The Crown That Sneezed — Every day, behind the river castle’s tallest gate, Juno polished a dented tin crown until it shone like breakfast butter. It was not royal. Read the full story →
Every day, behind the river castle’s tallest gate, Juno polished a dented tin crown until it shone like breakfast butter. It was not royal. It was not even round. But it had been her first hat, from the day she hatched, and she kept it tucked in a chest with three squeaky hinges.
Until one day, a pepper beetle crawled inside the crown. “Ah-CHINK!” sneezed the crown, and a coin popped out. Because of that, the gate guards heard clink-clank-clatter and came running. Because of THAT, every child in the courtyard began shouting, “Again!” while Juno tried to sit on the chest, looking innocent and extremely lumpy.
Finally, Juno lifted the crown high. The beetle sneezed it into a shower of coins, giggles, and one very surprised pigeon. Juno laughed so hard smoke curled from her nose. The next time you spot the crown by her claws, imagine it shining like breakfast butter.
