A starving old man in search of a meal goes into the market to beg. He comes upon a  young man who is holding a plate. The starving man asks, "what have you for sale"? The young man replies, "I have nothing for sale, I have only a free meal for all who are hungry".

"I am hungry" sparks the old man, "It has been many days since my last meal, I beg you, feed me or soon I shall die. Where is this meal you speak of"? questions the starving old man.

The young man says "it is here on this plate, although you can not see with your eyes, it is a kings meal and will fill you with a single bite". The starving man shook his head in anger and started away but the young man called out to him, "Sir, I thought you were hungry"?

Stopping, the old man snaps, I AM HUNGRY, weary with hunger and have little patience, so why tease an old man in need, do I look like quick prey for a fools stupid game"?

The young man states, "Do I look like a man with time to waste playing games? A magician makes things appear to disappear yet I make what is invisible truly appear. Because you can not see something does not mean it is not there. First you must believe, then what you need, you will receive. Here in front of you is a kings meal. Taste."

The angry old man had a drop faith in the young man. So he reached out his shaking old hand and touched the plate, then put his bony fingers to his lips and licked them. As soon as he removed his fingers, he quickly felt his stomach start to fill up like a balloon ready to burst.

There was much confusion each time the hairs were counted. His servants worked hastily against each other to count the most hairs. A great reward was expected to be given to whoever the king found favor in.

The king was never exactly sure how many hairs he had. The count varied from five thousand four hundred and forty two to nine thousand six hundred and fifty four. The more he worried, the more they counted. From early in the morning to late in the evening, the king sat in private while the servant counted hairs.

One morning, the great king from Happyland arrived to share his treasure with the vain king. The great king asked the guard " Where is your king"?

"No one is sure where or when he will be back" answers the guard.

King Happyland says, "Send out this message, I have come with great gifts", He waited until darkness and then went away.

The vain king received the message and was excited but sorrow came over his heart.

"I can not go greet King Happyland with my hair in these bundles. He would see how I am surly loosing my hair. He would think I was not worthy of his gifts. He would laugh at me", whined the king.

The next day, the king from Happyland came again and asked, "Where is your king today"?

"He is still gone" replied the guard, " Shall I send another message"?

"Yes " said King Happyland.

When the king received the second message, even more distress came over his heart because each time a count was complete, there were less hairs.

What the king failed to realize was as the servants counted, they also were pulling out his hairs. The more they pulled, the less he had hair. Again the king from Happyland waited until darkness for the vain king. Then he went away forever. The vain king was so vain that he traded the greatest treasure in the world for a world full of worry. He spent the rest of his days and nights worrying in the secret room until he went mad.