(Esther Chapters 1-2)
It is the International Women’s Day.
The Queen is to give a speech by 8am that morning.
The entire Nation is eagerly waiting to hear her.
She was just crowned Queen 3 months ago, so this would be her 1st public outing.
Her face has been splashed on all newspapers, magazines and online blogs. She is not loved by all, but everybody agree on one thing: She IS beautiful!
The King really took time to pick her as Queen.
He had several options, but she won his heart above them all.
She was not only the most beautiful, she was also the smartest.
And that combination (beauty and brains) was very rare in his Kingdom.
Having both made it quite easy for him to settle for her.
At 8am, the television and radio stations start the broadcast live.
All 127 states in his vast kingdom are tuned in. As she speaks, her speech is translated to over 60 languages.
Her voice is sonorous and soothing. Those who did not like her before then fall in love with her.
She speaks for 30 minutes about her plans for the women in the country.
She speaks about unity in diversity. She speaks about patriotism as a bond to hold all women together.
Everybody nods in agreement as she speaks.
The King is watching in the Palace, his heart filled with pride.
Her 1st public outing is a success!
In that same moment, the former Queen is watching from her friend’s house.
She had been depressed for the past 6 months when she was deposed as Queen.
She had been squatting with her friends who took turns at housing her: she spends 2 weeks with each of them.
As the new queen speaks, her heart is filled with anger and regret.
This time last year, she was the one giving the International Women’s Day Speech.
She was the cynosure of all eyes, the center of attraction.
She had been Queen for 3 years before then.
She would have still been Queen if only she had not listened to her friends!
How could she have been so stupid! She had it all, but she lost it. Because she listened to the wrong counsel.
Her mind drifts back to the day she lost her crown…
Her husband was the King.
He had married her a few years before he became King.
And he was a good man, a great King!
She lacked nothing, he never refused her anything she asked for.
She was fulfilled and happy. She was the envy of her friends and all women. They all considered her very lucky to be the First Lady.
Three years into his reign, the King decided to throw a Party.
It lasted for 6 whole months!
When this was over, he threw another party in the palace for his noblemen, close associates, family, friends and workers.
And as Queen, she also had her own party for her friends and family.
On the 7th day, he sent for her to show come display her beauty for his friends and associates.
As the men the king sent gave her the message to come over to see the King, one of her friends said, “Seriously? Your husband wants to display you like a trophy? Rubbish!”
Another friend said, “I don’t get it: are you a prize or something? What is wrong with your husband- is he drunk?”
The Queen looked around the women with her: they were all resolute in their stance. Do not go! Women are NOT to be objectified! Women are not trophies to be displayed! What arrant nonsense!
She turned to the messengers: “Tell him I am NOT coming!”
The messengers were shocked!
The Queen is refusing the King’s command!
Woah!
Feminism has entered the Palace!
They hurried out of the Queen’s chambers to report to the King.
He could not believe his ears. He was angry and embarrassed!
She defied him before his close associated and noblemen!
He removed her as Queen the next day.
She had nowhere to go, she had to go squat with her friends who took turns to accommodate her.
The King stripped her of everything: her crown, her dignity, her all.
She became a recluse.
She lost a lot of weight.
She became a shadow of herself.
She entered depression.
And to make things worse, the King got himself another Queen a few months later.
The new Queen is the one giving the speech to mark the International Women’s Day now…
As the former Queen watches with her friends, one of them says, This Queen is definitely not as beautiful as you, Babe. You are much more beautiful than her! Shes just an impostor…”
The former Queen turns to look at her: “Seriously? What did you just say?”
“Sorry, I was just trying to make you feel better…”
“I would have been much better if I didn’t listen to your damn advice! You made me lose my crown with your stupid advice and now you say this?”
“Hey, don’t try pin your misfortune on me! Nobody forced you to do anything, you were not under any obligation to take anybody’s advice! And besides, who would have thought your husband would have kicked you out for that? Whoever knew he was that crazy?”
The former Queen shakes her head and hissed. “If only I had not listened to you. If only I hadn’t…”