Page 17 - Jeremiah Lollipop

“If you want me to be?” he said with a sly smile.

“I do,” said the girl.

“Where do you come from?” asked Jeremiah.

“The kingdom of the western isles. My father is king Ogglewart the

fifth.”

“Hey, wait just a cotton-pickin’ minute!” said a voice. It was the real

prince and he was striding into the room and looking very annoyed.

“Unhand that girl you knave!” demanded the prince.

Jeremiah lowered the girl to the ground and wondered if he was about

to be run through by the prince’s sword.

“Who is this young woman?” asked the prince.

“We don’t know,” said the queen, “She just arrived. She came to the

door and we gave her a bath and a bed…”

“She says she is a princess!” interrupted the king, who had also just

arrived.

“A princess?” said the prince, “How do you know?”

“She SAID she was,” said the queen, “I was trying to find out.”

“Oh the old pea in the bed test!” said the prince, “Pretty unreliable,

besides, most of the eligible women round here already know about it!”

So, what test would you prefer?” asked the king.

“I’ll go and speak to her father,” said the prince, “I think I like this

one. She’s got SPUNK!”

“You like this one?” said the queen with delight.