A METAL PLATE that once lived in a household had the bad habit of expecting to have everything handed to her. "We are NOT your servants!", they angrily told her every time she asked for a favor, yet she kept demanding on and on, never to mend her ways.

So, one day they conspired to give her a good lesson. While she was away, they wore aprons and proper clothes so as to look like hotel staff, and turned the house into a small palace: they placed statues, red carpets as well as expensive paintings all over the place.

"Good morning your highness", the porcelain vase, which was dressed as a housekeeper, told her when she opened the door, not showing any sign of laughing at her expense whatsoever. At first, she was taken by surprise. After a while, however, she found she rather liked being treated like a queen and didn't even bother asking what was going on.

No sooner had she taken another two steps, than the teacup appeared in front of her, and asked her: "Would your Excellency perhaps like some tea before lunch is served?". Before she even managed to utter a word, she had already been served fresh, steaming tea from the pot. Then the sugar bowl added another two big cubes of sugar and mixed the tea with a spoon.

As soon as the plate sat on the couch to enjoy her tea, the porcelain vase placed a comfortable pillow behind her back and gave her her slippers. "I hope your Majesty feels at home", the vase told her and then went straight to the kitchen.

Only a few minutes later a whole team of servants that wore aprons appeared, all of them carrying big plates with delicious food on top: from pork ribs served with mashed potatoes to ratatouille and spoon sweets.

"Would your Highness perhaps want us to dim the lights?", the candlestick asked her. He then switched off the lights and lit an extra ten small candles to make an atmosphere. The plate enjoyed herself so much that she ate until she stuffed her belly full with all the delicacies she was constantly being served. No sooner had she finished one glass of water, than she had been served another. Only at some point did she start wondering: "...am I really a Queen to be treated like one?"

No sooner had she finished her phrase than a mirror appeared, who bowed before her graciously. "Your Highness, I'm here to dispel any doubts you may have", he told her. She then took a glimpse of her reflection and was left with her mouth open: the mirror showed her wearing a beautiful crown full of precious jewels and rubies, as well as a crown made of gold. So much did she love what she saw that she even unconsciously started walking towards her reflection, totally unaware of the other silverware that were laughing at her. Not really mindful of her step and with her belly swollen from all she had eaten, she eventually stumbled and fell.

When she looked at her clothes, she realized there was no precious dress decorated with jewels and rubies, not even a crown. She was simply the laughingstock of the house. The silverware gave her a helping hand to stand again on her feet, then continued laughing until she eventually became red with shame and apologized to them. And they, in turn, apologized back to her for mocking her.

From that day she learned her lesson and stopped treating others as if they were her servants.