Sir Grandjoy

By Avin Telfer

Chapter One

Jeffery studied the plaque under the statue, nodded, and turned to the fellow rabbit next to him.

"I'm old."

"22 is old now?" she asked, leaning on Jeffery's shoulder.

"I'm serious, look!" Jeffery gestured to the figure standing before them in the center of the room. "Sir Grandjoy of Rabbittown ruled an entire Lagomorph kingdom by age 19."

"Yeah, but," Melissa reached her paw up and stroked Jeffery's long ears "that's because of his parents! He didn't earn the crown. It was probably given to him."

Jeffery signed. "You know, don't just admire the art, read the stuff they put next to it." He gestured to the plaque he just read. "It says here Grandjoy was born a commoner. Or at least, the son of a wealthy merchant. He became a Price when he married Princess..." His brow furrowed "...Princess Happysmile? What the hell kind of name is 'Happysmile'?"

Melissa smirked. "Is it that much worse than 'Grandjoy'?"

"I guess. None of the other games here are that... I don't know-"

"Simple?" A voice interjected.

Melissa and Jeffery turned to their left to see an older badger, dressed in the museum uniform and holding a clipboard.

"That's a keen eye, that plaque does not tell the whole story."

"That so? Why's that?" Jeffery asked as his ear perked up.

"Oh, the whole story wouldn't fit so neatly. Besides," the badger leaned in with a conspiratorial grin, "during his reign, Grandjoy the first ordered most of the historical records be destroyed. It was many years later before Historians found hidden writings that revealed the truth."

"So Grandjoy was kind of a dick, then?" Melissa asked, her curiosity peaked.

"Why would he do that? Wasn't he supposed to be like, the 'king for the people' or something?"

"Ah, that would be his son, Sir Grandjoy the second. Also known as the last king of the Lagomorphs."

"Last?" Melissa asked.

"Yeah, they're going over this in class!" Jeffery interjected, "He, like, enacted like the first democracy in the ancient kingdoms or something."

The badger let out a soft chuckle. "Not quite," he said wiping his brow with his sleeve. "It was more like he was part of creating the first representative parliament. Sir Grandjoy the second used his role as King as more of a mediator and judge, rather than a noble ruler. Because of that, he was loved by his people and ruled longer than most in his era. He declared the end of the absolute monarchy, and converted the kingdom into what is now called a 'crowned republic.' Shortly before his death, he nominated his replacement from outside his bloodline. It was the first time that had ever been done in recorded history."

"Sounds like he was a pretty great guy." Jeffery said as he looked at the various paintings of Sir Grandjoy the second around the room. "But that doesn't explain why his father tried to cover up history."

"No, it does not." The badger agreed. "My name is Christopher, by the way. I'm one of the historians here. I put together this whole exhibit on the Grandjoy the second."

"If everything here is about Grandjoy the second," Melissa asked curiously, "why is a statue of his father here in the middle?"

"Well, to understand the son, and why he did what he did, you have to understand his families' history."

"A history that was lost? Until the hidden records were found?" Jeffery asked, pointing his finger at his head to show he remembered.

"Correct!" The badger grinned, happy to have found an interested audience.

"But Melissa's question still stands," Jeffery continued, "If it is so important, why is this the only thing at the museum we've run into so far about Grandjoy the first?"

"Ah, well," the Badger cleared his throat, and began in a different voice clearing mocking someone else, "this museum is for families, we don't need to rub peoples faces into dirty nasty things just because they're true."

"Ok," Melissa pointed out a corner of the room with a few chairs. "Now, you HAVE to tell us the story."

Jeffery nodded eagerly, his rabbit ears fully extended with excitement.

"Happily!" Christopher nodded, and the three moved from the statue to the nearby chairs. "This may be a long story. Do you have the time?

"We have all day," Jeffery looked down at his watch. "do you mind if I take notes? We're here on assignment."

"'We're'? I'm not in your class" Melissa teased, poking him in the arm.

"Fine- I'm supposed to write a paper for my art history class," Jeffery pulled out notepaper and pens from his backpack. "and I think I may have just found the perfect topic."

Christopher's face was lit up with excitement. "I think you may have!"

Clearing his throat, he began the story.