The 3 Princesses by Courtney Hadley

 

In the year of 1823, in the country of Austria, in the city of Vienna, in the castle, lived the 3 princesses: the pretty princess, Ashley, the drama  princess, Esmerelda, and the sweet princess, Kaitlyn.

The Three Princesses

The princesses’ parents loved all three girls equally, and couldn’t decide who to leave the kingdom to, so the parents let all three girls rule the kingdom. All the princesses thought they were in charge. Every minute, there was something going on. The castle was a complete mess!

 

“Can you believe my 19th birthday is coming up next Friday?” squealed the pretty princess with excitement.

“Well, what would you want for supper on your birthday?  I would happily make it for you,” the sweet princess asked.

“Macaroni and cheese!” the pretty princess answered.

“Did somebody say cheese?!” the drama princess asked fiercely.

“Yeah, why?” Ashley asked.

“Because…I HATE CHEESE!” the drama princess screamed back. Esmerelda had a total meltdown.

“Servants, here, NOW!” Esmerelda hollered.

The Three Princesses

The servants scurried around Esmerelda.

“I’m ordering you guys to get rid of all the cheese in the castle in 5 minutes. SCATTER!” Esmerelda demanded.

 

“Hey, it’s just for one meal, chillax, Esmerelda.” Kaitlyn exclaimed. “It’s not like it’s forever, it’s her birthday. She’s the princess of her day.

“Oh, right, she’s the ruler!” Esmerelda said sarcastically. “Oh, alright!  You can have your cheese, but only for this special occasion

As the three princesses walked away, Esmerelda told the servants to keep the cheese. As all three princesses roamed around the castle, Esmerelda thought of a plan.

It was 10:30 at night. All the princesses were in their beds, except for Esmerelda. The guards were guarding the castle inside and out. Esmerelda crept downstairs to the Grand Refrigerator. She carefully opened the bottom drawer. All the cheese was in the right bottom corner. Esmerelda took a big sack and carefully packed the cheese in it, then put the sack in a medium sized box. After Esmerelda taped the box shut, she addressed it to her parents. Esmerelda crept outside and tossed the box in the Grand Mailbox, then went back to bed and went to sleep.

In the morning was a new day. The birds were singing, and the wind was whistling. Everything was perfect. Ashley was out with friends a few miles away. Kaitlyn and Esmerelda were wrapping presents with pure gold wrapping paper and beautiful bows.

    

“I hope she’ll like this 100% gold ring and ancient dress we got her…when she opens it…tomorrow”,  Kaitlyn spoke softly.

“She will”, Esmerelda said quietly.

The Three Princesses

Later, around 11:00 that night, Kaitlyn went downstairs and got the banners and chocolate cake all ready on the Grand Table. Then, Kaitlyn placed two glamorous presents on the edge of the table, and crept back to her Queen-size bed.

Next morning, Kaitlyn and Esmerelda stood there, right next to Ashley’s seat. Esmerelda had a sneaky, suspicious grin on her face. On the other hand, Kaitlyn was panicking, but also happy.

Shortly, small and quiet footsteps came down the Grand Staircase. Then Ashley appeared!  Ashley stood with a big, happy, excited smile on her face. There stood her own band, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and some people she never even knew, and even a few soldiers, in front of Ashley!  All of them had something for her, either a present or bags full of money. Ashley looked all around her. She saw banners, at least ten tables and then, her two sisters.

“Happy birthday!” the crowd cheered with excitement.

“Presents!” Ashley spoke.

The crowd formed a single-file line. Ashley’s parents and her sisters were first in line. As Ashley carefully opened the package from her parents, her face broke out with excitement. Ashley had gotten $1,000,000 and a blanket with her name sewn on it!  “Thank you!” she squealed.

 

“You are welcome”, her parents responded.

Next, Ashley opened a box with a 100% gold ring and a beautiful ancient dress. “Oh!  I’ve always wanted this! Thank you!” Ashley said with eagerness.

By the end of the line, Ashley had gotten a mini purse, a striped bedset, a carriage, a T.V., a piano, and a jewelry box. As everybody left, except her parents and sisters, their father announced, “Everybody, I’m noticing that Ashley is getting hungry. Let’s eat macaroni and cheese, shall we?  Let’s get started then.” 

As her parents were looking for the cheese in the refrigerator, they thanked Ashley for the cheese she had sent them.

“What?!  What cheese? I didn’t send you any cheese.” Ashley said quickly, but in a panicking way.

Then the parents opened the refrigerator drawer. No cheese!  “Who got rid of all the cheese?” the parents and Ashley asked frantically.

Then, Ashley and Kaitlyn turned to Esmerelda.

“I got rid of the cheese. I sent it to Mom and Dad. I hate cheese!  I’m a princess, too!” Esmerelda exclaimed.

“Esmerelda, we have no food!  Now, why did you do that to your sister?” her parents grumbled at Esmerelda.

“Now what will we do?” Ashley worried.

“I’ll make one of your other favorite foods, tuna salads!” suggested their mother.

“Yes!” agreed Ashley.

“Uggh, tuna is the one thing I hate worse than cheese!” Esmerelda said disgustedly.

So, the family ate tuna-salads and tea at the Grand Dining Table.

“I’m sorry, Ashley. I should have known better. I promise with all my heart that I will never banish the cheese from the castle again!” Esmerelda exclaimed.

“Apology accepted” Ashley responded, smiling.

“Happy birthday, Ashley!” Esmerelda said. “Happy birthday.”

The Royal End

 

The Three Princesses

 

AUTHOR BIO:Courtney Hadley is 9 years old and lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her family. She decided she wanted to be a writer when she was 5 years old, and has been writing stories and poems ever since. She has had two poems published in “Creative Communications” when she was in 2nd grade. “My family is my inspiration. They’re caring and encouranging to me!” she says.

ILLUSTRATOR BIO: Nathan Wyckoff has been an illustrator, painter and writer on the scene for over a decade. Between gallery shows, Nathan frequently publishes illustrations and fiction in numerous magazines, recently being nominated for an AWP Intro Journal Award for his weird poetry. His online illustration portfolio can be viewed at nathanwyckoff.squarespace.com.