(1) apparently a miscommunication was made...haha
A Royal Ball
"So father, what are you proposing?"
"What I'm proposing is a ball!"
"A ball, father?"
"Yes a ball…"
"Father this is no time to be playing ball! You're aging and I'm at a ripe age for marriage!" (1)
At that the princes' father burst out laughing at his son. "No, no, no! Not a "ball" a "BALL"
"Father, please make some sense a ball is a ball!"
"I think what your father means," the queen stepped in and said, "Is a ball as in a dance."
"Oh, right, right, a "B-a-l-l" ok I understand now"
"But what a bother choosing a bride will be! Father must I really choose a bride? I don't want to get married!"
"I will hear none of this! You shall have the ball and you shall choose a lovely bride!– Peter come write this down! 'A ball is to be held at the royal hall on the night of the twenty-third of the month! All eligible young ladies in this fair kingdom are requested to attend the ball! At the ball the prince shall choose the one to be his wife! Come one come all merry women to a night of enchantment where you may be the center of attention!'– Now go Peter! Send servants out to all houses with eligible ladies! Send word of this gallant message! Forward now, Ho!"
With that Peter did as he was bid by his majesty, and sent all free servants out to send the message.
"But father, to have it on the twenty-third of the month! That only gives us one week to prepare for the gigantic feast! That is not nearly enough time!"
"Why son, have faith! It is and it shall be! Why haha after all you need to find yourself a nice wife to marry!"
"Come, dear, it is time for your afternoon lessons with the scribes! Then it's off to the market to help prepare for the feast! Off you come now dear son!" said the queen ushering the prince out of the room.
"Yes mother," and the prince followed.
Sighing, the prince stared solemnly out the window. He always found arithmetic such a bore! All he wanted to do was get out into the open air and frolic around! He could hear the small children, who frequently played along the palace walls, laughing gaily about. He longed to be free like that, and not be constantly hawked on like the royal subject he was.
"Sire, what is it that entraps you away from your studies so well, may I ask?"
"Uh? Oh nothing, Balthasar, nothing at all. Are the lessons almost over?"
"Yes sire, you've daydreamed right through them! Once again, is there any hope for you in arithmetic?"
"Eh? Who knows? You know how it bores me so!! Oh look here comes mother!"
"Hello dear son! I take you remember our plans?"
"Yes mother go to the square to start planning for the big ball that is to take place in one week! I still must ask, must I choose a maiden now? I'm still so young!"
"Yes you shall! Your father has bid you do that, and what your father says goes! Besides it's the right time for you to choose a wife, come now the market awaits"
"Coming mother," he said, he really didn't mind going to the market, it gave him a chance to get some fresh air and goof off a bit. It was the "planning for the ball" that he didn't like! Nonetheless, it was his duty to help plan; after all it was HIS ball.
"Cinderelle! Cinderella! Would someone get the door!"
"Yes stepmother!" they both once again screamed from their room.
"So who's going to get it this time?"
"Not me! I did it last time!" said Cinderelle
"Yes but I did it before that, and I had to wash Hilda's dishes!"
"So…oh alright we'll do the old one two three"
"aright….one…."
"two…."
"Three!" they said together while showing what they had.
"Paper beats rock! I win! You get to get the door this time!" Cinderelle said with delight.
"Oh fiddlesticks! Oh alright, you won fair and square, but you get the door next time dear sister!"
"Yes, yes I know hehe" Smiling Cinderella got up and answered the door.
"Hello?"
"Is this the Hildman residence?"
"Why, yes it is, how may I help you?"
The man in the door way cleared his throat then proceeded.
"By royal decree of his Majesty King Henry, a royal ball is to be held on the 23 of this month. This is in honor for the prince! At the ball, he shall choose one maiden from the city to be his wife! That is all" with that the messenger handed the gawking Cinderella a paper that had the royal decree on it. Cinderella took it, thanked the man, closed the door, and just stood there.
"Well, what are you just standing there for?!" Demanded to mother, "give me that letter!" after snatching the letter, the stepmother gasped and called on Hilda and Anita, Cinderelle came because of all the commotion; she was curious too.
"A ball! A ball! The prince shall choose his wife at the ball!" then reading allowed, "all fair maidens of my fair kingdom are requested by royal decree to attend a ball to be held on the 23 of the month. At the ball the prince shall choose one lucky maiden to be his wife! So come one come all and have a merry time!"
"Why mother! He just HAS to choose me!" replied Anita, "I'm just the prettiest girl in our kingdom! And I know it!" she stubbornly added.
"Yeah well he HAS to pick me! I've got wit and brawn! What more can a guy ask for?" snorted Hilda.
"Um….stepmother," said Cinderella
"What is it!?"
"It says, all maidens are asked, well, me and Cinderelle are maidens, may we have permission to go to the ball?"
"Why dear! Of course…..IF! If you can finish all your chores on that day!"
"Oh thank you so much mother!" Cinderella and Cinderelle said joyously getting back to their chores.
"But mother!!" Anita and Hilda chimed in
"I said 'if' they finish their chores! Don't worry girls, I'm sure they'll be very busy!"
"Oh 'if' they finish! Yes mother I'm sure they will too" the girls wickedly remarked.
"But come now girls! We have a lot of work to do to make you prince material! It's off to the market for us!"
"Yes mother" they replied
"Cinderella! Cinderelle! Come! We're going to the market! We need you to come along and hold our baggage!"
Hustling back Cinderelle and Cinderella joined their "family" for a trip to the market. Upon arriving, it seemed as if everyone was preparing themselves for the upcoming ball.