Once upon a time in a small broken kingdom lived a boy with a big wish.  He wished for a miracle to fix his kingdom that was in pieces like a china cupboard after an earthquake.  By gluing together the pieces of his kingdom, he knew he could fix his bigger wish, to have his father be the person he remembered from when he was younger.  To put a smile back on his solemn face and fill his home with the thunderous rumble of his laughter.  Oliver remembered the days when his father tossed the ball in the front yard and waved to the townsfolk as they passed.  Oliver dreamed of the days gone by, when his father still believed he had a purpose. 

Oliver’s father was not only the most important man in Oliver’s life, but he was supposed to be the most important man in the entire land.  His father was the King of this broken kingdom, this kingdom that no longer accepted him as their king, a kingdom of violence and poverty. 

His father had been a great king, the people had loved him.  Some people still did but their voice was like a whisper compared to the people that hated him.  Many people had decided over time that the kingdom owed them everything.  They no longer wanted to work for the things they wanted.  They wanted their kingdom to provide them with the food they ate, the education they wanted, and doctors free of charge.  They wanted to make everyone equal no matter how hard people worked or what they did.  The picture they painted was perfect, but my father knew it wouldn’t work.  Where would the money come from to pay for all the things they wanted, and why would people work hard if there was no reward. He tried to explain this to the people, but they wouldn’t listen.  The people forced new laws on the land. The people forced new laws on the land.

Throughout Oliver’s life, the kingdom had been a safe place to live and the people were good.  The kingdom had one of the best guardian forces in all the land.  But now, there were very few guardians left.  The people had stopped respecting the guardians and stopped listening to them.  Oliver had witnessed a man on the street being asked by a guardian to stop, but instead of stopping he started yelling to all those who would listen that he was being picked on and it wasn’t fair. The people immediately took his side even though Oliver could see the stolen bread under his overcoat.  The guardians were seen as unfair and were disrespected by many people of the kingdom. 

Oliver knew he had to do something to save the kingdom.  He was just a kid, but there had to be a way that he could help the people of the kingdom see.  If they would only see that the path they were on was a dead end.

Oliver had heard of a wizard that lived on the edge of the Gnarly Forest.  Oliver hoped that if he could get to the wizard, maybe the wizard could help him.  Oliver packed a small bag and headed to the Gnarly Forest. 

                The forest was as dark as night and filled with the sounds from a horror movie.  Oliver was afraid, but he knew that he couldn’t give up or he would have nothing to go back to.  He needed to save his kingdom and his father. 

Oliver found the wizard’s home and knocked on the door.  The wizard was surprised to find Oliver at his door, as he had not had a visitor in years. 

Oliver explained the problems in the kingdom and the sadness in his father.  The wizard was quick to offer his help in any way that he could.  He just didn’t know how he could change the minds of the people.  Oliver knew that their kingdom would not survive the ideas of the people, but he needed them to see it.  That was it.  It was like a light bulb going on in Oliver’s head.  He needed the people to see what would come of them and their home if the kept moving the direction they were now.