Hakim was excited, he could not wait for the day of festivities to be here, knowing full well there would be no school that day and he could play with his friends. He did not count on his parents though.

His mother took him out to buy brand new clothes for the occasion and he knew then that he would never be allowed to romp around in them because they cost a whole month of his mother's wages from her cleaning job at the local European Embassy. He knew his mother worked hard for that money and it meant they would be living on scraps for the next month but she knew the visit of a Royal personage, even it was a European one, to their humble abode and town would be a big occasion and she wanted her only son to look his best for the event. Of course he would not be able to play around in the dirt dressed like that. He was proud though that they would be receiving someone so important in their community but he wished it occured when he was older: he would not have wanted to play in the dirt with his friends then. He guessed, when he was older he would be more interested in religion and chasing the girls as he saw the older boys do in his community.

"Oh well, I suppose I must be patient for now and bear things with a good heart. I don't want to upset mother and father. I certainly don't want to embarrass them in front of strangers," he said to himself. He was pleased to see that his mother had decided on a lovely plain white jacket and white trousers to match, he would also be allowed to have his medallion showing. He loved his medallion as it held a religious significance in his community and not all boys had one. Again his parents had gone out of their way to ensure that their son would be entitled to wear one by making him learn parts of the religious scriptures off by heart. He was very proud of that medallion as he should be, because it had taken him hours of hard studying to qualify for it.

His village too, was very busy getting ready for the Royal Visit. The elephants were groomed until their tusks and nails were gleaming. Indigo bunting and golden ties were strung up outside houses. There was also a sudden demand for scarlet dye which would be put to a multitude of uses, amongst which were facial ornamentation for the women. Hakim's female cousins were not old enough yet for the facial paint but they were to get new saris and clothes to wear. One of them, the black sheep of the family as far as the relatives were concerned anyway, had become influenced by western fashions and wanted new dresses for the occasion. She would not be appeased until she had the promise from her parents of at least one new European dress for the visit.

 There would be a community feast that day to celebrate the visit so most women also worked liked mad to get the dishes prepared the day before and put them where there was a strong cooling wind. On the day itself these dishes would be heated up and served to whoever was hungry enough to eat them.

Finally the day of the Belgian King and his Consort's visit arrived and all was in readiness. Elephants were lined up as a sort of guard of honour, and the buildings were colourful with the indigo bunting draped from upper floor verandas along with the golden ties. Unused railway ties were also painted gold and placed strategically throughout the village.

Shortly after sunrise however, the news came that the Royal Visit would have to be curtailed and unfortunately this was one of the villages which suffered the fatality of being removed from the itinerary. The people were disappointed but everyone had prepared for so long that it was agreed they go ahead and celebrate anyway, everyone determined to enjoy that day, most especially Hakim.

"Mother may I take the white suit off now and put on my old clothes to play with my friends please?"

"Well, er, I don't see why not. It seems like the King won't be coming to see us after all today so you might as well go and enjoy yourself with your friends, it is a kind of holiday after all." Hakim did not have to be told twice. He rushed to change and went out to join his friends and so that's how the day continued. Everyone partook of the prepared food and the children played to their heart's content.