The gorilla was in his treehouse facing the opened window waiting to hear the sound of the bell that should call him into the arena for the commencement of the show. Only the fires burning on poles were seen from that distance. If there were few or many crowd in the arena he don’t know. Because nothing was seen, not even a glimpse. He only relied on the belief that the entire community would be there waiting for that was expected of them.
It suddenly ran through his mind that since after his nap he haven’t seen his son. He was supposed to be preparing for the festival too. But he did not bother so much for he believed that the queen would know his whereabouts. He called her to ask.
“He didn’t tell me either”
“And you didn’t ask him?”
“I thought he wasn’t going far for he didn’t go with the guards”
“Have you not bothered to ask his where about?”
“Who would know?”
“You know it’s not safe wandering at night”
No response was anticipated of the queen whose figure was almost hidden in the darkness. Though her presence was felt and could be traced without the light. Her image was darker than a shadow. Nothing about her was describable but her voice was clear for it was just the two of them in the room. It was time to lite up the room. They normally do that before darkness falls but that night the lamp was under repair and it took longer than they thought It would. The night supposed to be a quiet time became working hours for nocturnal creatures. The atmosphere outside was lighter due to many source of light that was all round including the natural ones in the sky and the fire flies which were scattered at every direction.
The rabbit brought light into the room and hung it on a descending curved bar at the center of the roof. She did that with the use of a ladder supported at the foot by smaller colleagues. After stabilizing the lamp they moved out at once. The king remained there with his wife. Now, faces were visible, shapes and objects clearer than it seem outside. Worries hung on each other's eyes. Hearts full of thoughts, nerves were weak to act as there were no ideas but they never ceased to be restless. Nobody was to be blamed concerning the princes' long stay outdoor. He was grown enough to go out and as well as take care of himself. Besides Greenwood is not a foreign land to him. It’s safe for him moreover, he’s the prince. But in a situation he goes out without informing anyone when he knows he won’t return when expected was utterly wrong. He takes all the blames however.
The couple dressed specially gorgeous for the festival. Whoever sees them in that appearance do not have to be told they had an important occasion to attend that night. The attires were specially unusual. Both dressed well but the queen had more things on her body. Her necklace, wrist and ankle beads worth a great fortune, possibly more than the King’s. The king was yet to put on his crown which was still resting on the surface it was placed on waiting for the time the king will need it, perhaps when he’s ready to go out.
The king located a seat and dropped into it draping his arms weakly on the chair arms. It was clear that all this while he’s been talking to the queen he has wanted to sit but since there was no light he feared he would knock down properties trying to locate a seat. He looked up to the light above, winged insects were celebrating around it. They were numerous, varying in size and kinds. That made him recall about the last rain which was gentle and windless softening the soil for easy tilling, the already cultivated crops were healthily germinating. Farmers were impressed.
“how could he have left without telling anyone?” the king couldn’t control his mind any longer. He summoned all the palace workers for questioning but none could give a satisfying answer to what he demanded of them. While still being interrogated, they noticed something blocking the doorway. Because there was a change of whether. It was the prince standing there.
“Here he comes” the queen sighted him first. The young gorilla saw the line up of all the workers he became scared to take a step into the room for he was certain that something was wrong and may possibly be for him keeping late hours. The servants were sent back. However, they needed not to witness how the prince is been cautioned. That will seem embarrassing.
“where the heck are you returning from?” the king raved indignantly. His tone sent more waves of shivers. The prince did not lack what to say but the confidence was not there.
“Will you answer your father now?” the queen asked impatiently.
“I went to learn”
“again?” queen asked “have I not warned you to stop climbing trees with monkeys? You can’t be like them. They are more lighter and skilled. You will injure yourself one day”
“it wasn’t with the monkeys today. It’s the squirrels”
“And you are proudly saying it. Is it not more risky with the squirrels? Can you reach where they climb with their light bodies? Won’t you fall and dislocate?”
“Today is not about climbing trees. He taught me about plants, roots, backs, seeds and nuts use for different kind of herbs and ointments”
“So why are you returning this late?” the king asked.
“We didn’t finish on time, some plants are rare”
“ would you not have come back if you did not finish it today? I see you don’t want to tell me the truth. You went somewhere else”
The prince did not argue, maybe his father was right.
“At your age, all you do is to wander about everyday you wake up. You don’t ever sit with your father to learn from him as the next king of Greenwood after him. Kings don’t use to be naive about their traditions. You have much to learn. Or do you intend becoming a herbalist? Is that what you want to become? You want to break the dynasty for herbs? That’s not possible. It can’t be”
“ it’s okay. He haven’t said so. Besides learning about herbs is not a bad thing. It won’t hinder anything”
“you want to hear him say it for you to believe? Don’t you see that he’s never concerned about our customs and traditions? His dreams doesn’t include marriage. His peers are all having families of their own. He’s concerned only about herbs”
“don’t let little things bother you so much. Be patient”
“Till when my Lord? Is it when the good and beautiful ones are all betrothed and married? Or, is the kind of girl he want yet to be conceived? I don’t know why you don’t talk to him about this. Don’t you want the best for him like you made me believe?”
“sure I do. Well, I will talk to him. It’s okay”
“That’s the best you can do for him as a father. I want a daughter-in-law in this house. It’s time I become a queen mother and not a queen” she concluded and did not wait to hear more. Her husband found it funny.
The prince was still pinned to the ground sadly looking like he regrets what he did. The king understands how he felt. Those scolds he got were enough for that night. He’s never been confronted this much. The king felt he deserves an apology but he can’t possibly do that. That will make all they said and the time a waste. However, the prince won’t consider them to be serious about it. He will see it as a joke and would probably do it next time. The king decided not to talk more. He asked him to go and get dressed for the festival.
Sitting arrangement in the arena was according to size. Smaller audience took the front part on a frond plaited mats while the bigger ones sat behind the smaller ones on trunks, logs and seats brought from home. Taller ones who had no seat stood last, behind them all. The prominent natives had their corner. The raised part of the arena. Looking special and comfortable especially the royal family. Few crowd were behind them mostly consisting of elderly and gentle animals and they were either related to the prominent ones or they are close friends.
The king had two hefty and fiercely looking elks with powerful antlers behind him for protection and also for orderliness. A flat plate of a certain well prepared seeds and nuts was in front of the gorilla and his wife, for them to task their mouths in other that they might contend with drowsiness so that they don’t miss a single action. But only the queen was picking them one after another. The king often had some people to reply their greetings, comments or those who seek his opinion on what they see in the arena or somewhere else. Those little involvements engaged him so much that he could not pick up a nut and chew.
Fire was flaming in three angles, not only to make the scene brighter but as well as to quash cold. It reflection made faces red. Curious gaze, all to one direction. The center. All were calm and hopeful.
Instrumentalists set their musical instruments in a semi circle and sat facing the direct of the special audience. They had skin congas, flute, xylophone, tambourine and many others. All made rough and local. They were professionals in the particular instrument they handle.
Soon everything was made ready. Not up to five minutes after the coming of the king. For he was the one they waited to begin. The commentator or rather the director as may be seen by things he does, was a friendly talkative parrot, not related to the secretary. He, after introducing himself and the purpose for the gathering he introduced as many prominent animals in the gathering as he could after which he humbly ushered the king in to address’s his subject and also to open the occasion.
Entertainments took off immediately, starting with dancers who ran into the arena in a straight line. Every eye that saw them coming in counted them and all confirmed they were twelve. Two best dancers from the six Hamlets in Greenwood, dressed in a traditional dancing attire made of light skin, feathers and some other rattling stuffs. In Greenwood, only where their clothes cover is their waist down the upper thighs. That’s for those who care to wear. No matter how special the dresser or the cloth is that’s how they dress.
Firstly, the dance involved everyone in the list of the twelve dancers. The dance took over half an hour. Different songs and beats were played to test which dance step one knows best. After that, from every Hamlet two dancers represented. Group after group. Their best songs were played for them and they displayed their greatest skill, until they all partook. At the end of that, they were given a break to rest and get ready for the final section.
The break took about fifteen to twenty minutes. Only the time keeper would know long it actually took. During the break period the place went a bit noisy for it was time for those who had judgements on the dance they’ve watched to deliberate or share views with closest neighbors. Some have even foreseen the winners from that time. While they wait for the dancers music was played and some other things that wasn’t so serious were performed. However, all this were the reasons no one could tell how long the break took.
When the dancers returned to the arena, one dancer was selected from each hamlet. The best however. They were six in the in the space given. It was elimination time. A song was played and they’d dance for about seven to ten minutes and pause, then one is eliminated, the others continue with a different song and beat. So it continued until the three best dancers emerged.
The king, likewise others, were impressed with the kind of skills the monkeys displayed which made him come first. Though the results were yet to be called but it was clear to everyone that the monkey won it. The monkey's body was the most flexible of all partakers and that was the secret to his magical steps and moves.
Final results were called before dismissal. Few animals of prominent status were allowed to comment on the whole thing before the final result would be announced. They did and the king was the last to speak. The best dancers were to see the king at his palace the following day to get their rewards. But all partakers went home with something. The happiest ones made the highest noise with their songs of victory. Though, none was sad for the competition was designed for everyone’s happiness. While they depart, discussions were held at every path in their small chatting groups.