of one of my mother's famous pies. Will you share it with me?"
"That I will!" said Red Rex, sitting upright and stretching out his hand eagerly. "It looks like apple pie. There is nothing in the world I like so well as apple pie."
"Your taste is the same as mine," said Harold merrily, carving the wedge with his knife into two equal triangles. "I believe Your Majesty never tasted better pie than that. It is made by a famous rule."
Red Rex munched his share greedily, sitting opposite the munching Harold. And as they ate they eyed one another, not unfriendly. When he had finished, the Red King said,--"By my sword! That is the best piece of apple pie that ever I tasted, or hope to taste! Your mother must be a wondrous cook, Harold."
"That she is!" cried the proud boy. "And she is the best mother who ever lived. She made six of these wonderful pies for me, because she knows that I like them so much. I saw them this morning on a shelf in the pantry."
"Six juicy apple pies!" murmured Red Rex, smacking his lips at the thought. "Where do you live, boy?"
"I live on the High Street, which leads from the market-place, in a little house next the butcher's shop," said Harold, wondering why the King asked.
"I will remember that," said Red Rex, nodding his head solemnly. "I owe your mother a happy memory for that piece of delicious pie."
"It is made from the recipe for the King's Pie," said Harold. "No wonder you approve it, being like His Hungry Majesty of old."
"The King's Pie!" exclaimed the surprised monarch. "Pray, what do you mean by that?"
"It is another story, Your Majesty," said Harold, grinning. "I think it is the best story of all. But I suppose you would not care to hear it to-morrow."
"Oh, go along with you and your stories, you young beguiler!" cried Red Rex with a great roar, at the same time poking Harold playfully with the point of his sword. "I see that you would keep me here forever at the walls of your city, listening to your tales."
"Not forever," said Harold, with an air of candor. "I do not think that even the library of Kisington could furnish new books for as long a time as that,--though, to be sure, you might hear some of the same ones over again. But, indeed, you have no idea what treasures still remain in that casket! This tale of the King's Pie is one of the rarest, I think."
Red Rex seemed to be thinking very earnestly about something. "The King's Pie," he murmured, more than once. "H'm! H'm! It is of a deliciousness! Ha! Ho!" And he smacked his lips again, thinking of the tantalizing wedge which was now no more. Suddenly he spoke: "I have decided to wait yet another day," he announced. "I will hear that tale to-morrow. And if it contains a recipe for the famous pie, I shall want you to copy it off for me. Bring pen and paper, my lad."
"That I will!" said Harold joyously. For this meant still another day's delay; and the time was now near at hand when they might expect to see help coming from the Capital City where their good King Victor lived. This was Wednesday, when he took leave of the Red King.
Story DNA
Moral
Sometimes, the simplest pleasures can bridge divides and buy valuable time.
Plot Summary
Harold, a young boy, is held captive by the Red King, who falls asleep during Harold's storytelling. When Harold discovers a delicious apple pie in his lunch, the King awakens and shares it, finding it exceptionally good. Harold cleverly uses the pie's appeal, hinting at a legendary 'King's Pie' recipe and story, to pique the King's interest. This successful distraction leads the Red King to delay his departure for another day, buying Harold and his city crucial time for rescue.
Themes
Emotional Arc
tension to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Abbie Farwell Brown was an American author known for her children's books and fairy tales, often featuring whimsical adventures and gentle morals.
Plot Beats (10)
- Harold finishes reading to the Red King and finds him asleep.
- Harold realizes he cannot leave until the King wakes and decides to wait patiently.
- Harold opens his lunch basket and discovers a delicious apple pie.
- Just as Harold is about to eat, the Red King awakens.
- Harold offers the Red King a piece of his apple pie.
- The Red King eagerly accepts and declares it the best apple pie he's ever tasted.
- Harold proudly tells the King his mother made six such pies and reveals where he lives.
- Harold mentions the pie is made from the 'King's Pie' recipe and hints at a fascinating story behind it.
- The Red King, intrigued by the pie and the story, decides to stay another day to hear the tale and get the recipe.
- Harold is secretly delighted, as this buys his city more time for rescue.
Characters
Harold ★ protagonist
A young boy, likely of average height and build for his age. His features are not explicitly described but he is capable of carrying a basket and carving a pie with a knife.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but likely simple, practical clothing suitable for a child in a European-inspired setting, perhaps a tunic and breeches of linen or wool.
Wants: To delay the Red King's return to the city, thereby buying more time for help to arrive from his own King, Victor. He also enjoys sharing stories and pie.
Flaw: His youth and relative powerlessness against the Red King, relying on wit and politeness to achieve his goals.
In this segment, he successfully manipulates the Red King through food and storytelling, securing a crucial delay. He demonstrates his resourcefulness and loyalty to his own King.
Thoughtful, patient, clever, proud, resourceful, polite.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young boy standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a slender build and fair skin. His eyes are bright and expressive. He wears a simple, light brown linen tunic with short sleeves, dark blue breeches, and soft leather shoes. He holds a small, half-eaten wedge of apple pie in his right hand, a slight grin on his face. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Red Rex ⚔ antagonist
A large, imposing man, described as the 'Red King.' He is capable of a 'great roar' and wields a sword. His size allows him to lie on his back in the sunshine and make a noise like a lion-doll.
Attire: As the 'Red King,' he likely wears regal attire dominated by the color red. This could be a flowing crimson tunic or robe, possibly with gold embroidery, and perhaps a simple crown or circlet. He carries a sword.
Wants: To conquer or maintain his position, but in this scene, his immediate motivations are to enjoy good food and entertaining stories. He is driven by pleasure and curiosity.
Flaw: His love for delicious food (especially apple pie) and captivating stories makes him easily distracted and manipulated.
In this segment, he is swayed from his immediate plans by Harold's pie and stories, agreeing to a delay. He shows a shift from being a sleeping, potentially menacing figure to a more engaged and somewhat charmed listener.
Sleepy, easily distracted by food, somewhat gullible, boisterous, appreciative of good food, curious about stories, decisive.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, burly adult man standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a broad face and a strong jawline. He wears a flowing crimson tunic with wide sleeves, belted at the waist with a thick leather belt, and dark trousers. A heavy, ornate silver sword with a red hilt hangs at his side. He holds a triangular wedge of apple pie in one hand, his eyes wide with pleasure, a slight smear of pie crust at the corner of his mouth. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Outside the City Walls
A sunny, open area just beyond the city walls, where Red Rex is encamped. The ground is likely grassy or dusty, bathed in warm afternoon light.
Mood: Initially tense but becomes relaxed and convivial, marked by the shared meal.
Harold reads to Red Rex, who falls asleep. They then share a pivotal apple pie, leading to a truce and further delay of conflict.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, sun-drenched field stretches before ancient, rough-hewn stone city walls, their battlements softened by the warm afternoon light. The ground is a mix of short, dry grass and patches of exposed earth, with a few scattered, low-lying wildflowers. A gentle breeze rustles through the sparse vegetation. The sky above is a clear, pale blue, with the sun casting long, soft shadows. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Harold's Pantry Shelf
A shelf within a pantry in Harold's home, where six freshly baked apple pies are cooling. The pantry would be a practical, functional space, possibly with wooden shelves and a cool, dim light.
Mood: Homely, abundant, and comforting, representing the care of Harold's mother.
Harold recalls seeing the pies here, which sparks Red Rex's interest in visiting Harold's home.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sturdy, unpainted wooden shelf extends across a cool, dimly lit pantry wall. Six perfectly golden-brown apple pies, still warm from the oven, sit in neat rows on the shelf, their crusts intricately crimped and glistening. The air is still, with a faint, sweet scent of baked apples and cinnamon. Subtle light filters in from an unseen window or doorway, highlighting dust motes in the cool air. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Harold's House on High Street
A small, cozy house on High Street, next to a butcher's shop. It would be a modest, well-kept home, reflecting a comfortable but not extravagant life, likely with a warm, inviting interior.
Mood: Safe, familiar, and nurturing, the source of Harold's comfort and his mother's care.
Harold reveals his home address, which Red Rex notes, hinting at future interactions and the potential for the King to visit.
Image Prompt & Upload
A charming, small, two-story half-timbered Fachwerk house with a steeply pitched, red-tiled roof stands snugly on a bustling High Street. Its whitewashed walls are crisscrossed with dark wooden beams, and small, leaded-pane windows peer out. Next door, a sturdy stone butcher's shop with a striped awning is visible. The cobblestone street is well-trodden, and a few potted flowers adorn Harold's window sills. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.