King Breadius III

by Orville

In the land of Persia, a poor bread salesman, who wore a plastic sweet roll on his head, earned just enough money daily to pay his rent and buy food for his family, but nothing more.  One day, his life drastically changed.  Bandits, disguised as tourists, appeared out of nowhere and began stealing priceless items, such as shiny gems, glittering statues, and gigantic books.  Following their spiteful plan, they ravaged the city until they were so hungry they were incapable of any more thievery.  They spied out a place to eat: the baker's shop.  Before the baker was aware of the bandits' presence, they stealthily snuck inside the shop.  To the salesman's shock, they aimed sharp arrows at the man's plastic sweet roll and demanded they be given bread or his sweet roll would be decimated.  The salesman ran down the road as fast as he could as the bandits chased him and shot flaming arrows at his head.  What was he to do?

Finally, he discovered a cave where he could hide from his pursuers.  As he ducked inside, the thieves darted past him.  After they had passed, he foolishly advanced further into the cave without thinking of the potential dangers.  The cave's interior was gigantic!  He located many gleaming, gargantuan jewels within the mountain's core.  Surprisingly, instead of overfilling his tiny pockets with diamonds, he noticed a dusty, old lamp and grabbed it for his wife.  He feared he would be cursed for stealing the diamonds, but knew his wife, who was afraid of the dark, would put the lamp, which had obviously been thrown away, to good use.  Zooming out of the cave, he left the diamonds behind and dashed for home before he could be spotted by the villains.

While he was running, he inspected the rusty lamp.  After he was safely home alone, the bread salesman blew on the lamp and polished it to make it eye-catching for his meticulous wife.  Suddenly, a monstrous, dull cloud exited from it.  He was astonished.  Growing in fear, he started to run, but a voice called to him, "STOP!"

"Who-oo are y-you?" asked the baker.

"I am the Great Genie.  I am extremely grateful for your assistance in releasing me from this nearly inescapable prison.  Therefore, I shall  bestow upon you great wealth.  When you wake up tomorrow, you will be as rich as the king."

The baker ran away, not knowing whether to be happy or frightened.  The next morning, he did not just awaken with the riches of the king, he was coronated as king.  He never had to sell bread again because, for the rest of his days, he reigned as King Breadius III!