Jason Weiser

A nun dances.

Whoever heard of such a ridiculous prompt?

The scholar next to him hissed.

The young man paid no attention.

Writing out verse after beautiful verse, he quickly finished.

Before he had a chance to leave the city, proclamations came up from the palace that a winner in the contest of learning had been decided.

Daring to hope, the young man in mourning clothes turned back and walked toward the palace.

And it was when he arrived nearby that everyone looked to him.

The ministers waved him forward for a meeting with the king.

"'Do you not know me?'

the man asked.

The student, the young man in mourner's clothes, said that of course he knew the man.

The man was the king.

"'Look at me,' the king commanded.

And the young man looked and, though trembling, met the monarch's eyes.

They were eyes he recognized.'

From that strange night where the odd traveler admitted to looking in their windows and then left enough money for him to buy ink and brushes and paper.

There was no examination.

You thought it up that night.

The scholar looked away.