COMMENT Most people have learnt the nursery rhyme ‘Humpty Dumpty’ from young, including my children.

But the nursery rhyme was only about Humpty’s end. Not many people know the true story how and why Humpty sat on the wall of the king’s palace; therefore, I tried out the story on my children.

They have seen Humpty in action in an animated cartoon movie a couple of years ago, but mine, they had never heard. With ears popping up, they listened intently to my version of the story.

My story, as it was told to them, was of course a lot simpler. Nonetheless, it is obvious everyone wants to listen to the story of Humpty Dumpty and why he sat on the wall.

Once upon a time

I began the story with the usual fairy-tale style: “Once upon a time...”

Four eyes were on me, as if saying, “Yes, we know that... Carry on please!” So, I continued the story.

“There was a king. He was a very sad king. He had lost a son, and his only prince and heir to the throne. Not even his prime minister could comfort him. The king was no longer interested in the affairs of his people. He left it to his courtiers to run the country.”

My son asked, “What are courtiers?”

I hastily replied, “They are people who are the king’s friends and advisers, telling him what to do or not to do.”

I went on with the story: “The queen was wicked and did not care much about the prince. In fact, it was the queen who thought that, if the son were dead, some day, there would not be any heir to the throne.

“There was also another person in the king’s circle of trusted friends. His name was Humpty Dumpty. The wicked queen decided to plot something against the king with Humpty. Humpty was the court jester. Because Humpty could roll about on his belly, he was the only one who could entertain the king and cheer him up.

“One day, Humpty thought to himself, ‘How nice if I were to become the prime minister. I would be the second most powerful man in the country. I am the only one who could cheer up the king; whatever I whisper into his ears, I am sure His Majesty would agree.

“So, one day Humpty did his usual performance for the day while the other courtiers were busy out in the country. The king was tickled by what he saw, so calling to Humpty, he asked, ‘Tell me, Humpty dear, what would you like to have for a birthday present? Tell me your wish, and I shall grant it even to half of my kingdom.’

Humpty’s wish

With a cynical smile, Humpty walked towards the king. As usual, the king gave him a big hug and patted him on his shiny bald head.

Humpty looked right into the king’s eyes. “Your Majesty,” he said, “some of your men have been bad-mouthing you since the day your prince died. They said that it was the queen who killed the prince.

“Some even said that you, Your Majesty, are the cause of your son’s death. It is time that you should remove some of these courtiers, Your Majesty.”

“Pleased with what Humpty had said, the king immediately asked, ‘Who are they, Humpty?’ One by one Humpty named them. Humpty said that he had his other egg-friends have been watching and recording everything that the ‘bad courtiers’ had said to the people.

“When Humpty came to the last person on the list, he kept silent. The king asked, ‘Any more, Humpty?’

“Humpty remained silent for a while. It was only one minute but it felt like a century for the king while waiting for Humpty to speak again. Sounding reluctant, Humpty called out to his egg friend, Ping Pong, who was hiding behind the pillars.

“Then Humpty said to the king, ‘Your Majesty, my friend Ping Pong heard this from the prime minister himself that he was backstabbing on you at one of the people’s assemblies. He said you killed your prince and stole all his money.

“Your prime minister and his men are conspiring with the enemies to remove you as king.

“The king went into a rage. ‘How can this be!’ he screamed at the top of his voice, and called for the guards to summon the prime minister.

Is this true?

“The king asked the prime minister, ‘Is this true?’ Before the prime minister could speak up, the king shouted, ‘Send him to the gallows! I do not want to see him any more.’

“So along with the prime minister, the king also sent a few others from his royal court to the gallows. No questions asked. The king had merely trusted Humpty.

“At the same time, the king announced: ‘From this day forth, I shall have Humpty as my prime minister. He shall be the second most powerful man in the country.’

“Therefore, Humpty Dumpty succeeded to become the king’s most trusted man, and contented with what he had achieved, Humpty decided to walk up huge castle walls from whence he could see the rest of the kingdom.

“You see, that was why Humpty sat on the wall. But before he could enjoy the beauty of the kingdom, which he has become the prime minister, the wicked queen came by and gave Humpty a hard jerk, pretending she was there to congratulate him.

“Realising that Humpty was losing his balance, the queen shouted to the guards. ‘Quickly, help the prime minister! For the sake of the king, go, get the men to put poor Humpty together again!’

And of course, the wicked queen laughed to herself when all the guards rushed towards the ground to help Humpty Dumpty but none of them could put Humpty together again!”

I decided not to continue on with the story on what the wicked queen did thereafter, as the time was late and kids have to be in bed.

Lessons to be learnt

There are lessons to be learnt from this story even in the adult world. Backstabbing happens all the time in politics.

When the king listened to one court jester, he had his entire perspective of things in topsy-turvy. When he removed his prime minister, it upset the entire kingdom. The prime minister was always loyal to him, but had on only one or two occasions, raised questions about the way how the kingdom was being run by the king’s other corrupted courtiers.

Instead of giving the prime minister the chance to be heard, the king reacted according to his emotions and the rumours he had heard from his court jester. He had his prime minister removed unceremoniously after listening to Humpty Dumpty’s story.

Humpty should know his position in the king’s court. Instead, he wanted to become the kingdom’s second most powerful man. He did finally achieved his dream, but God is just. Whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap.

Humpty’s sudden rise to power did not last long. He had a great fall, and never again was he able to be put together again.

In real life, we each has a role to play. The question is how we want to achieve our ambitions - whether through the Humpty way or some other means.

At the same time, the king should learn never to react to rumours told to him, even by his most trusted men.

 

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.