Princess Gertie – Charm School is not going so well

Charm School – Day Three

I did not want to go to charm school on the third day. I begged my dad to let me stay home. I told him I was sick. I told him that I caught some rare disease from kissing a frog. He did not believe me. He made me go to school. I don’t think I am going to have a good day.

Princess Penelope was happy and bright, too happy if you ask me. All the other princesses were there, looking perfect and behaving nicely as always.

“Good Morning class. Today we will learn about rule number three.

The third rule of being a princess is this:

In order to win your subjects hearts.

You must remember this from the start

All gifts they give you must accept

To win their love and their respect.”

I raised my hand again. I just had to know.

Princess Penelope sighed and rubbed her hand across her forehead. It looked like she had a headache. “Yes Princess Gertrude?”

“Why do we have to accept their gifts? Don’t you know that their gifts can be dangerous? What if it’s a poison apple or a prickly spinning wheel do we have to accept those too?”

Princess Penelope laughed, “That could never happen. You have such an imagination. Yes, you have to accept all of the gifts even an apple or a spinning wheel.”

“Why?” I asked again, but I think I knew the answer.

“Because that is just what princesses do.” I said the words at the same time she did. But I still want to know why. Who makes up these rules anyway? That’s what I want to know.

Charm School – Day Four

On the fourth day of school, Princess Penelope had a surprise for us.

“There will be no rules today class. Instead, I have a special treat.” She stood aside to show us ten pairs of identical glass slippers on her desk. “Today we will learn to walk and run in glass slippers.”

“Isn’t that kind of dangerous? What if they break? What if I get cut? I don’t think I would like to wear those. Why do we have to learn how to walk and run in those anyway?”

Princess Penelope stared at me. “Don’t you think they are beautiful?”

“Well yes,” I admitted. “They are beautiful but I don’t think they are very practical. Why do we have to wear them? With those long frilly dresses, no one can see our shoes anyway. Can’t we just go barefoot?”

“NO! Princesses must never go barefoot. Princesses walk in glass slippers. It is just what princesses do.”

Maybe, I thought, I don’t want to be a princess anymore. Wonder how old you have to be to join the circus?