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The princess's dress

By Joe Lewellen

I lived in a small village that surrounded the kingdom of King Earl. My house was small and we were very poor. Every year, King Earl would have his entire subjects gather around the castle and then he would present his daughter Princess Caroline in her new dress.

Every year that I went to the gathering for Princess Caroline, I loved seeing her new dresses. I would go home and dream about those dresses and how I would look in them. I didn't like waking up from those dreams, because I so enjoyed wearing them.

I was out by the castle picking flowers to sell at the market. My family sold many things like, fruit, vegetables, hand made trinkets and various other things. While I was out there picking flowers, the Princess came by in her royal carriage.

When I saw her, I fell to the ground and bowed to her like you are supposed to. When I looked up a little, I saw Princess Caroline looking at me with a strange look. After she passed by I continued with collecting flowers.

Coachman, have you ever seen that villager before? "Yes your majesty, she is always picking flowers here by the castle." Interesting, she looks familiar. I can't put a name to her. But I am sure I have seen her before.

Carry on coachman, bring me to the castle. "Yes your highness as you wish." When I got back to the castle, I had the chamber maid draw me water for a bath. Because it was a long and dirty trip. After my bath, I went to the royal dinning room for supper. Mom, Dad…how was your day? "We were busy taking care of royal business."

When I got back home I had to tell my Papa and Mama what had happened at the castle. Mama, while I was picking flowers by the castle, the Princess came by in her royal coach. When I looked up, I saw her looking at me a little weird. "You are lucky she didn't throw you in the dungeon for looking up at her." I know Papa, I was just curious.

"Go get the big pot and fill it with water, so we can get dinner started." Yes Mama I said. I went to the well and filled the pot up with water and brought it back to our home. Here you go Mama, all filled up, just kike you asked. "Now go get cleaned up for dinner, you are still dirty from picking flowers." Yes Mama. And I went to the well and washed my face and hands.

My Mama had made bread and boiled cabbage, I didn't like the cabbage so much, but it was better than starving. After dinner, my Papa walked over to my bed "Claudia, close your eyes, and think about pretty things. Like flowers and birds, and things that make you happy." Yes Papa, I know exactly what I will think about. "Oh you do?" my Papa said. Yes, I have always loved the look of the Princess's dresses, and how they would look on me.

"Well then, close your eyes and dream about them." After that I did close my eyes and had the same dream I always did. Wearing the Princesses dress. I woke up early the next morning, because my family had to go into town to the market. I collected enough flowers, and my Papa and Mama had enough vegetables and trinkets to sell.

I woke up, and I still couldn't get that flower girl out of my mind. I sent for the royal guard. Go get the girl I saw on the road yesterday and bring her to, me. I would like to talk to her. "As you wish your highness." And they went on their way to go get the flower girl the Princess had seen.

Claudia was at the market with her Mama and Papa helping them sell their goods when a royal guard showed up and told my Papa and Mama that they had to take me to see the Princess. "No!…she has done nothing wrong, please don't take her!" But the guards didn't care what my Papa had to say, they were under orders by the Princess to bring me to her.

When I got to the castle, I was nervous. I thought I was in trouble, although I did not know why. They brought me to a very big door and knocked on it. "Princess, here is the flower girl you have asked for. The door opened and I saw her. I immediately fell to the floor.

"Get up girl; you are not in any trouble." So I got up slowly, not sure what to expect. "Come here." So I did what she asked. "What is your name?" Claudia your highness. She walked around me several times. "Come with me to the mirror." So we both walked over to the mirror. "Do you notice anything?" I stared at the mirror a little bit, and that is when I realized what she was talking about. We look almost the same!…how can this be?

"I don't know? But I think you can help me." I can? "Yes, since you look like me, you can do things for me that I would rather not do." I have a ball to go to tomorrow night; I would like it if you can go in my place."

But I don't have any dresses for a ball, especially as nice as yours. "Do not worry about a dress, you can use mine." I almost couldn't contain myself. "Besides, you look the same size as I am. Try one on to see how they fit." The chamber maid took me to the dressing area, and helped me get changed into one of the Princesses many dresses.

"Come here Claudia, let me see you." she said. I walked out and I heard all the servants in the room gasp. I walked over to the mirror where the Princess was standing. I looked into the mirror and couldn't believe my eyes. We looked like sisters, almost twins.

After my visit with the Princess, the guards brought me back home. "Are you okay? Are you in any trouble?" My Papa asked. No I fine, but you are not going to believe what she wants me to do. "What is it, what does she want you to do?" Well we look very much alike, and she wants me to go to the balls for her. She doesn't like all of them, so I am going to go in her place. After dinner I couldn't sleep. All I could think about was that I was going to be able to wear some of the Princesses dresses. A few days later, the royal guards came to my house in the royal coach and picked me up to bring me to the castle.

When I got there I was really nervous, because I didn't know how to act like a Princess. I dreamt about it many times, but that is not the same.

"Okay Claudia here is what I want you to do. You will be going to the annual Princesses ball where there will be Princesses from other kingdoms." What should I do and say? I have never even been to a ball. "All you have to do is greet them as they enter the ball room and thank them for coming." Is that it? "No you have to remember not to bow to them because you are a Princess, and the Princesses have to bow to the Princess that is hosting the ball."

Okay I think I do that. "There will be gentleman there as well. When they ask you to dance, all you have to do is curtsy and dance. Do you think you can do that?" Yes, I will try not to embarrass you Princess. "I am sure you will do fine."

After the Princess instructed me on all that I had to do. It was time to get ready for the ball. I had no idea how much work it was just to get ready for a ball. The dress that I was going to wear was beautiful. It was everything I had imagined it would be and more. The moment of truth came. They announced me as Princess Caroline and I entered the ball room. All the people at the ball bowed as I entered. One Princess after another came and bowed to me and announced themselves from what kingdom they were from. So far everything was going just fine.

Having people bow to me took a little getting used to. But I was doing fine. I was walking around the ball room, when a gentleman held out his hand and asked me to dance. "Would you give me the honor Princess?" I curtsied and gave him my hand.

We danced and I was having the time of my life. After saying goodbye too all the guests. I went back to Princess Caroline's room. "How did it go?" She asked. Just wonderful, I have never had so much fun in my life!

After that evening, the Princess called me several times to go to a ball for her. As a favor for doing this for her, she paid me enough money, that my Papa and Mama didn't have to sell things at the market anymore. Princess Caroline told me I was never to talk about what I was doing for her to anybody. I never did.

And as they say. I lived happily ever after.

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