The Kings' Summons
(The letter reads as follows)
Mr. G. Lestrade,
Your presence is required at the
Royal Palace on May 29th, at noon precisely.
Please endeavor to be on time,
as the meeting is of indefinable importance,
and will continue on with or without the
benefit of your presence.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
His Majesty, The King,
Mycroft Holmes
Greg's eyes widened as he took in the fancy script of the letter and even fancier signature at the bottom. Him? He was being requested for a....for a meeting of indefinable importance at the Palace? He stared blankly at the letter for a moment, his mind running through the million possibilities for why he would be being summoned. A million thoughts which were abruptly cut off when his mum snatched the letter from his hand.
"Hey!" Greg lunged forwards slightly, trying to grab the letter back. His mum held it out of reach and wagged a finger at him.
"If I had just let you stare at it, I wouldn't ever have gotten the chance to find out what it says! Now wait a moment while I read it over, and then tell me why you look as if someone just kicked your puppy." Ignoring her son's glare, she turned away slightly (so as to better avoid his grabby hands) and proceeded to read the letter.
"It's a summons. A rather fancy summons with way too many words, but a summons none the less."
"Yeah."
"For a meeting of...of indefinable importance, at noon on the 29th of May. Tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"Which will continue on with or without 'the benefit of your presence'."
"Yeah."
"And?"
Greg looked confused. "Huh?"
"Am I missing something here, or is this the entire thing?"
Greg furrowed his eyebrows as his confusion grew. "What? No, that's it, that's the entire thing. Why would you be missing something?"
His mum sighed and rolled her eyes in exasperation. Honestly, she loved her son, but sometimes he could be as simple as a llama.
"If I am in fact not missing anything, then why on earth do you look so upset? It's just a summons, for goodness sake! It's not as if they've put out a warrant for your arrest." Greg looked at his mum incredulously.
"Well yeah, but why on earth would they need me? I'm nothing special, and I'm certainly not anyone important. What could the King possibly need me for?" His arms waved around as he spoke, haphazardly and without coordination.
"Well, you are the current head of this household and our herd. Maybe the meeting has something to do with that."
He stopped flailing his arms around, so he could better scoff at him mum. "Why on earth would the King have a meeting about our llamas?! What does Royalty need llamas for, anyways?"
"Oh honestly Greg. What do you think their vests and shirts and jackets are made of, wood? They wear llama wool same as we do. And where do you think that wool comes from, eh? Here, of course!" Her hands were on her hips now, letter still clutched in one hand as she stared her son down.
A voice spoke up from the doorway of their house. "We actually have one of the largest herds in the area, and according to record, our wool is considered among the highest quality in the kingdom. Did you really get a summons to the Palace, Greg?" Sally stood in the doorway staring out at them, her large brown eyes lit up with excitement. When Greg nodded slowly, she let out a sigh of contentment. "Oh, how wonderful. I wish I got to meet the King, I've heard he's ever so charming..." and with that, she wandered back into the house.
Greg looked up at his mum, and she nodded quickly, answering his unasked question. "Sally is right, Greg. We have one of the most sought after herds in all the kingdom. Don't worry that the meeting is going to be about something bad, I'm sure it'll be just fine. Besides! You'll get to see the Palace. How awfully exciting." She handed him back the letter, before turning towards the house. "Now, I'm going to go make you and your sister lunch. You start packing for the journey; you'd probably be best off leaving tonight, so I don't want any dillydallying!"
Greg grinned and gave a cheeky salute, trying to hide his anxiety. "Yes, mam!" His mum smiled sympathetically and flicked him.
"And no more incessant worrying about this meeting, am I clear? 'What if's' never get us anywhere. Just enjoy the journey and your time at the Palace, and try not to look the fool in the presence of the King." She poked him in the chest to cement her point, before walking into the house.
Greg shook his head and looked down at the letter in his hands. 'Easy for her to say', he thought bitterly to himself as he stood there in the yard. 'She isn't the one who has to go and meet the...the King.' Greg took a deep breath and let it out slowly, before straightening up and pulling his shoulders back. His mum was right; he was the man of the house, and no matter what this meeting was about, it was his responsibility to go. He wouldn't let his mum or sister down. Glancing down one last time at the King's sprawling signature, Greg grinned. The Palace was gonna be awesome!