You Are My Best Friend

 The two young princesses were instructed to practice their reading by their governess in the school room of the castle. Because they had been very very good and had obeyed all of the rules the governess said that just this once they could read their favorite story once again this week. The stern woman warned them that she would be listening for any mistakes that were made. If that happened they would have to put their favorite book back on the bookshelf and go back to their school books.

Their favorite book was about a frog and a little girl that lived in the forest. They quietly got the book from the shelf and sat on the sofa after they had smoothed their gowns so that there would be no wrinkles in the beautiful material when they were finished.

The older of the sisters opened the old book and ran her small hand over the worn book. She especially loved this book because it had belonged to her mother, the Queen. Before that it had belonged to the Queen Mother. She turned to her little sister and asked, "Alright, little sister, are you ready to hear my favorite story?" Her little sister smiled and nodded her head.

The princess quietly cleared her throat and began to read her favorite story. It was her favorite because she knew it was about her. It had to be.

"Once upon a time there was a beautiful castle. It was surrounded by a very large forest with trees heavy with green leaves and beautiful flowers. All around the castle there was a stream that made soft little noises as it made it's way down the hill and away from the castle. 

One day the princess that lived there looked out her bedroom window. She saw a swan floating on the little stream and a deer munching on the green fresh grass. Oh how she wanted to go outside, but she was not allowed to because her father, the King, said that because she was royalty she could not just go outside like poor people did. He had told her that she had responsibilities that came with her title. Someday she would be Queen and had to accept the fact that she was not just an average child. She was a princess.

Her little sister looked up at her and said, We can't go outside either, can we? Is the reason because we are royalty too?" Her sister gave her sister's hand a little squeeze and said, "Yes, that's the reason. When we grow up we will have to do the same things our mother and father do. We have to make laws and we will have people that make sure that the people in our kingdom follow them."

" We don't have much time left so I'd like to read a little more of the story. Is that alright?"

Her young sister looked up at her and said, "I really want to go outside and play, but It's okay as long as you are here with me. Please don't ever leave me because you are my very best friend."

The governess came through the door and said, "You naughty girls have frittered away the time that I gave you too read your favorite book. So now you put that book away and get back to the school room. You must learn to obey the rules. Someday you will thank me for this. Now do as I say!"

"The youngest princess whispered, "How did she know that we were talking and not reading the book? She seems to know every thing! Someday I just might run away and be like the little girl in our favorite book!"

"Shh, don't let Mrs. Herrington hear you or you will go to bed with only bread and water. You have to be careful. You don't want to be hungry. I will speak to Father and beg him to let us outside just for a little while in the afternoons. But you have to promise not to get dirty. I know for sure that if we get dirty he will never let us go outside again. Shush now; here she comes."