by Rebecca Jo

Created on: November 11, 2010

The Princess and the Pea

“This mattress is worthless!” Princess Aria sat up on her bed with a scowl. It felt as though she lay on marbles... Aria rose and knelt by the bed. She felt under the mattress. Her finger hit a small, hard object. She drew out the object and stared at it, disbelieving.  A pea?  Aria stood.  “Madeline!”   In scuttled Madeline, Princess Aria`s maid. “Yes, My Lady?” She curtsied. Aria held out the pea. “What is this doing under my mattress?” Madeline took the offending vegetable between thumb and forefinger. “Is this a trick question, Lady?”  Aria ground her teeth. “The only trick is how you manage to keep this job!” she snapped. “Now take that thing out of here at once!” “Yes, My Lady...” Madeline scurried out, leaving Aria with dark thoughts and a sore back. Because psychiatrists did not exist in such times, nothing could be done in the first department. However, Aria`s was the first kingdom to invest in massage therapy. “A pea!”  Aria complained. “I had A PEA in my mattress!” Palace masseuse Luc rubbed Aria`s shoulders. “I do not know what this world is coming to,” he grumbled. “Where scullery maids marry kings, ladies-in waiting have the intelligence of egg-plants, and live produce is found in bed-chambers!”  Aria shook her head. “I mean to speak to Father of this.” A regal female figure entered the massage chamber. “ Do tell, my stepdaughter.” Luc backed away with a bow and Aria rose, nearly tripping on the hem of her gown. “I had a most unusual occurrence,” she replied once she recovered her balance. Queen Lilac, former scullery maid, cocked an eyebrow. “Indeed. Your father is too busy to listen to trivial tales.” Princess Aria scowled. “Now go dress in your finest,” the queen said. “Or have you forgotten about today?”  Aria started. Of course!  Prince Charming, her intended, was coming. “Yes, STEP-mother. Not at all, STEP-mother.” Aria flew out of the chamber. Charming... She hoped he lived up to his name.

The trumpet`s silvery blast announced the prince`s arrival that afternoon, and sent the palace company into an uproar.  King Peabody, the well-rounded ruler of the kingdom, fidgeted on his throne.  He and a standing Lilac watched Aria pace the chamber.

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