The Golem

CHAPTER 1

It all started a long time ago, in Prague, the King at that time was very old. I'm Lihoy, I was 13 years old back then, son of a famous rich merchant and a famous singer. Pivo and I were best friends, until the king died and he didn't have kids to pass his kingdom. He didn't have any brothers or sisters. So all the people who lived in the kingdom had to choose between 10 young kids. Pivo and I were two of them. My family's tradition was that I had to be famous or someone important. Pivo was instead a perfect kid that would do anything for his rich family that could show them that he could be even more perfect.

CHAPTER 2

At school, Pivo was the classic annoying boy that knows everything and I was that normal kid who doesn't care about school that much. I don't know how we were best friends because we were the complete opposite of each other. I was a funny guy who laughs a lot instead Pivo was the perfect little guy. We were best friends untill the day the king died. Then we hated each other because we were rivals at the decision of the next king. Now, the first test was announced by the minister:

"You will have to start with a very easy test, you'll have to help poor people and you will learn how to sit at the table and how to eat as a king, you will have to mark 10 or 9.5 points to pass this test, if less, you are out! Questions?

-How much time do we have to learn everything, asked a random kid?

-10 minutes!

-How long will the helping poor people last?

It was obvious that by asking that question you could understand that Pivo didn't care about poor people, in fact his family came in this conversation:

-I'm sorry but my Pivo will not help poor people, he is in a rich family! And also kings don't help poor people!

-Oh, I'm sorry ma'am, as I was saying, the helping poor people will last one hour and a half!

-Didn't you just hear what my mother said?! My family is the richest family of this kingdom!

-So I have no choice except to disqualify you, unless you help poor people!

I told him he should do it:

-And why should I trust you?"

And that is when I realised we weren't friends anymore...

The test started ten minutes after.

This test was very easy, I got 10 points and Pivo 9.5. He was very mad at me. The minister disqualified a young boy and then we were free to go. At school things weren't like they were before, I was actually kind of sad. Pivo avoided me, but when he had something to say, well he said it. I wasn't avoiding him, I wanted to be his friend again:

"Pivo, I don't think that we should avoid each other just because of the king thing, maybe we could be friends at school and rivals at the competition, what do you think?

-Friends? Well...

-I knew you would have wanted to be friends again!

-... No!

-What?!

-Oh, you didn't let me finish my sentence!

-...

CHAPTER 3

So when the minister arrived, we were all anxious for the next test: the Goblin.

I know there are a lot of goblins in the world, but not like this one.

"So today's test is going to be against the Goblin, you will go in the forest, look for the Goblin, kill him and bring back his body to prove you killed him. The last to arrive will be disqualified! Questions?

-Can we steal the Goblin's body from the person who killed the Goblin?

When he said that, Pivo stared at me 'cause he knows I'll probably kill the Goblin, I'm the best fighter in this Kingdom.

-No, you can't steal!

-How will see if we stole the body?

-You will have to find a way!"

The test started, we went in the forest, on horses. Pivo followed me everywhere to find the Goblin. When I saw the Goblin eating, I got down my horse and slowly attacked. Pivo was distracted, which was a good thing. It wasn't hard, when I was sure the Goblin was dead, I turned him around to see his face. You can recognise the Goblin from a scar on his left eye. I had our family symbol that I burned on his stomach. I put on my horse and ran as fast as I could, to arrive first with the Goblin. I know you might think where Pivo went, and let me explain: Pivo heard a sound the opposite side of the forest, he didn't want to leave, but he couldn't see me anymore, he thought the Goblin killed me.

The minister,just to be sure I killed the Goblin waited a while, even though there was the family symbol. When he was sure it was me, he announced the time it took me to chase it: 5 minutes. We waited for the others and announced who was disqualified: Pivo.

I know it's hard to believe but he arrived last:

-Pivo you are disqualified!

-It's not fair! Lihoy stole the Goblin from me!

-I didn't!

-Minister, he's lying!

-I'm not!

-Yes you are! And you know it!

Then, for some reason his mom entered the conversation:

-If Pivo says he's lying, it means he is lying!

-That won't solve anything ma'am! My parents could say the same thing!

-My Mother is right, if I say you're lying, then you're lying!

-Well then how come there's MY family symbol and not yours? Explain 'cause I really want to know!

-Euh...

-Now you're blushing!

-I'm not! You stole the Goblin from my hands! Now, prove to me you're right!

-Prove to me I'm wrong!

Now, I know I said I didn't care about school, but it doesn't mean I'm stupid, actually I'm decently intelligent.

-I can't.

-So....

-I admit that you didn't steal it.

-It was about time!"

After what happened in the competition, Pivo had no friends. He did come to me to ask if I wanted to be his friend again:

- Lihoy, I'm so sorry about the competition, I overreacted. But I was wondering if you wanted to be my friend again.

-Friends? Well...

-I knew you wanted to be friends again!

-... No!

-What?!

-You didn't let me finish my sentence.

CHAPTER 4

You all know that Pivo can't partcipate to the competition. He was mad at me for some reason. He said it was my fault. It always is. And I do feel guilty, I don't know if it is his attitude or if maybe he is just right. Either way I could have told the Minister he was saying the truth. So yeah, I guess it is my fault. I don't deserve to be King.

That thought turned my life upside down.

So, spoiler alert, I'm not going to be king.

I told Pivo, and he agreed. I told him I was sorry about everything and that I missed him, that his silence was killing me. I said I wanted to run away.

Anna Isabel Righi