"Did you call?" he asked Zep.
"Call," said the boy, "why—why, no. What do you mean?"
"Did you call for a Kokkipop?" repeated the other testily. "And for mercy's sake don't say you didn't, for I've been waiting for a call all my life. I was a young man when I joined the Kokkipops, and in all that time I have never been called until now. So I hope you did call. Did you?"
"Well," said Zep, "I said I wanted to go home, if that's what you mean."
"And you said you didn't want your own way any more, didn't you?" inquired the Kokkipop, eagerly.
"Yes," replied the Prince, "I did. And I don't."
"He does, too," put in the Emperor, sticking his head out from under his throne. "He doesn't mean what he says. He's just mad at me for sticking pins in him."
"I don't believe it," said the Kokkipop, scowling at the Emperor, "you're just trying to keep me out of a job." Then he turned to the Prince. "You did mean what you said, didn't you?"
"I certainly did," said Zep, "and—"
"Whoopee!" yelled the Kokkipop, joyfully, "then I have got a job at last."