A COIN IN HIS POCKET

 

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George was a stutterer and a stammerer. He would prefer to walk barefoot across hot coals than to speak to a crowd, be it small or large. As it fell together, he quickly found himself in the wrong profession for someone with this impediment.

We will soon return to poor George, and his predicament will become very clear.

Upon the death of King George V in 1936, his son Edward assumed the throne and was known as King Edward VIII. However, he was involved with a twice divorcee, Wallis Simpson. Ultimately, less than a year later, Edward abdicated his title in order to marry Wallis, as he was not allowed to marry a divorcee. As a result, his afore mentioned brother, George, became king.

There is an excellent movie titled “The King’s Speech,” which my wife and I have watched many times. The two primary characters are Colin Firth, who portrays Britain’s King George VI, (the father of Queen Elizabeth) and Geoffrey Rush, who portrays Lionel Lowe, his speech therapist.

As the movie progresses, it appears Lionel provides his services without cost, as a service to his king and country. However, again and again, as the daily session ends, he asks for a token shilling for his trouble. As you might imagine, for all his wealth, George doesn’t carry cash with him, and as often as Lionel asks for a shilling, George can only shake his head, throw up his hands and smile.

However, after several reminders, the king finally remembers to bring the coin with him. And now, Lionel says the same thing he has been saying for days.

“And so, do you have my shilling, Birdie?” (He calls him by a nickname reserved for family).

It would appear Lionel has a hidden agenda for requesting the shilling on a daily basis. For you see, at least according to the movie script, the former king had been very hard on his son, and often berated him for his speech impediment, and had said some pretty demeaning things to him over the years; (which could have only contributed to the boy’s tendency to stammer and stutter).

Now, King George grins from ear to ear and pulls out the shilling.

Lionel accepts the coin, and asks a leading question.

“Who is the man on this coin?”

To which the king responds.

“My father, of course.”

Lionel leans closer to him, looks directly into George’s eyes, and raises his voice slightly.

“You don’t have to carry him around in your pocket anymore!”

 by William McDonald, PhD