10/3/72

Golly, I haven't written in here for a while, I guess I've just been busy. It's been all work, work, work for the past seven days. I haven't had the energy to write my journal. We've been preparing for this ball that is to be held tomorrow. The Genovian Annual Independence Day Ball (a.k.a: GAIDB). A pointless escapade if there ever was one. Apparently anyone who's important in Genovia will come for dinner and dancing. Us gardeners have the most important job because we have to make the garden looks spectacular. Everything has to be in its place. So you can imagine the stress we're under. It has to be finished by no later than tomorrow morning. It looks pretty good at the moment but it does require a couple of touch ups.

Her Majesty is in control of the gardens. She gives us orders and if we don't follow them, we're out of a job (which is fair enough, seeing as though it's her garden). Would you believe she still doesn't remember who I am? Now she thinks I'm some man called Timothy from Pennsylvania. I would seriously like to know how she got that into her head. I'm the only gardener I know who says more to her than just a simple "Hello".

Well, I have an early start to the day tomorrow, so I'll sign off here.

11/3/72

Tonight was the night of the GAIDB. I watched the dancing from the window in Lauren's room, because hers has a better view than mine. Lauren was in the actual ballroom serving food to the guests. I was imagining the two of us in there dancing around, eating gourmet foods and drinking the finest wines. Then somebody yelling interrupted my trail of thought. I watched in surprise as her majesty walked furiously across the lawn followed by the king.

"I don't care if you think it was funny, Rupert, you had no right to say that!"

"Oh come on, Clarisse, I didn't mean it."

She turned around and threw her corsage at him, "Yes you did!"

He grabbed her arm, "Look, I'm sorry, alright? Now can we please go back inside and enjoy the party?"

"No!" She pulled away and stormed off towards the stables. He threw his hands up and hurried back inside.

I decided to follow the queen in case she needed some comfort or a shoulder to cry on. I hurried outside and ran to the stables. When I got there, I saw her riding her horse, towards the gate, so I mounted a horse myself and chased after her. As I expected, she stopped to sit at the lake. I jumped off the horse and slowly walked over to her. She looked terrible. Her mascara was running, she had scratches on her face from riding too close to the trees and her once beautiful sparkling ballgown had become nothing more than tattered rags.

"Your Majesty?"

She looked up at me and then stared at the water. She mustn't have known what to say because she stayed silent.

"Are you alright?"

Her lip twitched and she nodded slightly. I pulled out a clean hanky and bent down to wipe her face, but she took it from my hand and wiped it herself.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She shook her head, "Can you please give me a moment alone, I'm sick of being followed all the time."

"Of course. I'm sorry for the intrusion, your majesty."

I got up and backed slowly away. I saw her put her head in her hands and I decided to stay behind a tree to keep an eye on her. A whole hour passed before I decided to talk to her again.

"Can I help you back to the palace?"

"Are you still here?"

"I was worried about you."

"You were worried about me? That's very kind, but you don't even know me. Why should you care?"

"Because you're my queen and I have a duty to make sure you're feeling ok."

"No you don't, you're not my bodyguard."

"I may be a gardener, but I have the heart of a bodyguard."

"I'm sure you do, after all, you did follow me up here for god knows what reason."

"Because I care about your safety and wellbeing just as a bodyguard would."

"I'll tell you what, if something ever happens to Baxter, I'll give you a call…umm…uh…"

"Joseph."

"Joseph? Are you sure? You look like a Larry to me."

"I can assure you, I do know my own name."

"Well anyway, in the meantime I'd suggest you have a word with Paul, the royal head of security, about becoming a guard. Tell him the queen sent you."

She got up and hopped onto her horse, "See you on the squad, Billy."

"It's Joseph…"

It was strange, I wasn't expecting a job offer. I can just picture myself as a palace guard. Purple suit, black hat, feathers…

13/3/72

I spoke to Paul today. He said that he needs to test my skills as a guard before letting me on duty. I'm taking the test on the 19th. If I qualify, I'll be sent to Spain for a three day intense training course. Until then, I must learn about security by staying by his side. I feel strange being a 37 year old intern who has to follow a 44 year old man around. He's only 7 years older than me and he's made something of his life. Not that mine hasn't been great, it's just…he's everything I want to be.

Lauren asked me to join her in her room tonight, so I'm thinking tonight could be the night. Not that that's all I want her for or anything but…hmm…

I have to go now, she said to come at 9:30. Cheery-O!