In the days of yore, the kings of Sri Lanka had their own court jester who made them and their courtiers laugh. Andare was a famous court jester and many are the stories about him. Even today, people write and tell Andare stories.
Once, the King got offended with Andare because of a trick or joke he had played on the King. Andare too let the people at court know that he too was upset that the King was offended with him.
Andare thought of a plan to get the King to visit him.
Andare told his family to tell the King that he, Andare, was dead. Then he lay down and pretended to be dead. He spread his hands and legs in the shape of a cross and kept his eyes and mouth open.
When the King heard that Andare was dead he felt very sad. He forgot his anger at the court jester and decided to go to Andare’s home and pay his last respects to the dead man.
When the King saw the way that Andare was lying dead he could not help laughing aloud. He laughed till tears ran down his face.
As soon as Andare heard the King’s laughter he stopped pretending to be dead and got up.Andare then said “this is what I wanted’. The King and Andare were friends again.