The Catbyrd Seat (9 page)

“I don’t… understand.”

“Let me put it more simply, Mr. Byrd,” she smiled, parting her black lips to reveal shiny set of teeth. “I am the Queen, and I want you to be my King.”

“But that would mean…”

“That’s right,” she said. “I want you to marry me, you adorable little parakeet.”

The crowd fell silent, watching the moment with awed excitement.

“Will you?” she asked the stunned Prime Minister. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my husband?”

“Of… of… of course I would!” cried Mr. Byrd.

An almighty cheer rang out across the valley.

“Then I hereby swear you in as King of Huntsville,” declared Samantha, loudly speaking over the tumultuous squeaking of the happy mice residents.

Now, Mr. Byrd would reign over the whole of Huntsville, both the Kingdom and the Reservation. He knew that his first decision needed to be assigning a new Prime Minister now that he had been relieved of that job within a few short minutes of winning the seat. It would be madness to host a whole new election for the position and besides, he knew someone who would be perfect for the job.

“My first action,” he announced, raising his left wing in an attempt to gain silence again. The original speech he had planned was now quickly forgotten and pushed to the side in the face of the new events that were unfolding before them, “will be to appoint a new Prime Minister to govern over the Reservation. In order to avoid another election, I am appointing Piggles directly.”

Piggles gasped, but Mr. Byrd carried on speaking.

“Many of you will know her from the election campaign. She is loyal, trustworthy, brave, and honest. She will do what is right by the mice. She will respect your wishes and listen to you, and try her best to help you. She will be the good Prime Minister that Whiska never could be!”

“This is outrageous!” Whiska spat, having watched the entire thing with barely concealed hatred. “This is not democracy! I offered you better democracy than this!”

“My first decision as Prime Minister,” Piggles spoke up, finding her voice at last after the shock of Mr. Byrd’s declaration. “Is to have this cat arrested! Guards!”

Two lions rushed forward.

“On what charge?” Whiska demanded.

“For attempting to disrupt the election process. Grady too, for the same. And for bullying and hurting innocent mice.”

The both of them were seized, and taken to the dungeons along with Strip.

“I have a further announcement to make,” said Mr. Byrd. “From tomorrow, steps will be in place to improve the education system here in the Reservation. Some of the unused houses in Section D will be converted into schools and bookshops. It will be a hub of learning where everyone can thrive and gain new knowledge. There will be no species segregation. Everyone is equal.”

Cociel tapped Piggles on the shoulder and whispered something into her ear.

Then Piggles tapped Mr. Byrd on the shoulder and whispered something into
his
ear, passing the message along.

Finally, message received, Mr Byrd cleared his throat and made a second announcement.

“All the prisoners currently in the dungeons will be released and their charges cleared. Everyone starts out tomorrow with a clean slate and the chance to begin again.”

Cociel leapt into the air and ran over to throw his arms around Davetil. This meant one thing to him and one thing only – their mother would be coming home.

“And, with business dealt with,” continued Mr. Byrd happily. “I now declare the party officially started!”

Another tumultuous cheer erupted, followed by immediate revelry. The guards were sent to the palace to fetch jugs and goblets of milk, which were handed out liberally to everyone – cat and mouse alike, along with cheese and nibbles and a whole number of snacks. Musicians grabbed their instruments, dancers began to jig, singers raised their voices, and everyone joined in, leaping through the streets and turning the Reservation into one big dance floor.

The celebrations carried on long into the night, with the future of the Kingdom and the Reservation – and in fact, the whole of Huntsville – in new and very safe hands. History had been made and a great victory won, and the world was a brighter place because of it. For the first time in a great many years, the mice looked forward to tomorrow, and what hopes and dreams it would bring.

Emmanuel is a multi-genre writer that has frequently moved around the country and has lived at too many addresses to count. His traveling and nomadic lifestyle has provided him a journal of stories that are certain to come to life in his books.

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