The Dragon and the Princess

It was her birthday. She had just turned eight years old. She brushed her blond curls till they sparkled, wishing she could put on her favorite dress. Sadly, it was ruined. It was going to be a special day. HER special day! Today she was eight.

"Margaret Anne!" she heard a loud voice cry out. She was being summoned by Miss Priscilla. She rushed down the hallway to see why she was being called.

The minute that she reached the bottom of the stairs, she spotted her Aunt Kiki standing there. Her eyes went wide with surprise. "Aunt Kiki! You came for my birthday!" she said excitedly before she could stop herself. This surprise visit could make up for everything that her aunt had done to be mean. If she came for her birthday, then maybe she did really care! Things would be better now; they had to be!

"I'm so glad you are here!" Marty said happily as she ran up to hug Aunt Kiki's legs.

But Kiki wasn't glad to see her niece. Not in the slightest. She angrily pushed Marty away. Marty fell promptly on her bottom, a dazed look upon her face. "I'm not here for your birthday. I'm here to take you away!" she snarled. "You ungrateful, snot-nosed little brat!"

"What?! Take me away? Why?" Marty questioned.

"Because Miss Priscilla wrote to tell me you broke the rules. She knows you are nothing but a hellion. Everyone knows now!" Kiki stated.

"But I don't want to go with you. I don't want to leave Megan," Marty cried. "Please Aunt Kiki... please let me stay!"

Kiki turned to Miss Priscilla. "Perhaps we can work something out. I don't want the child. And she clearly does not want to go with me. If I paid you..."

"Miss Saybrooke, you haven't even paid me this month's tuition. Where IS it? Haven't you the funds?"

Marty was startled by Miss Priscilla's words. Her parents had been quite wealthy. They had a motor car and a water closet and many other nice things. Surely her aunt had enough to pay for her stay at the boarding school! Why was Aunt Kiki hesitating? Why couldn't she pay?

Kiki was not about to admit there was no money; that would simply make her look like a fool. "Well, I sent the money. There must have been a problem at the bank. I swear those bank people can be so stupid! I told them it was very important that the money get to you, wire transfer," she said putting on her best 'everything is okay' voice.

Marty gave them both a funny look. Neither one had mentioned yet whether she could stay or not and that's all she really wanted to know. She wanted to stay here with Megan, her new friend. Maybe if she promised to behave and not do anything that would make Rebecca and Hannah mad, they would let her stay.

"I'll be a good girl, Miss Priscilla and Aunt Kiki. Please let me stay," Marty pleaded.

"I simply must have the money first," Miss Priscilla insisted. "The child cannot stay another night unless you pay the tuition in full. Then we can see what we can do... about her behavior."

Aunt Kiki looked like she was going to burst at the seams. Her face got bright red as though she wanted to scream an obscenity at Miss Priscilla. "The money is gone," she admitted. "I spent every penny of it. I had to sell the house... the motor car. Everything... all of it; it's gone."

Marty couldn't believe what she was hearing. Kiki had spent every cent of her parents' money? How in the world could she have done that... in just a few months time?! Where was the house? Where was Marty's piano and the motor car?! Everything that reminded Marty of her parents... it was now gone?!

How could Kiki have done that?! It was reprehensible to Marty.

"I hate you!" Marty screamed at her aunt. "You're a horrible lady and I hate you!"

"Shut up, you little brat!" Kiki snapped at Marty. "How dare you speak like that to me! Get your things; we're leaving! I'll figure out what to do with you."

She bent down to Marty's level and whispered wickedly in her ear, "Maybe I'll leave you on someone's doorstep."

Marty said nothing as hot tears streaked her face and she ran up the stairs. When she reached the third floor, she pulled her suitcase out from under her bed. She was going... but not with Kiki.

Marty Saybrooke was running away!