The Clean-Up King Part 3

In the morning the crowd came back. Only this time they didn't just stand and laugh. This time they dropped rubbish, broke the broom, threw away the shovel and tipped over the barrow. They made the children run away, but the clean-up King still went on working. He righted the barrow and, using his hands, refilled it. As he wheeled it away the whole crowd followed him.

When they reached the quarry, and saw where he was going, they all began to shout. "In the pit, in the pit!" Then they all rushed forward and pushed the clean up King into the quarry with his rubbish. He lay on the heap of rubbish, clutching his side, when down came a torrent of cans, bottles, tins and other junk. The crowd were pelting him with rubbish. They did not stop until he was completely covered up and they could not even see one hair on his head.

Back in the city the children sat on the pavement and cried. They had seen it all but there was nothing that they could have done. Suddenly they heard someone speaking to them and it sounded like the clean up King. They looked all around but they couldn't see anyone. "I'm really here," said the King, "it's just that you can't see me anymore." "We can still clear up," he said, " but I will need your help more than ever."

The two children picked up the shovel and went to find the barrow. They started to work while the clean up King told them all about the other beautiful world. When people came to watch they told them what the clean up King had said about the other beautiful world. Most people laughed and said that it was all their imagination but some people joined them and began to help. Then the clean up King would come and speak to them too.

They are all still working now. The junk mountains have got smaller but they are still there. More people have joined them but not enough. They dream of a day when everyone lives in the other beautiful world but they know it won't happen until everyone in the city joins in their clean up. What about you, won't you?