A Fool for a Day
Every year they elected a fool for the day. This was all in good fun, picking out some pathetic soul and giving them a day of celebration. Yes, it was also a little cruel to do this, but there were rewards to go all around. Everyone gained a little bit of something. The fool got some fame, fun, fortune, whatever. Just enough to keep the fool happy and let everyone have a good laugh while feeling good about having their fool for a day.
But then they selected the most noxious fool, the loudest, meanest, roughest fool. He was, at first glance, ha ha hilarious. But he also could be ter-ter-terrifying. And he wouldn't go away. Not after one day. Not ever. He demanded to be fool for life. And it wasn't just his life, but everyone's life that would be the measure of his foolish rule. And this fool for a day, would not go away. Never, ever, go away.
The fool was ha ha funny. But no one was having fun. No one was laughing anymore. Not for a single day.
