Once upon a time there lived a merchant called Emiliano who lived with his lovely young wife Carmela. They were good Christian people who always worked hard and although they were not royalty, they were happy. Then one day the couple had been blessed with a beautiful baby girl. Her father named her Fridaniella, but because she was so beautiful and because she loved her so much, her mother called her Frida for short which meant beautiful and beloved.
She was a very happy child and though she would rebel and misbehave from time to time, also she would tend to negelect her chores like most children. But in the end she she was a good kid. She loved her parents and would always try to make them smile.
"Mama!" She said one morning. In her hand she held a bouquet of primrose flowers tied with a blue ribbon. "I brought you these."
"Primroses, my favorite." She cried. "Thank you my little Frida."
"Carmela! Fridaniella! I'm home." Emiliano called.
"Papa!" She said running to hug him. "I missed you."
"I missed you too Hija." He took the child into his arms and turned to his wife. "Mi amore."
"Welcome home Dear." She said kissing him.
"I brought you two a new book."
"Thank you Papa." Frida said.
She sat in her mother's lab as she began to read the picture book to her. "And when he first saw the princess." Carmela read. "The prince cried out my God, she is more beautiful than La Muerte herself."
"Who is La Muerte?" Frida asked.
"Well they say she's a heavenly fairy who travels the world in disguise, helping people with her magic."
"Do you think she's real?"
"Of course."
"Now Carmela. Please don't fill our daughter's head with too many fairytales." Emiliano said.
"Your father doesn't believe in magic." She whispered. "That's probably why he's such a sourpuss."
"I heard that."
They all burst out laughing until Carmela broke out into a hard coughing.
"Mama? Are you okay?"
"Carmela?"
"I'm fine. Really."
But I regret to inform all of you that Carmela only continued to grow more ill. Until it was time to say goodbye.
"Please get well mother." Frida pleaded. She sat by her mother's bed where she lay sick and dying.
"I'm sorry my little Frida." She said weakly. "But soon I will have to leave you and your father."
"No! I'm sorry! I'll behave better! And I'll do my chores!"
"Oh no Darling, it had nothing to do with that. It's just my time."
"It's not fair!"
"Listen to me." She said. "I need you to promise me something. Life will never be easy and there will always be sad times but despite all that you must be kind and brave."
"How can I? When you're not there."
"I'll always be with you even if you can't see me. But you must promise me that you will be brave and kind for that is the only way you will find true happiness. It may take a long time and you may have to face many cruelties but that is the only way, promise me."
"I promise."
"Good."
She died in her sleep, she was buried by the church. Fridaniella and her father mourned for a year, unfortunately shortly after her mother's death her father became desperate to find away to support his family. So he remarried again, his new wife was a woman of high class and she had money, she also had a daughter of her own who Emiliano thought would make a perfect playmate.
"I don't want a new mother." Frida complained.
"Hija, I can assure you this woman will never replace your mother no one will but she has money and it was either marry her or sell the house. Now I need you to be a good girl be nice to your stepfamily."
"Why?"
"Because that's what your mother would have wanted."
"Alright."
"That's my girl."
A black carriage pulled up. Stepping out was a tall and slender woman who wore a greeen dress with black feathers. Behind her was a little girl about nine or ten years old a little older than Frida with crow black hair.
"Carmelita." He said hugging her. "Welcome and this must be your daughter."
"Yes, this is Zoe. Darling say hello to your stepfather."
The child put on her best smile and curtsied.
"Hello."
"Pleasure to meet you. And this is my daughter Fridaniella."
"My she is a pretty thing." Carmelita said.
"Thank you she takes after..."
"Her mother? Naturally, Zoe is the spitting image of me though my first husband was a handsome man I don't think his features would look good on a little girl."
She and Emiliano laughed.
"Fridaniella say hello Hija."
Frida sighed but then smiled and curtsied.
"Hello."
"Your hair is blue." Zoe said. "It looks silly."
"Zoe!" Carmelita scolded. "Forgive her she's rusty on her manners. But I must say how on earth did her hair become that color."
"We don't know. My wife always said fairies did it as a little joke."
"I see."
"Come inside, I'll get your bags."
Once inside her stepfamily quickly settled in. It took Frida awhile to get used to her new family but nevertheless she still tried to be polite and civil with them.
"Fridaniella, a word?" Carmelita called.
"Yes?"
"I can't help but sense tension between us."
"Well I-"
"I know it's hard excepting all this. I know how you feel, I lost my mother when I was young too."
"You did?"
"Yes and it was hard but I had to be strong for my father and you must do the same. I promise you we'll all get along just fine and I know you and Zoe will be the best of friends."
But no sooner than two weeks had they arrived tragedy once again struck. For Emiliano was on his way home one night when he got caught in the middle of a gunfight, the poor man was killed after taking a bullet to his heart.
He was buried next to Carmela's grave and that sad day marked the beginning of Frida's new and miserable life.