Number the Stars

by Lois Lowry

a story that Papa had told her, shortly after the war began, shortly after Denmark had surrendered and the soldiers had moved in overnight to take their places on the corners. One evening, Papa had told her that earlier he was on an errand near his office, standing on the corner waiting to cross the street, when King Christian came by on his morning ride. One of the German soldiers had turned, suddenly, and asked a question of a teenage boy nearby. “Who is that man who rides past here every morning on his horse?” the German soldier had asked. Papa said he had smiled to himself, amused that the German soldier did not know. He listened while the boy answered. “He is our king,” the boy told the soldier. “He is the King of Denmark.” “Where is his bodyguard?” the soldier had asked. “And do you know what the boy said?” Papa had asked Annemarie. She was sitting on his lap. She was little, then, only seven years old. She shook her head, waiting to hear the answer. “The boy looked right at the soldier, and he said, ‘All of Denmark is his bodyguard.’”

What an interesting reminder of a historical closeness and concern between the leaders and the citizens of a country. Sure Denmark is smaller than some countries, but this is replicable. I loved this story of Denmark's king and the boy who would protect him because it reminds today's readers that one upon a time there were leaders with integrity who inspired their countries with their character. David Brooks is right - CHARACTER MATTERS.