The jester sat at the foot of the throne, ready to alleviate His Majesty’s woes with a cleverly worded quip or jape. He sat on the steps as the king met with messengers, petitioners, and even other heads of state, watching to see when a well-executed pratfall or tumble would lighten the mood.
Late into the night, the jester would hone his skills, writing down the best jokes for the approval of the seneschal.
The seneschal made careful study of the jester’s submissions. He’d made sure the boy was sharp and observant. And the seneschal made notes of his own.

“Jester- Joker Card” by GoShows is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

My very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!

Everyday Drabbles © 2025 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0