English 1 imagery story

The old man had been indefinitely injured in a mining accident,

crippling his hand and creating jagged angles of his fingers, causing
him to lose his job underground. One night in the sidewalk in front of a
tavern underneath the dark sky the man was slumped over his knees,
sadness radiating over him like a cloud. A young man saw him and
went up to the man wondering what could be troubling him.
“Sir, what ails you?”
“What doesn’t ail me? I have lost my ability to do labor, and my
poor family has struggled with me!” The old man responded, shoving
his shredded hand into the young man’s face.
“What is your name sir?”
“Gerard.” He answered sniffily.
“Well Gerard, I am Fernand, and I might have something that can
help you. I am a servant at the king's palace, and I just happen to know
a job for a jester has been made available.” He smiled slyly at Gerard,
whose eyes had lit up at the words spewing from his mouth.
“I will talk to the king and if you do not receive a letter sent to
your house within a week, then do not bother waiting for the job.”
Gerard shook his had rigorously.
“Yes, yes! Thank you young man.” He said, gripping Fernando’s
hand with his own calloused and wrinkled.
With that Fernand left Gerard on the sidewalk and went on his
way. But before he was completely out of sight he turned and saw the
tavern lights illuminating the shimmering tears running down the
man’s weeping face and the hand he kept closely cradled to his body.
Fernand felt a pang of pity in his chest for offering him the job,
for only him and the servants knew the true struggles of such a role.
The thought of not even telling the king of their encounter flashes
through his mind, but he couldn’t take away the man’s one hope of
providing for his family.

Three days had passed and on the fourth Gerard was sure the
king had deemed him unfit for the job. But when he got home from job
scouting, not only was he greeted with the rare tangy smell of spices
and fresh vegetables, but a letter from the palace placed right next to
his plate of food. His dear wife who had been working for the both of
them now, gave him a soft smile with glistening eyes and gave him a
singular nod.

Now, the letter hadn’t specified what the exact tasks he would be
fulfilling, but Gerard figured it couldn’t be that difficult. So, after the
king's supper, when he was called to do his first act as jester he
improvised as best he could, and it worked to his surprise.
He went out in his jester uniform and caught everyone’s attention
with not only his age, but with how loud interesting he was. He went in
front of the king and asked a joke, however at first it didn’t land. The
king blinked. Once. Twice. Then let out a laugh that echoed around the
room, catching everyone by surprise, even Gerard. The rest of the
night went well and before he was dismissed the king spoke to him.
“I like you jester. Pray tell, what is your name?”
“G-Gerard sir.” The old man stuttered under the heavy gaze of
the king. He was sitting straight up in his throne with his legs crossed
and everything looked pristine about him. His coat had no wrinkles, the
crown upon his head was straight and shining, and his face was cleanly
shaven.
“Well, G-Gerard, I hope to see you last longer than all the other
dimwits that have been here in the past.” He smiled with an unsettling
number of teeth and waved off the old man, lights bouncing off the
numerous diamond rings on his hand.

That is how the next few weeks went for Gerard Polver. He woke
up, went to work, pleased the king, then came home to his lovely wife
and two daughters. It was the best thing he could imagine. However,
he could tell something was shifting amongst the palace. More
servants had started to become more skittish and quieter, but he just
ignored it and stuck to himself.
And so, he treated tonight like no other and went out to perform
for his king. He opened into the ample space like every other day and
started off the night with a joke he hadn’t told, only this time no one
laughed. No, for the king stayed silent and whatever the king did you
were supposed to follow. Gerard laughed nervously around the crowd
and continued with his act, despite the looks of discomfort and fear
amongst the crowd around him.
He then tried something he never did. He tried a magic trick. He
grabbed everyone’s attention and pretended to make a coin disappear,
then pull it out of a nearby woman’s ear, and with that he finally got a
reaction. He heard the gasp and soft whispers of the crowd traveling
around the room, but as he looked towards the throne all sound
stopped and all of a sudden you could hear a pin drop.
The king looked angered. His jaw was set in a tight lock and his
fingers were gripping the thrones arm rest.
“Do you think this is funny? That I am so easily manipulated that
lying and simple magic will get me guffawing?”
 Gerard was confused and scared as he saw the king become
more frustrated. He was only trying to do his job. He looked around for
help but found that no one would meet his eyes.
“Do not look at them for support. I took your actions as offensive
and vulgar and deem you of deserving punishment.”
At that Gerard paled and felt a wave of nausea hit him. How
would he get back to his wife? What did the punishment consist of?
“You will spend 3 nights in the dungeons and think about where
you went wrong. Guards, take him.” And in that moment, Gerard
understood the servants’ recent behavior. The king was standing at his
throne, red in the face with anger, his hair disheveled and crown
astray, and a certain offness to him. It was unsettling. But before
Gerard had time to dwell, he was taken by the guards to his
confinement.
He was taken down a long set of stairs and dark hallways to his
dungeons cell and immediately wanted to leave. The guards locked
him in with a long set of chains and bars and said food would be
delivered soon, but he didn’t think he’d want some in his conditions.
He could feel the thickness of the humidity settling into his skin as he
grabbed onto the cool and gritty cell bars.
He waited for about half an hour when he heard a servant come
down to him. To his surprise it was Fernand, who had a grim look on
his face.
“Hello Gerard. I see you’ve encountered the other side of our
generous king.” He said as he slid food through the door.
“I suppose I have. You didn’t tell me this is what I had to endure
for the job. Is he always like this?”
“Not always, but very erratic. There’s nothing we can do for now,
if it bothers you that much then you can try to get yourself released,
but you won’t find this kind of pay anywhere.”
“Unfortunately, you would be correct.” Gerard frowned has he
thought about his options.
“Well, I’m off then, who knows what disease could be down
here.”
“Wait!” Gerard reached out for him out of panic.
“What if we left together? So, we could both be free of the king
and put together savings as we look for better occupations?” Fernand
eyed him suspiciously and curiously.
“Perhaps.” And with that he walked away.
Gerard sighed heavily and slid down the cell bars with food in hand.
He bit into the glop of rice and the taste of too much salt and spicy
seasonings filled his mouth making him struggle to swallow.
 In the moment all he wanted was to be in his warm home, with
his wife’s delicious delicacies and his daughter’s anecdotes. He fell
asleep dreaming of a life where he was free of all duties but still
provided for his family and mulled over what he was to do for his
future.