In the Kingdom of Once Awake, the royal monarch could not sleep.  The maids made his bed with very soft, scented sheets.  Everyone tiptoed around at night, being still and nearly as quiet as spiders.  Still, the King tossed this way and that, never even a wink of sleep as day claimed the night.  This made the once jovial King not as spry.  He lost his laughter and spring.  'This is unheard of,' said his lovely wife and Queen.  'You must find your sleep.  You must once again dream and play amidst your mind.'  'It is useless,' he grumbled, and yawned quite loud.  'I am unable to find comfort on the sofette, or my bed or in a crowd.'  'We will call a meeting of the Counsel of Hope, for certain they will find a way to solve this problem of such scope.'  The counsel found a solution for certain, a prize of great wealth to be given to whoever found a cure for the King.  Many arrived but only four were selected.  The first was a shepherd with a herd of sheep.  'You must count them, m'Lord and you'll soon be off your feet.'  The King obliged but, alas, it did not work.  A huge sigh could be heard here and there and everywhere.  'Next,' the crier called out, noting that the King was discouraged.  A farmer arrived with a great cow.  Much to the assemblage's amazement, he milked it in front of them all and provided a mug all so warm.  He presented it to the King and asked him to drink it down.  Once again, the King did as he was told, but all that the milk provided was a great burp.  Another citizen strode into the room.  A beautiful young girl with a harp all tuned.  She asked the King to settle upon his throne and sit just right and close his eyes.  He did as she played a gentle song and sung like a nightingale. For a little while all had such hope, but soon he was up and paced about.  He simply could not fall asleep.  'Is there anyone at all who could help me sleep?'  A small little voice appeared in the chamber.  'I can, Your Majesty.'  'Surely not a little boy as small as you can manage to get a grand King to sleep.'  'Of course I can,' said the boy with a smile and a wink.  The King sat on his throne, knowing this was a waste, but then the boy started a tale about a king who could not sleep.  Before you knew it, the entire room snored, and the little boy smiled and walked out the door.

Author's Statement

Authors in sync, Cynthia DiSciullo and William Zigmont, are residents of Delaware and have just attended a Read-aloud Delaware seminar.

As modest elders sprinkled by naivety and enriched by optimism, our proclivity leans toward whimsical fantasy and honest love; the truism of love. "If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate." This ideal encapsulates our vision; it honed by past publishing accomplishments and enriched by melding of talents.

Edward Burne-Jones' The Council Chamber channeled our fanciful and playful imagination while adoring the depicted dilemma.

The following quote resonates a truth within us. "There are three things that will endure, faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love." We are proud to be driven by love.

Cynthia and William have sixty plus years writing experience. Yes, they started quite young. In the womb, I believe.

Their work misted with titles such as "The Meow-Bow Gang," "The Princess and the Zoo," "The Tree that went Fishing," and "The Ghost of Judge Morrison's Estate"; stories glowing with respect, patience, honesty, trust, loyalty, faith, hope, and yes, love, are intended to provide answers to the "whys" of a child.

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