"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be."
― Kurt Vonnegut, Mother Night

CHAPTER THREE: THE LEAFY-GREEN MASK

"Better get this thing started!" Doc thought as he looked at the clock. They only have a whole afternoon to help get Bashful ready for the Jollywood Jollyday ball.

Even without his hat, Bashful tries his best to stay calm as he gets himself educated on being well-groomed and developing good personality.

Happy taught him things about fine dining etiquette such as the difference between soup spoons and a regular spoons; or the difference between water goblets and a champagne glass.

He also taught him about table manners such as when someone asked for a salt, always pass both salt and pepper, for they are inseparatable.

Even Grumpy gave a tip that when a girl is leaving her seat, it's always a man to get up and assist her off the chair; same goes when a woman is going back her seat.

"It's one of the best ways to impress a girl…" he said with a wink.

Sneezy taught him some few things about personal hygiene. Such as when you need to blow your nose, excuse yourself kindly and turn your back and blow your nose quietly as possible.

And when a woman drops something on the floor, it's always the guy to pick it up for her.

"It's really informal for a good-looking girl in a beautiful gown to pick something on the ground…" he explained.

And now for the most essential thing that the Queen expects: A Sense of Humor.

Happy and Dopey taught him a lot of things about socializing and being humorous at the same time.

But this isn't easy for Bashful, of course. It took him two hours to just to learn such skill.

After the lessons on Humor, Doc taught him some things about the Queen's royal family history and added some few trivias, something that would make Bashful a smart dating guy for the Queen.

Sleepy taught him not to sleep during the party, especially when the countdown starts, which is not the most helpful tip he learned.

One of the most anticipating parts of the ball is the dance of Waltz.

So Happy and Doc taught Bashful some few basic moves of dancing. Until Happy and Grumpy began to giggle when Doc tries to teach him by being his temporary dance partner.

"Does it get anything awkward than this?" Bashful thought, feeling a little embarrassed.

After the dance lessons, it's time to get dress and well-polished.

Happy took out his expensive hair gel and combed Bashful's golden hair. He applied gel and brushed all his hair from front to backwards and makes bedraggled curls at the end. Making his face even more exposed.

And now for a good formal wear. Happy spotted an old suit in his closet, a black velvet coat and pants with a white long-sleeved, polo shirt and a red-velvet fabric belt.

He let Bashful put it on and fit so perfectly.

Grumpy polished his old black leather shoes which is too small for him to wear. He gave to him and puts them on.

And for the final touch: An attractive accessory. Dopey took out his finest brooch in his art collection: a silver snowflake-shaped brooch with two crystal strings hanging on to it.

A perfect accent for a holiday ball.

Bashful pinned up the brooch in his upper-right side of his coat, and asked timidly, "How do I look?"

Moments ago, Bashful is an overly timid dwarf who would rather hides his face under his hat and wears a conservative long sweater.

Now, Bashful is a young handsome-looking dwarf with his hair all neatly combed back and wears a dark formal tuxedo with sparkling black leather shoes.

Everyone gazed at him in amazement.

"You looked wild and stunning!" Happy exclaimed.

"I am?!" Bashful said nervously.

"He meant you look great, Bashful…" Grumpy interpreted.

"Oh…" Bashful sighed in relief.

Doc stepped in, "Now, You're ready for tonight…"he said.

"Not yet…" Sneezy interrupted.

He took out a wooden rectangular-shaped box and handed it out to Bashful.

"Dopey and I bought something for you…" he said.

Bashful looked at it and opened it.

It's a polished wooden mask.

The mask is formed in shape of two leaves stuck together and has two holes on each side for the eyes.And also, the mask is painted in green. Bashful's typical color.

"It's going to be a masquerade ball…" Sneezy started, "So Dopey and I thought maybe we can get you a nice mask for the ball tonight."

Dopey smiled and nodded wildly.

Bashful thanked his friends and carefully puts on the mask with a gold strings behind it.

Now, Bashful looked even more attractive with his mask on, and in his fine black suit.

"Now, you are ready for tonight!" Sneezy declared and Dopey whistle in agreement.

Bashful went to a huge mirror pasted on the wall and stared at his reflection.

He got to admit, he looked really nice and completely well-polished that he could hardly recognized himself.

Bashful let out a sigh. "What's wrong?" Sneezy asked.

"I really appreciate your efforts, guys…" Bashful began, "but I got a feeling that this isn't me…"

"Come now, Bashful…" Happy said, "This is only for tonight. Sometimes you should act different once in a while."

"Yeah, Bashful…" Grumpy said, "And Remember: Queen Delightful expects a 'short, smart and handsome' guy in you."

Bashful groaned weakly. Somehow those things don't exist in him at all.

"Just remember the things we taught you…" said Doc, trying to encourage him.

"And don't fret…" said Happy, putting his hand on Bashful's shoulder.

"In those duds, No one will know it's you…"

"They wont?" Bashful asked timidly.

"Well, unless someone asked about your name…" said Happy.

"Speaking of that…" Sneezy began, "Are we gonna tell the Queen that Bashful is her date tonight?"

"Well, Of cour-" Happy stopped short and began to wonder, "Come to think of it, We didn't mention Bashful's name to the Queen…"

"We NEVER did!" said Grumpy, glaring at Happy, "All we mentioned was a 'short, smart and handsome' guy, not a 'small, timid and bashful' type…"

"Then we won't tell her…" Doc interrupted

"WHAT?!" Everyone exclaimed.

"We can't?!" Bashful said, stammering.

Doc looked at him. "No, we can't tell her…"

"Why not?" asked Grumpy.

"Like you said…" Doc began, "We only mentioned things that the Queen would liked for her date and not about Bashful…"

"And besides," he continued, "If we tell the Queen that Bashful is her date, she might decline…"

Bashful felt his chest tightened. She'll stood me up if I tell her who I am?! He thought to himself.

Everyone fell silent and looked at each other's faces.

All they wanted for Bashful is to experience a real date with his all-time crush. But if they mention his identity to the queen, she might ditch him and the date will be ruined.

All their efforts will go to waste and Bashful will be so upset.

That is if they tell the Queen that identity of her mystery date.

"I agree with Doc." Sneezy said.

"Me too…" Sleepy said.

Dopey agreed with a whistle.

"So am I…" Happy said, grinning.

Grumpy sighed. "Alright then…" he finally said, "But we still have to think of somethin' cuz the queen will surely ask for his name."

"You're right!" Doc said, "We need to think of a new name that way Bashful wouldn't be discovered."

"Oh, I know!" Sneezy said, waving his hand. "What about 'Benjamin'?"

"No, too long…" Doc disagreed.

"What about 'Baltazar'?"

"No, too old name…" Doc said.

Dopey whistled and smiled.

"Dopey…" Doc said, "'Bashful' is his name!"

Doc rolled his eyes on Dopey. Sometimes he likes to crack a senseless joke during a serious discussion.

"Oh, oh I know!" Happy exclaimed, "What about 'Fulbash'?"

Grumpy looked at him, his eyebrow arched up, "Isn't that Bashful read in backwards..."

"Well, I couldn't think of a better name…" Happy replied, grinning.

Then, Sleepy stepped in. "What about 'Basilio'?" he calmly said.

Everyone went quiet and looked at Sleepy.

"We can call him Don Basilio of Barcelona…" Sleepy continued.

"That's it!" Doc exclaimed. "Basilio, a noble dwarf from the Spanish city of Barcelona…"

"Sleepy, you're a genius!" Sneezy praised him.

"Thanks…" Sleepy yawned. Sometimes he also has great ideas inside his small, sleep head.

"Sounds Fantastic!" Happy exclaimed. "Alright, 7D, To the Jollyday ball"

"Not yet…" Sneezy interrupted.

"Not yet again?!" Grumpy groaned.

"I meant we're not dressed up yet…" Sneezy explained.

Everyone stopped and looked at the clock.

It's already 5:30 pm! They spent all afternoon helping Bashful to get ready for tonight and they didn't even thought of getting dressed for themselves.

"Hickory Dickory!" Doc cried, "We only have one hour and a half to get ready!"

"Quick! To the closest!" Happy said excitedly, pointing upstairs.

As the others ran upstairs to their rooms, Doc turned to Bashful.

"Bashful…" he said, "you stay here while we're getting ready, ok?"

"Sure…" Bashful said.

As Doc ran up to the stairs, Grumpy stood still behind the stairs. His eyes locked on Bashful.

"What?" Bashful said, feeling a little uneasy.

"Don't you dare go hiding anywhere…" Grumpy said, "I got my eyes on you."

And he slowly walked up the stairs, his eyes still glaring on Bashful.

Bashful frowned. Sometimes you never guess if Grumpy is kidding for just plain serious.

When he disappeared out of sight, Bashful is now alone and went the mirror again.

He looked at his reflection from head to foot. Then, he removed his mask and looked at the mirror again.

"This isn't me…" he thought to himself. "This isn't me at all…"

But then, a thought flashed in his mind.

"If we tell the Queen that Bashful is her date, she might decline…"

Despite being shy and all, he always dreamed of dating the Queen. Just this once.

But if it's true that telling his true identity to the Queen can really ruin the date, then it's something that he can't afford to risk.

"No…" he said, "I can't let that happen…I won't let it happen!"

Then, Bashful put his mask back on and stared at his reflection again. He took a deep breath and made a stern look.

"Ok, Bashful…" he said, trying to boost some serious confidence in himself.

"Time to give the queen a one heck of a date… Why? Cuz you're not Bashful anymore…

You're now Don Basilio of Barcelona!"

END OF CHAPTER THREE

NEXT CHAPTER: It's a magical night for both Bashful (a.k.a. "Don Basilio of Barcelona") and the Queen herself. And things got unexpected when he's about to receive the greatest gift that a man can get from his love. Will our typical "Cinderella"dwarf meets his 'Happily ever after'? One romantic adventure coming up in Chapter four: The Dwarf and the Queen.