King Harry

Harry thought he was going to enjoy being king until he returned from the coronation and found everybody skinny-dipping in the moat behind the castle.

"It's not proper," he said to his wife.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because you're the queen now, Wanda, and it's unseemly for you to be swimming nude with the servants and neighborhood kids."

"Oh, poo, Harry," she replied, and did a very nice swan dive off the drawbridge.

Harry sighed and wandered back into the castle. As he sat on the throne pondering, Princess Loretta, his thirteen-year-old daughter, came skipping down the spiral marble staircase, shedding articles of clothing.

"Hi, Daddy," she said, pulling off her T-shirt. "I've finished my homework and piano practice. I'm going for a swim."

"Uh...Loretta..." But she was already out the door. Harry heard the swimmers yelling and whistling as she emerged onto the bridge. She was already popular with the subjects. He heard the splash when she dove, followed by cheers and laughter.

Later, at the first meeting of the Royal High Council, Sir Bob, the minister of finance, welcomed Harry to the throne and expressed the hope that he would have a long and prosperous reign. The others present tapped the table and muttered, "hear, hear" in agreement.

(To Be Continued)