Judge Grandaddy was up early the next morning, and immediately went over to Handy's tree.
'Handy! You awake?' he called up.
'Just barely, Judge,' he called down. 'What is it? Climb up, we'll have a few leaves.'
Judge Grandaddy made his way up the tree and sat on the branch next to Handy, accepting from him a handful of fresh leaves, two of which he immediately began chewing on.
'I wanted to ask you if you could round up some other koalas, as many as you can find, and tell them to go to all corners of the grove to tell them about this evening's meeting.
Naturally, not everybody will feel like coming, but everyone should at least know about it.'
'Of course,' Handy replied. 'I'll get Wheezy, his brother Queezy, Pringly, Choty, Mo, and maybe a few others. We'll get the word spread by mid-afternoon, at the latest.'
'Thank you, Handy. I'll talk to some koalas myself, but I'm too old to spend hours walking around again, like I did the other day trying to get opinions on the lucky numbers. My left foot is still sore! I really do appreciate your help.'
'My pleasure, Judge. Always glad to assist you, especially in such an important matter.'
Handy and his friends did indeed spread the news quickly, and though they were only supposed to tell about the upcoming Grove Plenum, news of the lottery win somehow leaked out as well. Grandaddy had wanted to announce it as a surprise at the meeting, but it was no doubt better that someone had spilled the beans, because the joyous excitement caused by the rumors of the prize money, and of the plans to move over to Eucalyptus Grove, made all the more koalas want to attend the meeting, in order to learn the details about the great future they were all going to have.
Early that evening, koalas from all corners of Koalaville began to appear in the clearing next to Grandaddy's tree at the southern end. The ten members of the Council were already there, and were seated on the two benches at the long table they always used for meetings. All in all, over six hundred koalas showed up for the meeting, which was a record number, as far as anyone could remember. Those who got there early enough, and who wanted the best view, climbed nearby trees and lined up on the branches. Most, however, simply sat on the ground, forming a long, thick semicircle around the Council's table, and extending back quite a few yards.
When all had arrived, Grandaddy began: 'Koalas of Koalaville, we have several announcements to make.'
'We won the lottery!' a boisterous chap yelled out from the crowd.
'And we're all going to live in Eucalyptus Grove!' shouted another merry voice from a tree. All the koalas then began talking excitedly among themselves. 'Is it all true, Grandaddy?' a sceptic called out.
'Well, I see that the news has already reached you,' Grandaddy responded with a smile, 'and so I'd like to say that yes, it is true!'
At that, a spontaneous cheer arose from the crowd, and wild clapping as well.
'Okay, okay, quiet down, now,' Grandaddy called out, holding up his hands to signal silence. 'There's another matter we must attend to, a decision we must make here in the Council, and we wanted all to witness it.'
'What is it, Judge?' an anonymous koala shouted out.
'We on the Council have decided that we need a leader,' Grandaddy answered, 'and we are here to decide who among the councilmembers should be raised to that distinguished position.'
'But aren't you our leader?' asked another koala from the multitude.
'In a way, maybe he is,' Doctor Koala answered for Grandaddy, 'but he is really just the Judge. His job is to interpret and uphold the law. What we need is someone who could represent us in all capacities.'
'Exactly,' Grandaddy continued. 'We need someone who is younger than I, someone who could tend to all matters pertaining to our well-being, someone who can make final decisions if need be, who would act whenever necessary to protect the best interests of the grove.'
'Who would that be, Grandaddy?' another koala from the crowd inquired.
'We councilmembers have been thinking about it all day, each one on his own, without conferring with the others. We will now make nominations, and then vote. Doctor Koala, would you like to nominate someone?'
'Well, I had someone in mind, but I would rather not be the first to speak…'
'Just like you, Doc,' old Chashibu spoke up, 'hemming and hawing as always!'
This comment made many koalas laugh heartily.
'Then what about you, Chashibu?' Doctor Koala asked. 'Whom would you like to nominate?'
'I have my ideas, but the truth is, I think that since all of this was Grandaddy's idea, he should be the first to make a nomination.'
Chosay, together with Chashibu and Grandaddy one of the oldest koalas on the Council, agreed. 'Yeah, Grandaddy, speak up! Whom do you want to nominate?'
Grandaddy was silent for a few seconds, then slowly stood up from the bench and took a few steps away from it, positioning himself so as to be able to speak more directly to the assembled crowd. He realized that the next few minutes would be some of the most significant in recent koala history, and that he should therefore carefully weigh his words.
'My fellow koalas, I have been thinking long and hard on this matter, especially since it is a subject that has been going through my mind for a few months now. We are a great community, and therefore deserve to have a leader who is truly worthy of the position we are about to bestow upon him. The way I see it, we need someone who is honest, who thinks of others more than of himself. Someone who is willing to make personal sacrifices for the good of the grove. A koala who is practical, down to earth, yet who also has the vision to inspire others, so as to ensure that future generations fulfil the great hopes that we have for them.
Someone who is still relatively young, and who will thus be able to live long enough to establish the good reputation of the new grove to which we are soon going to move, and to make it a respected member among the family of groves that comprise greater Koalaland. A koala who is brave, intelligent, dedicated, compassionate, prudent, of noble spirit… a koala who is above all, wise.'
'Come on Grandaddy, tell us! Who is it you're talking about?' an impatient koala yelled from a branch.
'Patience, friends!' Gruffy admonished. 'Let Grandaddy finish.'
'For some time now, I have had just such a koala in mind,' Grandaddy continued. 'Many of you will remember the last time the hyenas attacked us. This koala fought as well as anybody, and killed one of those beasts with a well-aimed arrow.'
This hint offered little clue, since a number of koalas had distinguished themselves in the course of that terrible battle, which had taken place several years earlier.
'Then, during the last great wet tail epidemic three years ago,' Grandaddy went on, 'at a time when many of us were cowering in our trees, or going off to the forest to keep from being infected, this koala helped Doctor Koala tend to the sick, risking his life to do so. And if I had had any doubts at all about him being the best one to lead us, they were dispelled yesterday, when we learned we had won all that money. I was right here on this spot, when he walked over there,' said Grandaddy, indicating a place between two trees, right on the edge of the grove, '...pointed over to Eucalyptus Grove, and said, 'Behold! That is going to be our new home!''
Doctor Koala, who had been there when that happened, now knew to whom Grandaddy was referring. 'Yes, of course! I was thinking of nominating him myself!'
Sticky was almost numb with shock at this point, hardly believing what was taking place.
'Yes, we know whom you mean,' Chosay added, 'and it's a great choice!'
'Of course!' Gruffy exclaimed. 'He's the right one to be our king!' This was the first mention of the title of 'King', as Grandaddy had only spoken of selecting a 'leader', yet everyone there seemed to be quite comfortable with the concept.
Even Kashy, who had secretly been hoping that they would pick him, chimed into the growing enthusiasm, for once he realized whom they were talking about, he knew that Sticky was truly the king they should have. 'Yes, right! He's the one!'
Grandaddy took a few steps forward. 'Koalas of Koalaville, I hereby present you with my nomination for King of our community: Sticky Koala!'
Sticky was stunned. Was this a dream? He almost would have liked to run away and hide, for he was by nature far too modest to feel comfortable in such a situation.
'Yes… Sticky!' a koala cried out from a lowlying branch.
'Naturally! Sticky, who else?' another yelled out from the crowd.
'Sticky, Sticky! Sticky should be our king!' the cries of many koalas mingled, then became synchronized to form a repetitive chant. 'Sticky! Sticky! Sticky will be our King!'
There wasn't a koala in Koalaville who had any ill feeling towards Sticky. He had always treated everybody fairly, and politely. Even-tempered by nature, he never argued with anyone, nor even raised his voice, and was always the first to offer help wherever and whenever it was needed. Yet for him, this was 'normal' behaviour. It was only now that he realized how much he was respected – and even loved – by his fellow citizens, and this realization suddenly made him feel very humble.
'Sticky it is!' Grandaddy shouted, echoing the common feeling of every koala there gathered. He then walked over to the table where Sticky was seated with the other councilmembers, took him by the hand and helped him up, then led him to the center of the little clearing. 'Koalas, is this the leader you want?' he asked the crowd, in order to be sure that the choice was unanimous.
'Yes, yes! Sticky is our King! We want Sticky!'
The atmosphere was vibrant with enthusiasm, and it seemed that not a single koala could even imagine anyone else being the king who would reign over them from this day on.
'Quiet, quiet, there's one more thing,' Grandaddy said, raising his hands to silence the joyous crowd. 'Our new King should have a name, a title that is worthy of his position. Now, I hope Sticky doesn't take this the wrong way, but...' Grandaddy continued, turning to Sticky, 'the name you have perhaps isn't one that would inspire the respect that you truly merit.'
At this, some of the koalas began to laugh. 'Yeah, Sticky sure doesn't sound too dignified, does it?' one yelled out.
'Oh, I remember well how he got that name,' Grandaddy explained to them with a smile.
'He was just a koala baby, with only one vice: he simply loved honey. Trouble was, he always ended up getting more on his fur than in his mouth. His mother spent many an hour trying to wash it off him. That's why, when he grew from a baby to a koala child, and it was time to choose a name for him, his parents thought 'Sticky' was quite appropriate. So Sticky it was, and the name, not surprisingly, stuck!'
More laughter ensued, and even Sticky joined in now.
'So I would like to suggest that we come up with a new name for him. I invite anyone here, whether someone on the Council, or from the crowd, to make recommendations. Can anyone think of a name fit for our King?' Grandaddy asked.
The koalas looked at each other, murmuring suggestions to those sitting next to them, trying to find just the right name. 'How about King Koala?' one called out.
'Well,' councilmember Chashibu spoke up, 'that might get confusing, for after all, the leader of Koala City in the north uses that same title.'
The crowd continued to buzz as further ideas were considered. After a couple of minutes, a lone furry hand in the crowd went up.
'Yes, you there,' Judge Grandaddy called, straining his old eyes to see if he could recognize the koala who wished to speak. 'Please stand up and have your say.'
She rose to her feet and spoke, albeit somewhat shyly. 'Excuse me, Judge. My name is Maki Koala.'
'Oh yes, Maki Koala, one of our carpenters, the daughter of Nory. Would you like to make a suggestion?'
'Well, yes, I suppose I would, if I may.'
'But of course, Maki,' Doctor Koala reassured her. 'Speak your mind, please!'
'Oh, well, I was thinking… We are soon going to move over to Eucalyptus Grove, which, of the three groves in Southern Koalaland, is no doubt the most beautiful, and therefore certainly the most, one might say… the most prestigious.'
'Yes, indeed,' old Chosay agreed. 'No doubt about that at all.'
'So, I was thinking,' Maki Koala continued, 'that perhaps our new leader could be called the 'Prestigious Koala King''
'Prestigious Koala King…' Grandaddy repeated slowly, savoring the words.
'Prestigious Koala King,' the councilmembers at the long table also reiterated, just as slowly and ponderously.
'Prestigious Koala King,' countless koalas in the crowd murmured softly to themselves.
'Yes, I do believe that's a fine name!' Grandaddy finally said.
'No doubt,' Tecky agreed. 'It sounds great!'
'A marvelous title!' Claire added.
'It's wonderful!' an anonymous koala from the crowd shouted out. 'I like it!'
'Yes, we love it! It's just the name our leader should have!' A koala on a limb cried out enthusiastically, as several others began a rhythmic chorus, a general crescendo ensuing as others joined in, till the chant filled the whole southern end of Koalaville:
'Prestigious Koala King! Prestigious Koala King! Prestigious Koala King!'
Only Sticky remained silent, as he listened to the overwhelming sound of hundreds of his grovemates calling out the title, which, as unbelievable as it seemed to him, was going to be his new name from that moment on.
Grandaddy raised his hands to silence the multitude, though it took a good minute to do so.
He walked over to Sticky, who was still standing there trying to look dignified, despite the fact that he was nearly dumbfounded by the events that were unfolding before him.
Putting his right hand on Sticky's shoulder, and stretching out his arm towards the koalas assembled in an all-inclusive gesture, the Judge announced in a loud voice:
'Your Majesty, here are your loyal subjects!'
All of the koalas emitted a wild cheer of assent. Then, taking a few steps forward towards the crowd, turning to face Sticky, and gesturing towards him by holding up his open hand, Grandaddy went on:
'And here, my fellow koalas, and other creatures here assembled,' – for there were also several emus and a few anteaters present – 'behold your Prestigious Koala King!'
At this, those koalas who were not already standing rose to their feet. Looking at Sticky, they all, simultaneously as if by instinct, bowed ceremoniously to their new monarch, as they once again repeated, this time in voices dampened by reverence and awe:
'Prestigious Koala King!'
A moment of almost complete silence followed, the koalas sensing that they had all been witnesses to one of the most significant events of their lives.
'I think that this would be a good time for you to say a few words,' Handy called over to Sticky.
'Yes, speech! Speech!' many in the crowd called out excitedly.
Sticky moved forward a few steps, looked from left to right at the koalas gathered around him, and then spoke these words:
'My friends, I feel both touched as well as deeply humbled by the great honor you have bestowed upon me today – an honor I neither sought, nor expected. I wish I could say that I am worthy of it, that I deserve it, but the truth is, Koalaville in fact owes me nothing, though I owe so much to Koalaville. I accept your decision, for it would be arrogant of me to assume that all of you are mistaken. I can only say that I promise – nay, I swear, by my honour, and by everything that is sacred to the koala species – I swear, I say, that I will dedicate myself to the good of our community, that I will always put your interests before my own. May I – with the help of the Koala Sun and Koala Moon that gave us life – may I prove worthy of the faith you have placed in me!'
All present cheered when he finished his speech. It was Doctor Koala who finally interrupted the jubilant outburst.
'We have selected our new leader. I would say it's time to celebrate. Let's have a party, and let it begin now! Long live the Prestigious Koala King!'
The crowd roared its approval, as a great joyous cry rose up. Those on the ground walked forward, those in the branches climbed down, all moving towards their new monarch to give him their congratulations and to bow before him, after which they went about fetching large baskets of leaves, refreshing eucalyptus drink, berries, and nuts for the feast. Musicians began to play their instruments, koalas began to dance merrily, and joyful, animated conversations began, even among those who didn't know each other. Happiness reigned among them as they enjoyed a party the likes of which few had ever seen before.
Sticky graciously accepted the kind words of all the well-wishers. He kept shaking hands with one koala after the other, even when his own was becoming sore from the strain.
Night fell on Koalaville, though hardly anyone even thought of retiring to his or her tree. It was almost sunrise before exhaustion had subdued the merriment enough to convince an ever-growing number of koalas to go get some sleep.
Sticky was one of the last to leave. After all, he owed them his presence till the very end. Finally, only he, Gruffy and Grandaddy remained; even Doctor Koala had succumbed to weariness and left twenty minutes earlier.
'Do you think I could go get some sleep now?' Sticky asked them somewhat hesitatingly.
Gruffy laughed a bit, 'I'm glad you suggested it!'
'Right!' Grandaddy agreed. 'It would have been impolite of us to leave our new King alone.'
'Well, then,' Sticky said jokingly, giving his very first royal command, 'I hereby decree that this celebration has ended, and that we three should go get a good ten hours sleep!'
'Your wish is our command, Your Highness,' Gruffy said with a bow. Sticky – that is, the Prestigious Koala King – smiled warmly and gave him, then Grandaddy, a hug. The three wished each other a good night; then each walked back to his tree. Sticky was in a sort of daze, and if he had been able to think clearly, he might have asked himself if the entire day had been merely an odd dream. Once he reached his tree and climbed up to his favorite bough, he snuggled up in the fork where the branch met the trunk and, overcome with exhaustion, drifted off to sleep before he had time to reflect on the day, or on his future, which was now set on a path he never would have been able to even imagine a mere twenty-four hours earlier.