The Flying Pig

THE FLYING PIG

         In the land of Oink, King Chops had a dream. In his dream he saw a strange pig with large pink wings, big blue eyes, and a friendly smile. The wings flapped up and down, up and down, and took the pig wherever he wanted to go. This dream-pig was so well-liked by the pigs of Oink that they wanted to make him king!

         King Chops woke up very worried. What if this dream came true and my fellow countrypigs no longer wanted me for their king, he thought. I must see that it does not come true.

         The king called his trusted advisor, Smartswine, and told him that a new law was to be made. "From this day forward, all pigs have to walk . . . they may not fly. See that every pig in the land hears of this rule."

         Smartswine bowed. "Yes, Majesty. It will be done."

         Before the bright, yellow sun had set, Smartswine had nailed posters up all over Oink, and the front page of the newspaper, The Daily Porker, announced in huge letters: PIGS CAN'T FLY -- BY ORDER OF THE KING!

         Now, since none of the pigs in Oink could fly, this seemed like a very silly law. But the pigs loved King Chops, so they did not complain.

         One day, not long after, the pigs of Oink were astonished to see something soaring high in the sky -- way up where the blue meets the clouds. They stood, staring upward.

         "What is it?" one pig asked.

         "It is too big to be a bird," another said.

         Finally, the object in the sky flew lower, where all could see.

         "It's a flying pig!" they grunted. "A flying pig with wide, pink wings!"

         The winged pig landed softly amongst them, its hooves kicking up small puffs of dust. He folded his beautiful wings across his back as the pigs of Oink gathered around him, all trying to talk at the same time.

         "Where are you from?"

         "Where did you get those wings?"

         "Oh, look . . . such pretty, big, blue eyes!"

         The little pig answered all of their questions. "My name is Hammond . . . Hammond Aiggs, and I come from the land of Squeal, far away in the mountains," the pig explained. "All the pigs in Squeal have wings because the mountains are too high to climb."

         While Hammond spoke to the crowd, Smartswine watched from the castle. He handed his binoculars to the king. "There, Majesty, do you see him?"

         King Chops peered through the binoculars. "Yes. It is the very pig from my dream. You say you saw him flying . . . though it is against my law for pigs to fly?"

         Smartswine nodded. "Should I have him arrested and put in the pigpen for breaking your law?"

         "Not yet. I want to see if my countrypigs like him more than they like me, as they did in my dream. Find out all you can about this winged pig and report back to me," King Chops said wisely.

         Smartswine disguised himself by painting his own pink skin white with black spots and by wearing dark glasses. Then he talked to the pigs of Oink. He learned that Hammond came from far away and that many of the pigs thought Hammond was very special -- because he could fly.

         That was all the king's advisor needed to hear. He called for the castle guardhogs to arrest Hammond and bring him before the king.

         King Chops sat on his throne, his golden crown atop his head. He peered down at Hammond through his tiny, black eyes. "Is it true you flew over my land and broke my law?"

         "That is true, Your Swineness. But I did not know of your law."

         "And is it true that the pigs of Oink think you should be king . . . because you fly?" the king grunted.

         "No, Sire. They think I am special, but they are happy with you, King Chops. And besides, I do not wish to be king," Hammond said.

         The king frowned. "Why would you not wish to be king? You are unusual and can do things that I cannot."

         Hammond looked up at the king with his honest, blue eyes. "I am not special. No more than any pig. Your advisor, Smartswine, is special because he is loyal to you. You, Majesty, are special because you are so wise and lead your countrypigs so well. Each of us is special in some way, but not one of us is any better than another."

         King Chops wrinkled his snout and thought about what Hammond had said. At last, he smiled. "You are right, little friend. Thank you for reminding me that every pig has something to offer for the good of Oink." Turning to Smartswine, the king waved his hoof above his head. "My loyal advisor, I have a new law for you to tell all of Oink about: Pigs can fly . . . by order of the king!"

         Hammond unfurled his feathered wings and flew in lazy circles above King Chops, happy to have made friends with the good pigs of Oink.

The End

Images courtesy of Shaara