Lester looked and saw a forest full of animals standing and staring at him. There were mice, moles, rabbits, doves, owls, robins, foxes, red-tailed hawks, coyotes, wolves, snakes, eagles, hawks and falcons. He could actually hear a female rabbit thinking, “This is our new herbal wizard? He has a lot to learn about commanding respect. Maybe the man wizard will be able to teach him?” and a red fox thinking, “Well, I don’t think I have anything to worry about with this one. He won’t cause me any harm because I can outsmart him.”
Lester made a mental note to watch out for him.. “Let’s see, he has black tips on his ears and a black heart shape on his nose. Those identifying marks will help me keep up with him.”
The man wizard said, “If I may have your attention, you have all been gathered for a coronation. Allow me to introduce myself, in case some of you don’t know who I am. My name is Nogdorf the Great Wizard of the Mighty Forest. You are here for the crowning of the new herbal wizard of the south, Lester Rabbit. This is a momentous event, because as many of you know who have been around for a while, we have been without an herbal wizard here in the south for three years now.
“After the crowning, Lester Rabbit will be trained in the art of herbal medicine. This will be a valuable aid to each of you. So, in preparation for the coronation, I ask each of you to raise your paws in the air and hold them toward Lester to share your energy with him,” Nogdorf said.
“Lester, please kneel down,” and as he did, Nogdorf raised his sword.
“Don’t kill me please!” Lester said, trembling.
Nogdorf looked up toward heaven and said, “Dearie me, Lester I am not killing you; I am going to anoint you with oil and will lightly tap you on the shoulders with the sword to show the importance of this procedure.”
Stolen story; please report.
Lester sheepishly said, “Oh, I see. Yes, ahem, I knew that. Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s do this. “
Nogdorf rolled his eyes and picked up the small vial of oil. He sprinkled it on Lester’s head, saying as he did,” Quanto harmonious botanicalness. Herbaceous scintillating rabbitofagus.” As he finished, the scent of jasmines and gardenias surrounded the whole party of animals and roses of every hue floated upward, gently swirling around each other till they were out of sight. Lester transformed into an orange rabbit with a fu manchu mustache, still wearing the rainbow clothes. Nogdorf said in English, I crown thee the Herbal Wizard of the South, '' and put the wizard hat on Lester.
There were great ooohs and aaaahs and the animals showed their respect by bowing before Lester. The animals filed out after bowing and congratulating Lester to return to their business. Lester watched as the last of them left the area and then turned to Nogdorf and asked him, “Where is my throne? “
Nogdorf looked down his nose through his round spectacles and said, “Your what?”
“My throne. Of course I will have a throne since I am so important,” Lester explained.
Nogdorf’s face turned red and he held his breath so that he wouldn’t speak until he cooled down. When he finally gathered his composure, he said, “Lester, have you ever heard of someone being green behind the ears?”
“Ahem, of course, I wasn’t born yesterday,” Lester said proudly.
“Well, that is what you are and although your position is important, you are a novice and you have much to learn. You won’t have a throne. You will be moving around the forest a lot. You must be mobile in order to visit the ones who need your help and to be able to gather the herbs. The herbs must not be gathered in bulk, except in preparation for the wintertime, but must be gathered fresh before each use,” Nogdorf explained. “We will be spending a great deal of time together, in fact I will expect you to meet me here every day at 4 in the morning and your wife should not expect you home until 6 in the evening. Make plans accordingly.”
