The king shook his head. “Oh, Plasterer,” he sighed, “Why am I not loved?”

Plasterer blinked at him and, after a moment’s thought, opened his mouth to speak.

Wonse interrupted, “I’m that rare and awesome thing!” he said, arching his head back and making a noble pose, “Every inch a king!”

“Ha, ha!” Plasterer laughed, “You made a rhyme!”

Wonse scowled at him, “Please pay attention…” He turned back to his majestic posture and went on, “As I was saying, I’m everything that a king should be - and more! - yet I feel a great twinge of doubt.”

“HEY BOSS!”

Again, the king pouted, “WHAT now?” he roared, turning round and finding himself face-to-face with Watchtower and Fingers.

The two hyenas plonked onto their backsides beside Plasterer and gave Wonse a collective scowl, “We’ve got a bone to pick with you!” Watchtower snarled.

“Yeah,” Fingers concurred, “There’s no food, no water -”

“Was there ever any water?” Plasterer muttered, before getting smacked over the back of the head by Watchtower.

“Yeah,” Watchtower went on, “It’s dinner time and we ain’t got no stinkin’ entrées!”

“You and your petty complaints!” the King bellowed, “You don’t know what real hunger is! Day after day it gnaws at the very core of my being…”

“Oh, I had that once,” Fingers nodded dismissively, “It was worms.”

The three hyenas laughed, much to Wonse’s irritation; “Ingrates!” he snapped, “If it weren’t for me, you’d be beating off buzzards for your next bite!”

“Like we don’t already…” muttered Watchtower.

Wonse heard him. “Oh, so you’re blaming me?!”

The trio took a step back, the wild fire in Wonse’s eyes making them uncomfortable; “No!” they simultaneously professed, “It’s the lionesses! You’re worshipped and adored!”

Wonse eyed them warily but accepted their sycophantic reply with a nod; “That’s more like it.”

--End of Notes