The very next morning, Thomas awoke feeling as fresh as a daisy! The sun streamed in, warm and bright, making everything look quite magical. He felt perfectly well, not a single bit of discomfort from his chalky meal. He got dressed in his uniform, polished his boots, and walked cheerfully back to the palace for his morning duty. He felt a little bounce in his step, for he knew he had accomplished something truly extraordinary.
As he stepped into the palace grounds, a palace guard, polishing his helmet, caught sight of Thomas. His eyes grew wide, his jaw dropped, and his helmet clattered to the ground! ‘G-G-G-Ghost!’ he stammered, his voice a squeak, and off he ran, as fast as his legs could carry him, leaving his polishing cloth behind!
Thomas blinked in surprise. What was all the fuss about? Then a scullery maid, carrying a basket of warm, crusty loaves that smelled ever so good, saw him. Her eyes popped open, the basket tumbled from her hands, and the loaves rolled everywhere as she shrieked and darted away, hiding behind a grand pillar. She peeked out, convinced she was seeing a phantom!