Tales from the Castle - a Sofia the First fanfic
Chapter 12: Passing Judgment
Note: this story takes place when Sofia, Amber, and their friends are children.
A spring day
It was a sunny spring day in the Village of Dunwitty. In the village, Sofia was walking with her friends Ruby, Jade, and Lucinda. With them was Dorothy Stockton. Dorothy's mother, June, had taken over the shoemaker's shop when Sofia's mother, Miranda, had married King Roland.
Sofia, Ruby, Jade, Lucinda, and Dorothy were on their way to the river just outside of the village to have a tea party. As the five happily walked through the village, they were watched by Jolene Wheeler. Jolene's father owned a very successful import and export company in the village, and as a result, Jolene's parents were, financially, better off than a lot of people in the village.
Because Jolene's parents where better off, Jolene tended to act as if she were better than the other village children. Because of Jolene's attitude, the other village children tended to stay away from her.
Sofia, Ruby, Jade, Lucinda, and Dorothy soon arrived at the river, and spread a huge blanket on the ground near the river. The five then brought out some borrowed tea cups and a borrowed tea pot, and enjoyed some tea. As they enjoyed the tea, they had a wonderful time sitting and happily talking to each other.
As the day wore on, it was time to pack up and return home. Later that afternoon, Dorothy was sitting in front of the shoemaker's shop playing with an old ball. While the ball had seen better days, it was still one of Dorothy's favorite toys. As Dorothy played with the ball, Jolene walked up.
"You really get a lot of use out of that old ball" Jolene remarked. "Don't you think it's time you got a new ball?".
"Well, it's the only ball I have, and I like it" Dorothy answered.
"Oh" Jolene said coldly. "I guess you have to make do with that old ball, don't you? It's not like you can afford something new".
At that point, Dorothy's mother called Dorothy in for supper.
That night
As Dorothy lay in bed that night, what Jolene had said haunted Dorothy. Dorothy and her mother were on a tight budget, so Dorothy was use to making things last. Still, the ball that Dorothy had was old, and Dorothy started feeling sad. It was the best that Dorothy had, and somebody had gone out of their way to treat the ball as substandard. And, in doing so, it made Dorothy feel substandard.
"I'm sorry I'm not fancy enough" Dorothy sadly thought to herself. "Why can't some people keep their stuck up comments to themselves? Why do some people have to judge others?"
The next day
Dorothy silently ate breakfast. Dorothy's mother, June, could tell that something was on Dorothy's mind.
"Dorothy, sweetheart" June gently said. "Is something the matter?".
"No, Mom" Dorothy quietly answered.
"So, what are your plans today?" June asked.
"Since we're on spring break from school, I thought I would just go upstairs and read" Dorothy said.
At that point, a customer came into the shop. As June went to take care of the customer, Dorothy went upstairs. After June had taken care of the customer, she looked up the stairs.
"Dorothy?" June called out. "You okay?".
"Yes, Mom" Dorothy answered.
"Wouldn't you rather go out and play?" June asked.
"Not today, Mom" Dorothy quietly answered.
June could tell something was wrong. As June was about to go upstairs, another customer came into the shop.
Later that morning
June was taking a break from work when the door to the shop opened. June looked up to see Sofia standing there.
"I hope you don't mind me dropping in, Mrs. Stockton?" Sofia asked with a smile. "I was passing by, and I wanted to see the shop. I have such happy memories from when me and my mom lived here".
"Your always welcomed here, Princess Sofia" June smiled back. June then started staring off into space.
"Anything wrong?" Sofia asked, concerned.
"Well, Dorothy seems to have something on her mind" June started. "She's keeping quiet about whatever it is. Since your a friend of Dorothy's, could you go upstairs and try to find out what's going on?".
"I'd be happy to" Sofia reassured June.
Sofia made her way upstairs, and found Dorothy sitting on a couch. Dorothy was staring off into space, and didn't notice Sofia come up.
"Dorothy?" Sofia asked, concerned. "Everything alright?".
"Oh, yes" Dorothy tried to smile. Sofia could tell something was bothering Dorothy.
"Okay, what's going on?" Sofia wanted to know.
"Oh, it's nothing" Dorothy started. "It's something that I really shouldn't let bother me".
"If it's bothering you, then it's not nothing" Sofia pointed out. "We're friends. What's on your mind?".
"Well ..." Dorothy started.
"Just take your time" Sofia gently said.
"Well ... I was playing with my old ball outside yesterday afternoon" Dorothy said. "Yes, it's old, but it's all I have. Anyway, while I was playing, Jolene Wheeler came up and pointed out it was an old ball, and suggested I buy a new one. Then, she just couldn't wait to point out that I couldn't really afford to buy a new one, could I".
"That's terrible!" Sofia exclaimed.
"It made me feel bad" Dorothy sadly said. "I can't help it because I have to make things last. I can't help it because what I have isn't fancy enough for some people. I certainly don't need somebody rubbing my nose in it". Dorothy then started sobbing. Sofia held Dorothy as Dorothy sobbed.
"I'm here, Dorothy" Sofia gently reassured Dorothy. "I'm here".
"Please don't tell my mom" Dorothy pleaded. "I don't want her feeling bad because of this".
"I'm so sorry somebody made you feel like that" June sadly said to Dorothy as she walked into the room.
"Please, Mom - I don't blame you" Dorothy sobbed. "It just made me feel bad, like I was being judged over something I can't help".
"I'm going to close up early today, Dorothy" June announced. "We'll make this afternoon about the two of us".
"I don't want you loosing business over me" Dorothy said.
"Nothing is more important than my precious little girl" June reassured Dorothy. "We'll go out this afternoon and have some fun".
That afternoon
As Sofia walked in the village, she felt sad for Dorothy. Sofia also felt anger toward Jolene.
"How could Jolene be so thoughtless?" Sofia thought to herself in anger. "Don't some people realize that their judgmental comments can really hurt people?".
"Princess Sofia?" a man's voice came from behind her.
Sofia turned around to see Jolene's father, Mr. Wheeler. Sofia could feel the anger welling up inside her. However, she was a princess, and was expected to maintain a certain level of diplomacy.
"Mr. Wheeler" Sofia coldly acknowledged.
"Something's wrong, isn't it?" Mr. Wheeler asked, concerned.
"If I weren't a princess ..." Sofia answered, trying to contain her anger.
"Something is wrong" Mr. Wheeler observed. "I'd like to know what it is, please?"
"Well" Sofia started, "your daughter made one of my friends feel bad".
"What did Jolene do this time?" Mr. Wheeler asked, clearly disgusted with his daughter.
Sofia explained what Jolene said to Dorothy, and how bad it had made Dorothy feel.
"That tears it!" Mr. Wheeler exclaimed. "Jolene has gone too far! Rest assured that my wife and I will have a very stern talk with Jolene".
"Meanwhile, I have to find some way to make this right for Dorothy" Sofia sadly said. "I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I have to do something".
"That's why people love you, Princess Sofia" Mr. Wheeler smiled. "Your always thinking about what you can do to help people".
Later at Enchancia Castle
After supper, Sofia went to her bedroom. As she sat on her bed, a knock came at Sofia's door.
"Come in" Sofia invited.
The door opened, and in walked Amber who was carrying a box.
"Sofia" Amber started, "Mr. Wheeler came over a little while ago to see Dad. He told Dad about the conversation he had with you today, and how sad you were about what had happened to Dorothy".
"I suppose I'm in trouble because I was a bit forward with an adult?" Sofia asked.
"Not at all, Sofia" Amber smiled. "Mr. Wheeler came over to tell Dad what a fine girl you are, and how grateful he was that you brought what happened to his attention. Meanwhile, I was digging through some toys I no longer use, and I put them in this box. I thought maybe Dorothy would like to have them".
Sofia looked through the box, and discovered two almost new dolls, and an almost new ball.
"Thank you, Amber" Sofia said gratefully. "Dorothy will love these".
"Your welcome, Sofia" Amber said. "I was very sad to hear about what happened to Dorothy, and I wanted to do something to help".
The next day
Sofia took the box that Amber had given her and went into the village. In a little bit, Sofia found herself at the shoemaker's shop. Sofia opened the door, and stepped inside.
"Princess Sofia" June greeted with a smile. "Good morning".
"Good morning, Mrs. Stockton" Sofia greeted back. "How is Dorothy today?".
"I think she's feeling better" June answered. "The two of us went out and had some fun yesterday afternoon. Mr. Wheeler also came over and apologized over what happened". June then noticed the box that Sofia was carrying. "What's in the box, Princess?".
"Amber went through some toys she no longer uses, and she thought that Dorothy might like to have them" Sofia answered.
"Oh, thank you" June said with tears of happiness in her eyes. June then called Dorothy down to the shop.
"What is it, Mom?" Dorothy asked as she came into the shop.
"Here's something from Amber for you" Sofia smiled as she handed Dorothy the box.
Dorothy opened the box, and discovered two almost new dolls, and an almost new ball.
"For ... me?" Dorothy asked. "But where did these come from?"
"These are for you" Sofia smiled. "Amber was going through some toys that she doesn't use, and she wanted you to have them".
"Oh, thank you" Dorothy said in gratitude. "And thank Amber for me".
"I will" Sofia smiled, seeing that Dorothy was so very pleased.
Two days later
Amber was walking in the village when Jolene stormed over to her.
"I want you to know that your sister got me into trouble!" Jolene snapped at Amber.
"Your big unfeeling mouth is what got you into trouble!" Amber snapped back. "You know, some people aren't rich. Some people have to make do with what they have. What they have may not be new or fancy, but it is theirs. But then people like you come along and make unfeeling remarks. Is it any of your business that something may not be new or fancy? No!".
"Well, I can see there will be no talking to you" Jolene said in anger as she started to walk away.
"I'm not done talking to you!" Amber snapped at Jolene. "You, and people like you, may feel you have a right to make unfeeling comments, but you don't. Some people are well aware that their stuff isn't new or fancy, and your unfeeling comments only make them feel bad. You, and people like you, should be grateful for what you have, and should not look down your noses at others. All your unfeeling comments do is to cause hurt".
At that moment, people standing around Amber clapped in support of what Amber had said. Joleen stormed off in a huff.
In a little while, Amber found herself at Jade's house. Amber smiled as she saw Jade, Sofia, Ruby, Lucinda, and Dorothy playing with their toys. As Amber stepped into Jade's front yard, Dorothy came over to Amber.
"Thank you, Amber, for the two dolls, and the ball" Dorothy said gratefully. "I love them".
"Your welcome, Dorothy" Amber smiled as the two hugged.
Jade, Sofia, Ruby, Lucinda, Dorothy, and Amber had a wonderful afternoon playing with their toys, and enjoying each other's company. It was a beautiful day.