A king without fortune.

2021
A KING WITHOUT FORTUNE
READING AND WRITING II
GERSON JAVIER PALACIOS NAVARRO.
ELSY JEANNETH GARCIA VIGIL.
EDGAR RIGOFREDO BERMÚDEZ MAGAÑA.
JUNE 2ND, 2021.

A KING WITHOUT FORTUNE.
Once upon a time in a kingdom far, far away in Scotland, a king named George
lived with his beloved wife who suffered from a chronic disease, they both lived
together for many years and had two children named Edgar and Elsy. Both
Children were twins and were alike in certain aspects physically: They were both
tall and had brown eyes, the skin of both twins was white, and they also had
straight brown hair. In addition, they both looked very elegant which they inherited
from their mother. Since their birth, they had received the same education and
the same privileges, but the truth is that although they shared certain physical
similarities, the way they behaved was completely different.
Unfortunately, his mother passed away a few months after the birth of both
children. Some time later, their father, King George got married again with one of
his maids with whom he fathered another son named Gerson. Unlike his
stepbrothers, he did not share physical similarities with them, he was small, darkskinned
and had wavy hair.
Edgar was a young man with high aspirations and he was very ambitious, with
sophisticated tastes. He also cared a lot about his physical appearance and about
what people would say about him. He liked nothing better than showing her
luxurious possessions and wasting his money on very fine and expensive jewelry.
Elsy, on the other hand, did not take much importance to material things, she did
not like to work a lot and her main goals and aspirations were spending her time
from party to party, enjoying her life with her friends from other kingdoms.
Gerson, the stepbrother of Edgar and Elsy, was the most humble and did not
consider himself worthy of the riches of the kingdom. The only thing that mattered
to him was reading and writing about art and culture, so he liked to spend his
days in the palace library and he also liked to learn to play musical instruments.

Over the years, when the three guys were of legal age, King George wanted to
surprise them. The king summoned his magistrates and his sons and daughter
to a feast and banquet in the great hall to announce the surprise.
After the banquet was over, the king rose from his chair to announce the great
surprise expected by all his guests, especially by his children.
His two twin children, Edgar and Elsy looked very happy and did not hesitate to
stand up. On the other hand, his third son, Gerson seemed disinterested and he
did not want to stand up until his father asked him to do it. When the three guys
were standing in front of him, they wondered why their father had summoned
them to that banquet.
- My children, I am honored to have you in front of me on this important day of
your life. Who would say that the three of you would become great people, it
seemed like you were born yesterday, because for me you are still the same
playful kids. However, now you are adults, so I have decided to give a surprise.
Excitement broke his voice and he had to pause a little before he could continue
his speech.
- I have to confess that I have been thinking for months what to give you on this
important occasion and I sincerely hope that you like what I have arranged for
you.
The king took a small wooden box that was on the table next to him and from
inside he took out three leather bags tied with a golden ribbon.

- Come over and take a bag each of you!
After each one took their bag, their father continued talking.
- Each bag contains a thousand silver coins. I think that it is enough for you to
enjoy in whatever you want to do for a month! You are now adults and each of
you has the freedom to do what you want and spend the money on what you
consider best.
His children looked at each other in surprise and thought about what they could
do for a month with all that money since they had the freedom to spend it on what
they wanted, where they wanted and how they wanted. At first, when they heard
that their father had a surprise for them, they had only imagined a party
celebrating their adulthood, but they never imagined that magnificent and
amazing surprise.
- The only condition that I have for you is that tonight you have to start thinking
about what you will do with the money. So, prepare everything you will need
during this month because tomorrow at noon you will be free to go wherever you
want and to do with the what you consider best. Keep in mind that in a month you
will have to come back and report to me in this very room what you have done
with the money during the next month.
The two twin sons, still surprised, thanked their father and gave him a big hug.
With the exception of his last son who at the very beggining refused to receive all
that money because he thought it was not necessary, but finally after a talk with
his father, he accepted.
Later, each of them returned to their bedroom thinking about the number of things
they could do with the money during that month.
When the clock struck twelve o'clock the king's children left the palace,
determined to enjoy a unique and unforgettable month. Obviously, each one took
the direction that they wanted according to their own plans.
Edgar decided to sail to the most famous island that was in the south of the
kingdom, there the most powerful and wealthy families of the entire kingdom were
concentrated and he believed that the time had come to meet them.

Elsy, as a good adventuress that she was, went to the north, where the best
carnivals and festivals in the kingdom were held. She needed to have fun and
have a good time and she knew that the north was the right place to enjoy her
goods. Gerson, concluded that the best thing was not to make plans, but to travel
the kingdom without a fixed course or without a specific destination to which to
go.
Day after day passed, until it was finally the time to return to the kingdom where
they had to be in the main room to report back to their father about what they had
done during that time.
While his children entered the room, each one greeted their father, who received
them with great joy and affection and told them to keep their luggage in their
rooms and to prepare for a welcome dinner where they would also have to report
to him everything they did during that time.
- Dear children, welcome. You can't imagine how much I've missed you! This
castle was so empty without you… What are you waiting to tell me about your
adventures? I am eager to know!
- The truth is that I had a magnificent trip! It didn't take me more than a couple of
hours to get to the most prosperous city in the kingdom, Edgar said.
- Wow, I'm so surprised! And how did they receive you?
- Wonderfully! As soon as they found out about my presence, the magistrates of
the kingdom entertained me with a banquet and a party in honor of my visit to
which the entire kingdom was invited.
In addition, the time I stayed there I was hosted in one of the most luxurious
rooms in the castle, I tasted exquisite delicacies, and I was introduced to a
beautiful and sophisticated duchess who stole my heart.
Edgar thought for a moment, recalling with allegory those moments so special to
him as he showed his bag of coins.
- And look at my bag. It's still full! They have invited me to everything, so of the
thousand coins I have only spent 50. A month of luxury!… Great! not?
The impudence of Edgar made his father laugh.

- ha ha ha! It is clear that you have enjoyed and I am very happy for you.
Next, the king looked at another of his children.
- And you Elsy, have you had as much fun as your brother?
The nice girl was also mad with joy.
- Oh, yes, yes, more than good! I can say without lying that it has been the best
month of my life!
- Don't tell me! We are eager to know your adventures.
- It is difficult to summarize everything I have experienced in a few words! I will
only tell you that shortly after leaving I came across some circus carriages in
which a company of more than thirty artists was traveling. Since they didn't
recognize me, I told them I was a buffoon going north and they let me join the
group. It was awesome! In every town they went they put on a show that left
everyone speechless. There were a lot of artists.
- Wow, that all sounds good! It must have been a lot of fun!
- Yes! I sat down between the audience to watch it, but the best came later,
because once they picked up the tools they were using, we used to go to dinner
and dance under the moonlight.
Oh, what a carefree life that of those people! If it weren't for the fact that I am the
king's daughter, I assure you that I would be a juggler.
Elsy stared blankly as she recalled her memories. A few seconds later, she
added:
- By the way, they hosted me and gave me food as an exchange for helping them
with their presentations. I had so little expenses that I bring back almost all the
coins I took!
The father sighed thinking that his daughter was hopeless.
- Oh, my dear Elsy, when will you settle down? Just look at you and all the
extravagances you like to do!
Anyway, I am very happy that this trip has been so pleasant for you.

Finally, it was the third brother's turn.
- Well, now only you are missing. Tell us how you have been!
Gerson didn't seem too satisfied.
- Well, I wanted to see with my own eyes how the inhabitants of this kingdom live.
For a month I visited all the farms I could and speak with a lot of farmers about
the things that worried them the most, such as the shortage of seeds and the lack
of rain in recent years. I must say that they were all very nice and shared with me
what little they had.
The old man fixed his gaze on the young man and asked:
- It doesn't sound too funny, right? My son, do you want to explain to me how all
that has helped you?
Gerson answered without hesitation.
- It has helped me to see the reality and to know what happens beyond the palace
walls! Those of us who are here have everything, but out there, most of the
population works from sunrise to sunset under very harsh circumstances. Do you
know that many people out there do not have the appropriate tools which facilitate
their tasks in the countryside? It is sad to see that most people survive eating
bread and cheese because they have nothing else on their tables.
Despite the fact that what he was telling was very depressing, Gerson did not fall
apart and exposed the positive part of the trip.
- The good thing is that I have taken note of everything and I have a lot of ideas
that we can carry out to improve the living conditions of all those people!
Regarding my coins, I am sorry to say that I come with an empty bag because I
distributed them to the most needy.
The king, very excited, got up and in a deep voice announced:
- When I made the decision about what to give them as a surprise and I decided
to give them freedom for a month, I wanted them to live a unique experience
following the dictates of their hearts.

All three guys held their breath as their father was getting more serious than
usual.
- But I have to confess that it was also a strategy to the test them. Look at me.
I'm already an old man! I need to rest and spend the years that I still have to live
taking care of the flowers in the garden and walking my dogs. The time has come
for this kingdom to have a new ruler to guide your destiny!
The king sighed deeply.
- As you know, the honor of inheriting the crown always falls on the eldest son,
the heir, but I have made the decision that my successor should be the one who
most deserves it of the three of you.
He removed the shining crown of emeralds, placed it on the palm of his hands,
and approached her children. The first words were for Edgar.
- Dear Edgar, you have become a man who achieves everything you set your
mind to. You like to live well and I praise it, but I hope that spending the days
among so many luxuries and riches does not rot your noble heart.
Never forget to cultivate a great virtue: generosity, which will allow you to share
part of how much you have with those who have nothing. I wish you love,
happiness and prosperity for the rest of your life.
Edgar lowered his head and the king walked a couple of steps until he was in
front of Elsy who was only a few inches away.
- Dear Elsy! You have become a woman who knows how to enjoy everything that
surrounds you. You need strong emotions and I know that you will live with
intensity until the end of your days.
I just hope that so much enjoyment does not turn you into an empty being with
nothing to offer to others. Try to make your life useful, leave an important legacy
that will never be forgotten. I wish you love, happiness and prosperity for the rest
of your life.
Finally, the king approached his third son, Gerson.

- Dear Gerson! You have become an educated and compassionate man. You
have taken advantage of all these years to study and train as much as you could
because you have understood perfectly what the responsibilities of a prince are.
You care about the welfare of your people and you care about the most
vulnerable. My heart tells me that you are the chosen one.
With that said, and to the astonishment of Prince Edgar and Princess Elsy, the
King placed the crown on Prince Gerson's head.
- From today you will be the king of this kingdom. Rule with justice and you will
bring prosperity, rule with kindness and you will be loved, rule with reason and
you will be respected for generations to come.
Like your brothers, I also wish you love, happiness and prosperity for the rest of
your life.
And so that was how for the first time a surprise gift helped a king choose his
successor.
Apparently, it was a wise decision since the new king fought to create a less
unequal society, promoted great reforms, and went down in history to be known
as one of the most generous and compassionate kings of the time.
THE END.

AUTHORS INFORMATION.
Edgar Rigofredo Bermúdez Magaña was born on January
22 nd , 2000 in San Miguel, El Salvador. He is the last child
of Edgar Bermúdez and Ana Magaña. He likes to dance all
the time since it is his favorite hobby. In his free time he
plays videogames on his computer. Since he was child, his
dream was to be a good dancer and a polyglot. Some of the
languages that he likes are English, French, Italian and Arab. He have been
integrant in different groups of dance and thanks to that he has a scholarship in
Universidad de Oriente and he is studying the bachelor degree in English
language. In the future he wants to be an English teacher and he also wants to
practice dancing as much as he can in order to teach others folk dance, for a
better country and world focused in young people in order to keep their mind busy
in good things.
Elsy Jeanneth Garcia Vigil was born on August 5th,1996.
She is the last daughter of Salvador García Trejo and
Rosalina Vigil De Garcia. During her childhood she used
to spend the time playing with dolls.
Since she was a child she always dreamed to be a good
teacher, and learn different languages like English,
Italian etc. In her stage of adolescence in seventh grade in basic education she
obtained a scholarship from English Access Microscolarship Program that
consisted of learning English.
During her young adulthood stage she became good in English so that she
decided to study Bachelor Degree in English at the Universidad de Oriente Univo.
So she believes and hopes to be a good teacher in the future and give the best
for the learning of the new generations.

Gerson Javier Palacios Navarro was born on March
21st, 1997 in San Miguel, El Salvador. He is the middle
son of Jose Palacios and Lilian de Palacios. He has an
older sister and a younger brother. During his
childhood he used to spend most of time reading
books and practicing sports.
The stage of his adolescence was very susccessful in
the academic field since he achieved as many accomplishments as he could. He
got a lot of gold medals, prizes, awards, certificates, first places in differents
competitions and contests, national and international certifications and so on. He
also got a scholarship for learning English and Computer Science from a
recognized institution in the country.
During his young adulthood stage he became more interested in the English
language and in 2019 he decided to study the Bachelor Degree in English at
Universidad de Oriente. He is currently in the middle of his English Degree and
he hopes to work as an English teacher in the future in order to contribute to the
development of new generations.