Thread by @Joannechocolat

Cup of tea; ten minutes to kill. You know what that means. #Storytime.

Newcomers, to explain: in which I tell a story from scratch, live and on Twitter. And it always starts like this.
There is a story the bees used to tell, which makes it hard to disbelieve. #Storytime

The king of a certain country was plagued by brush fires on the edge of his lands. His Chief Adviser warned him: “You must declare a state of emergency. Build fire-breaks. Dig trenches.” #Storytime

But the king, who disliked taking advice, said: “Nonsense! Such measures are unnecessary –“ (by which he meant expensive.) “Let the fires burn themselves out. It happens in Nature all the time.” #Storytime

But the fires did not burn themselves out. They spread, and ravaged the kingdom. Reluctantly, the King sent out some of his men to put out the blaze. But it was too late, and to no avail; the brush fires kept on spreading. #Storytime

They spread across the countryside; they spread over fields and townships. Soon the whole country was ablaze, and the air was black with the rising smoke. #Storytime

“Help us, o king!” begged the people. “Our crops are destroyed; our homes are gone!”
The Chief Adviser told the king: “Act now, or it will be too late!” #Storytime

And so once more, reluctantly, the king sent out his men. This time, they dug trenches; built firebreaks; tore up trees to halt the blaze. But still the fires kept burning. And the cost to the Royal Treasury was not inconsiderable. #Storytime

And so the king recalled his men, and let the fires burn freely. #Storytime

The Chief Adviser said: “My King, I strongly advise you against this disastrous course of action.” #Storytime

But the king, who was safe in his palace, said: “Enough. We must learn to live with fire. The cost of fighting the blaze is too great. It threatens our economy. More than that, it threatens our freedom.”#Storytime

“It threatens our lives!” said the people, choking in the bitter smoke. #Storytime

“Our freedom,” repeated the king, who fancied himself an orator. “Freedom is what makes us men. Must we cower in our homes forever? No! I say face the flames! Embrace the fire!” #Storytime

He paused and gave a little cough. The smoke was reaching his tower at last. #Storytime

“Obviously, one must exercise individual caution when embracing fire,” he added, seeing the flames approaching the royal residence. “But remember – freedom is everything!”
#Storytime

"Freedom", said the flames as they rose.
"Freedom", whispered the smoke as it snaked up and along the battlements.
#Storytime
the end