Once upon a time a prince stood in his room with only the old maid to talk to. Just like all the other days he stood next to his window watching the people and their families happily chatting away in the town square.

His parents, the king and queen, where hard workers before the little prince was born. They worked day and night to make sure the people in their kingdom stayed happy and safe. They never stopped for breaks and skipped meals often.

When the little prince was born however, they didn’t change their habits one bit. They found it too hard to adjust to the third member of their family.

The prince, feeling as alone as always, walked to the old maid who sat on her chair by the door.

“Please may you play with me” he pleaded, “Please?”

The old maid smiled apologetically and looked at the little boy.

“I’m sorry” she spoke, “I am too old to play with you. Maby when the king and queen are done with work, you can play with them!”

Suddenly, the prince burst into tears and fell to his knees. The maid tried to console him but to no avail.

Hours past and still the prince cried and cried on the floor. The maid tried everything in her power to stop him crying. Asking if he’d like some food, a nap or to be read a story. but all that did was turn his cries into sobs and his sobs to cries.

The old maid then had an idea! If she told the king and queen about this surely, they would know what to do! They were his parents after all so they must know him better than she did.

She glanced at the still crying prince quickly, before leaving.

The maid went up to the king and queens room.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

“Your majesty’s! Your majesty’s” she called, “the prince is crying, and he won’t stop. Please help!”

Both the king and queen looked up from there papers, taking a moment from work for the first time in years.

“You may enter.” Said the queen, moving herself and the king to one of the two sofas situated in front of their desks. The old maid let herself in.

“Sit” the king said. The maid did as asked sitting on the sofa opposite.

“Do you know why he is crying?” asked the queen.

“I think it’s because there’s no one to play with him.” The old maid answered.

“THAT SPOILED BRAT! Doesn’t he know how hard we work to keep him happy?!” The king bellowed rising from his seat. The queen grabbed her husband’s hand calming him and making him sit back down.

“I see” the queen began, “what have you done to calm him?” The old maid listed her numerous attempts to pacify the prince.

“AH-HA! He must want for something, perhaps new clothes. Old maid, fetch the finest clothes from the market and present it as a gift. Then he will stop his useless whining.”

As soon as those words were spoken the royals went back to work as if nothing happened. The maid set of immediately snatching the finest of silks and the softest of cotton.

The next day however….

“Your majesty’s he is crying again! In fact, it’s worse than last time!”

The queen spoke through the door “If not clothes then an allowance?”  Once more the maid hurried away.

Not even an hour later though she was back at their door “He doesn’t want money he says.”

“Toys?” the king asked.

 A few moments later after running of again “No.” the maid responded.

“A pet?”

“No.”

“Land?”

“Also no.”

“Books?”

“No thank you.”

“Sword?”

The Old maid exhausted opened the door and sat on the sofa. She let out a long weary sigh. “No, your majesties.”The king and queen who were also quite exhausted shared a look. If they didn’t know what he wanted they would just ask him!

They both stood from behind their desks and left the room not waiting for the old maid to join them.

The king slammed open the prince’s door scaring the boy almost enough to make him stop crying. Almost.

“YOU! What do you want that we have not given or offered you what?!” the king pointed at the crying boy “We work hard every day to provide for you and you disrespect us like this in return?! What is it that you want that were not giving?!”

“Please tell us.” The queen said annoyed but a lot calmer then the king.

The boy stood, not crying anymore but angry. Very, very angry. “I am crying because you don’t understand! I don’t want books or food, or land and I don’t want money, or a nap or a pet. ALL I WANT IS MY MUM AND DAD!” and with that the boy walked back to his window watching the sun that had almost set.

The parents were stunned they stood side by side blinking. They were so caught up in work that they had forgotten that they were a mother and a father.

They had sent numerous gifts trying to fill a void in their child’s heart that could only be filled with love. He needed them. Not there presents but there very presence.

“My dear, I am so so so very sorry.” The queen spoke finally.