Paco spoke sternly. “This boy is harmless! We’re going to sit down and discuss what to do about Farangis and his planned attack.”

“Who died and made you king?” a rooster crowed from the back.

A chicken jabbed him with her wing. “Could you have said that any tackier?”

But others joined in. “Paco the Brave is now Paco the King!”

“I am not your king,” he said softly, then looked at Benjamin. “He is!”

They all gasped. “Have you gone mad?” asked an incredulous bushy-tailed squirrel. “A human as our king?!” Voices around the hall were raised in disagreement.

Benjamin was alarmed, too. “Paco, I’m not sure what this is all about, but I really don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Listen to the boy, Paco,” snapped an old white poodle.

“What was that?” Paco asked.

“She said you need to listen to the boy!” honked a gray goose.

Paco grinned mischievously. “You’re saying I need to listen to the king?”

“Yes! Yes!” the animals shouted in unison.

“There, then,” Paco said, pleased. “It’s settled. We agree that the boy is our king.”

In the stunned silence Paco knelt before the boy and declared, “Hail, King Benjamin!”

Benjamin was scared. “No! No, you’re badly mistaken!”

“You heard them all,” Paco said, still bowed. “They agree. You’re our leader.”

“Paco…look…I…I need to get going. My parents are waiting for me.”

“Will you come back today?”

“Um, well, if I have time. I really don’t know.” Benjamin looked at the faces staring at him and slowly backed away. “But, again, it was nice to, um…it was nice.” He spun around and ran through the darkness. This place is getting crazier!

Paco’s faint voice echoed from the hall. “Until next time, King Benjamin!”

Benjamin automatically grabbed the rolled-up newspaper as he ran by the box. Their king? What do they want from me? He tossed it on the kitchen table.

“Where’d you walk to?” his dad asked, taking off the rubber band.

“Off the road a little bit. Kind of across from the driveway.”

“There’s a lot of interesting places out there.”

“You got that right,” Benjamin said under his breath.

“Be careful though, son. There are poisonous snakes around.” His dad peered over the top of the sports page.

“And possums, squirrels, pigs, dogs, geese, sheep…” Benjamin murmured, walking toward the stairs.

“Oh, sweetie,” his mom said, sipping her coffee. “We’re going out to eat after church. Remember your dad is leaving tonight. He’ll be gone ’til next Friday.”

Benjamin had forgotten about the business trip. Who could blame him?

They soon left for church and the house was quiet…unlike the kingdom at the end of the driveway.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Paco’s Proposal