The king and queen sat on their thrones.
Prince Eric stared at his lessons.
He was grumpy.
"Tom," he whispered.
"Help me finish my lessons."
Tom looked at the prince's paper.
It was filled with math problems.
"Use magic!" whispered the prince.
Tom lifted his wand.
"No, Tom!" The queen glared at him.
"The prince must do his own work.
Someday he will be the king."
Prince Eric grinned.
"Then I won't have to work!" he said.
The king frowned. "What?"
"Kings work very hard!" Tom said quickly.
The king puffed out his chest.
"Indeed!" he said proudly.
The prince shrugged.
"Then I won't be the king," he said.
The queen scowled.
"Finish your lessons," she said.
"I won't!" the prince cried.
He ran from the room.
The queen sighed.
"Wizard, bring him back," she said.
Tom went to the prince's room.
The window was open.
"I see a note!" Cat said.
Tom brought the note to the queen.
"What does it say?" the king asked.
The queen read the note:
I want an easy job.
So Frog and I are running away.
The queen pulled out her handkerchief.
"Find the prince, Tom!" she sobbed loudly.
"Or don't come back!"