Sunday 1 January 1995

The Prince Formerly Known As Rupert




Once there was a chap called Rupert.



He was always on the move.



He went sailing....



... took helicopter rides....




... flew by plane....



... balloon....



... and even travelled by giant magic snail.



However, when Rupert used the snail’s shell as a satellite dish....



... the snail’s navigational system became confused and he crashed into a sand bank....



... marooning Rupert on a desert island!



A princess found Rupert dazed and confused on the beach.



The princess took Rupert to the Royal Castle to clean up.



Washed and dressed, Rupert was led into a royal banquet.



“Ah!” exclaimed the King, “he looks fit to be a prince!”



“I do?” replied Rupert.



“I am!” agreed Rupert, feeling rather pleased with himself
“I am Prince Rupert!”
After all, why be a wet blanket? Why not go with the flow?



Everyone toasted Prince Rupert.



Well, of course, there was romance between the princess and Rupert.



Before too long a wedding was on the cards!



The King was soon drafting invitations: ‘You are invited.... blah blah blah... to the marriage of my daughter, Princess of Royal Acres to Rupert, Prince of .... er...?”



The King raised a royal eyebrow. “What is it you’re Prince of Rupert? Where is it exactly?”



“Prince?” asked Rupert.



“Why – Prince of Never Never Land!”



“Prince of the Picture of Rupert!”



“Prince of the moon....



... the sun....



... and the stars!



Prince of pumpin’ gas....



... and parkin’ cars.



Prince of all and nothing at all!"




"Oh Lordy Lordy. We've got a right one here!" thought the King of Royal Acres.




The King made a call, deciding to sort this out once and for all.



It was suggested that Rupert retire to bed and ‘sleep on it’. Maybe he could decide upon exactly where he was Prince of in the morning!



There was some one at the door.
“Come in!” said Rupert.



The door opened as if by magic and the room became full of light and flowers.



“Hi! I’m the guiding spirit of Royal Acres and I’m here to help you to know who you are.”



Rupert pinched himself to check he was compos mentis.



Suddenly Rupert found himself floating up, leaving everything behind
“Relax and enjoy”, he could hear the spirit say; though he couldn’t see him or her or it.



Rupert went up through the roof, into the sky and felt surprisingly pleasant about it all.



Some weird things had happened in Rupert’s life, but this?! He found himself in a see-through star-thing looking at all the planets and space and stuff.



Suddenly, just like the last suddenly, Rupert awoke. In bed! Wow!



He had a long hot shower that morning, recalling all that he’d seen, dreamed, felt, knew or whatever it was that had happened; or he’d imagined. He’d never be able to tell anyone. They’d think him crazy.



He laughed with himself.
“I’m the crazy Prince! Ha ha! Prince Rupert of Royal Acres!! Prince Rupert...”



“Really?!” remarked the King.
Rupert looked up. He was back on the beach.
This was getting weird.



“You’d better come home with us,” said the King with a warmth that indicated here after, they would all live happily.



That' all for now folks!
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