The Jumping Jester

The Jumping Jester

Jack the Jester loved to jump. He jumped on the chairs. He jumped on the table. He made the people laugh.

But sometimes, people didn’t laugh. Sometimes Jack broke things. Stop that jumping! said the maid. Sometimes Jack spilled things. Stop that jumping! said the cook.

Sometimes Jack knocked things over. Stop that jumping! said the children. That jester must stop jumping, everyone said.

The king sent for the jester. You must stop jumping, said the king. But I love jumping, said Jack. I’m sorry, said the king. This jumping has to stop. So Jack the Jester stopped jumping. He was very sad.

The maid was sad, too. She stopped cleaning. The cook was sad, too. He stopped cooking. The children were sad, too. They stopped playing. Soon, everyone in the palace was sad. They all stopped laughing.