Thanks Feathers! Oh, that hill is steeper than it looks! Let's stop and listen to the next story. 

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Long ago, before Ferraris, Play Stations or KSI, King Jimmy Bob Aquarius Jupiter Smith ruled Luton. He was a mean King and he was feared by all the people in the land. He lived alone in a great castle on Beacon Hill, its high walls looming over the village. He was so cruel that he had banned laughter, and dancing, and plants and flowers, making the land quiet, miserable and bare. 

 

King Jimmy would spend his days lounging on a sofa, eating doughnuts and admiring his reflection in a mirror. “I am rich and powerful” he would say, wiping sugar off his chin, “and I have a mighty fine pair of legs.” 

 

Believe it or not, King Jimmy had a family, but he had banned them from living in the castle, “you are too kind to live here!” he had yelled. 

 

So Queen Darcy Gemma Brug Jupiter Smith, Prince Koi Oscar Borton Jupiter Smith and Princess Jenna Emma Emily Jupiter Smith all lived in a draughty barn outside the castle’s gates. In the morning, as the sun rose, a nightingale would wake them with its beautiful song.

 

The King had forced them to become his servants, and every day they had to be up early to chop the wood for his fires, sweep the long empty corridors and make grand feasts that only the King would eat! They would run between the kitchen and grand hall over and over again delivering food to the king until they were out of breath and exhausted.

 

Unlike King Jimmy, the Queen, Prince Koi and Princess Jenna worked hard and were very kind. They were truthful and honest and would help anyone they could. Every night, as the King yelled “now get out”, they would gather up left over food and firewood, smuggle them out of the castle and deliver them to people in need. 

 

“Here, have my cloak” Queen Darcy would say, “and place these logs on your fire”. She would make soup on the stoves whilst the Prince and Princess would play games with the children. They were all well-loved in the village. 

 

One morning, the Queen woke to find the sun high in the sky. “Koi, Darcy,” she cried, her worried voice waking them, “we have overslept, we must get to the castle at once”. 

 

“Calm yourself”, came the nightgales song, “and stay a while, for I have news to share”.

 

Flying in through the barn doors, the nightingale explained that the King had died the night before choking on a doughnut, and having banned everyone from the castle, no one had been there to save him. “I know this news is hard to hear. When you are ready, there are people outside who wish to see you.”

 

Walking out hand in hand the family gasped, all the villagers had gathered to support them. “You have been so kind to us” they said, “now we are here for you”. 

 

Things changed for Luton that day. The Queen flung open the castle gates, crying “This castle is as much yours as it is mine, let us make it all our homes”. The high castle walls were dismantled and the stones used to make houses for every single person in the village. The curtains became clothes and sleeping bags, and the Queen made promises of kindness to all of Luton.

 

A green house was built and together Prince Koi and Princess Jenna planted seeds. They planted fruit trees, apples, pears, cherries, even oranges and bananas! The bees buzzed in the air with thanks.

 

Queen Darcy baked cakes and slowly people remembered they could smile, they began to chuckle and before long the whole village was laughing once more! “We shall have a weekly party” Queen Darcy cried, “to celebrate everyone in this village and the power of working together.”

 

So they did, every Saturday! On Village View people would gather and there was music, dancing, football, jesters, pancakes, fruit juice and chips, and it is said that someone even invented burgers!

 

Take a deep breath in through your nose, hmm is that baking you can smell? Maybe Queen Darcy is still out there somewhere, making cakes and being kind. What act of kindness can you do today? It could be for your neighbour, your friend or your community. 

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Oh here’s Feathers to guide us to our next location, don’t worry it’s only a short walk up to the top of Beacon Hill. Let’s go!