TAWA

Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Tawa was a mighty kingdom led by King Landa. He had quadruples, two sons and two daughters. Cabby and Heso were the sons, Leah and Lena were the daughters. It was time for the king to give up his throne to the worthy child. It was difficult for him to choose because all the children were born on the same day and he was convinced that they were all capable. So the king sat in his secret Chambers with his five advisors. None of the children knew about the king's plan. The king sought advice on how to choose the worthy king or queen from among his children.

KING LANDA: How do I choose the right king or queen?

ADVISOR ONE: let them fight each other, the winner will take the crown.

KING LANDA: That's not fair for my girls. I want something fair.

ADVISOR TWO: Yes it's not fair. We can send them to a far away land and give them a mission to accomplish.

KING LANDA: Good. Let me hear what the rest of the advisors have to say.

ADVISOR THREE: I agree with the second suggestion.

ADVISOR FOUR: I think we should watch them closely, watch how they relate with people, how they look matters too. A king or queen has to be presentable. The queen has to be beautiful and the king has to be handsome, the real definition of......(everyone was staring at him unblinkingly) That's all.

ADVISOR FIVE: Let us ask the people to choose the king they want.

KING LANDA: Alright, I will ponder on all these ideas you've told me and by tomorrow I will tell you my final decision.

Meanwhile, the children were outside in the field seated in a circle playing a memory game. Cabby was tall, had a nice Afro and was really handsome. He believed that he was the wisest and most important person. He never liked advise from other people because he believed that he could figure out everything. Heso was short, he had big eyes and a nice smile. He always thought that he was not good enough so he was less talkative. He always wanted to be anything but himself. He was always afraid of the unknown and never believed in taking risks. He loved eating and being comfortable. Lena was tall and beautiful. She believed that she was the fairest in the land and considered her sister ugly and not up-to-date. Leah was calm, minded more about others than herself, she respected and listened to all people's opinions. She despised no one. She loved justice but she was too naive and could easily be lied to.

CABBY: it's my turn to ask. You know am good at this

LENA: Okay Mr. Know it all please ask.

CABBY: Yesterday we had a celebration with the entire kingdom. What was it for?

LENA: we are playing the memory game. You have to ask us about the history of our Kingdom.

CABBY: We have played that game for the last twelve years. I don't enjoy it anymore.

LEAH: daddy said that we have to play it everyday. We need to know the geography and history of the kingdom.

CABBY: Okay let me rephrase my question.

LENA: no you have asked thirty questions so far. Let someone else ask.

CABBY: I choose Heso.

Heso looked down with tears in his eyes.

LENA: Heso has a bank of tears, how did they come that quick?

Lena and Cabby burst out into laughter.

LEAH: come one Heso, you can do this.

HESO: But I can never do it like cabby. He is so good.

Cabby patted Heso on the back with a huge smile on his face.

CABBY: It's okay Heso, I like you for understanding me. Let me help these ladies understand by asking a question on your behalf. You know....

LENA: No you can't!!!!!

CABBY: Don't scream at me ma'am. Watch me do it (he cleared his throat) which king led the kingdom of Tawa.....

LEAH: not again....(standing up) we shall play this game tomorrow. We have had enough for today.

LENA: says who?

LEAH: the future queen and the oldest of you all.

CABBY: nope! The smart ones like me are the oldest and the unsmartest of all like Heso are the youngest.

Heso stood up and walked away hastily.

LEAH: That was mean cabby. You need to be a good brother. You have to encourage Heso. Stop calling him unsmart.

LENA: (looking at her reflection in her mirror) Leah Heso is just not smart. He can never be king. Well as for me...(she smiled) am the queen of Tawa. All people in this kingdom believe so.

Leah rolled her eyes in disbelief and walked away to the palace.

CABBY: now it's just me and you Lena. Let's talk Kingdom matters.

LENA: (Still admiring reflection) of course I will be queen and you will be my assistant.

CABBY: but am the smart one. The king has to be smart and handsome and wise and....

LENA: (putting her mirror in her purse) you have used many ands in one sentence so am better than you.

She stood up and walked away to the palace.

CABBY: (to himself) you're the king bro.

INSIDE THE PALACE

HESOS'S ROOM

Heso was sobbing as Leah comforted him. They were seated on Heso's bed.

LEAH: Heso remember what daddy said. He said you're his star. You need to believe that.

HESO: but I never do things right. Remember all the times I've failed. They are more than the times I have done things right. So I am not worth it, I will never amount into anything good.

LEAH: What does daddy's story of the stars say?

HESO: he says that we are like the stars in the sky. Some stars are so bright while others are so dim. If all stars were so bright, the sky wouldn't be nice to look at. If all stars were dim, the sky wouldn't be nice to look at....

LEAH: it's therefore nice to appreciate the kind of star you're. Bright or dim, you make the sky beautiful with your glitter.

Heso rubbed his tears and hugged his sister.

HESO: Thank you Leah. You're always the best of us all. If queens were voted I would vote for the.....

LEAH: (letting go of her brother) what's that?

HESO: that's the the sound of my voice. Let me finish what I....

LEAH: Do you hear that?

Foot steps were heard coming closer to Heso's room. Leah and Heso looked at the door and waited for the person to knock in vain. Then the footsteps were heard leaving the door.

HESO: That's a servant.

LEAH: No way! My instinct doesn't agree with you.

Leah went to the door and opened. What she saw raised her eyebrows.

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