500 Words 2023: read a finalist's story from the 5-7 category

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This story was chosen as a top 50 finalist for 500 Words 2023.

Remember, spelling, punctuation and grammar are not taken into account for a 500 Words story, therefore all the top 50 stories have been published how they were submitted.

The Crown by Tom C.

There was once a menagerie in the Tower of London. Lots of exotic animals, like tigers, elephants and leopards lived in the menagerie. Many people came to the Tower of London to see the animals. A beautiful Arctic fox called Thomas, who looked like a giant fluff ball, lived in the menagerie and people loved seeing him. One day he was gone! He had escaped to meet the king of England to have a word with him.

While the fox was talking to the king, the king's crown fell off his head and landed on the fox's tail. The fox flicked his tail and the crown landed on the fox's head. He scrambled up the chimney with the gold and diamond crown on his head. He ran back to the menagerie and gave the crown to the king of the foxes. All the foxes organised a Coronation for the fox king. They sang in high and shrill voices: hahahahahahaha.

The king of England was upset that his crown was gone. He searched everywhere inside and outside the palace. He ordered the guards to look too and they searched every nook and cranny, but there was no sign of it.

All that year the king of England was sad. He loved that crown and so did his people. Lots of people volunteered to help look for his beautiful crown. The king went on horseback from castle to castle in the hunt for his crown. Everywhere he went the people waved flags and cheered, but still no one could find the crown. It seemed as if the crown was lost forever. All this time the foxes laughed and laughed.

One Sunday the Arctic foxes were having a grand party. There was music, lemonade and sticky toffee pudding. The foxes played a game of boules. The king of the foxes was about to win but then Thomas managed to beat him. The polar bears in the next enclosure spotted the king of the foxes enjoying the party, while wearing the king of England's crown. Prince Henry visited the menagerie on that very day. He loved seeing all the animals, especially the polar bears. The polar bears whispered to prince Henry that the Arctic foxes had the crown.

Prince Henry was shocked! He ran round to the back of the Arctic foxes' enclosure. He gazed in surprise at the king of the foxes with the crown on his head. At that moment, the king of the foxes jumped up and down in anger at losing the game of boules. The crown fell from his head, rolled out of the enclosure and prince Henry snatched it up from the ground.

Prince Henry ran all the way to the palace and into the throne room where he presented his father, the king, with the lost crown on a red velvet pillow. Prince Henry was given a special jewelled sword as a reward. You can still see that sword in the Tower of London today.

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