PRINCESS ACADEMY
Written by: Jaliyah W
HERE YE, HERE YE
Once upon a time there a lived a teenage girl named Maria Smith. Maria lived in a small village in India with her Mama, Papa, Grandmother, and her sister Hannah. They live in a raggedy house with tinted windows and weak doors and cabinets. Maria was sad because almost everyone in her village was very wealthy. Maria wore a wool dress with patches on the side because they were so old and weak. The other kids in the village wore neat and clean wool dresses with bonnets tied over their heads.
On a cold Tuesday morning Maria and her family sat down for breakfast. Today for breakfast they were having chicken noodle soup and for dinner they were having potatoes and rice. The family sat at the table scanning through mail and staring at their food looking sick at the stomach. Mrs. Smith smiled and let out a loud shriek. “Maria, Hannah, and honey suppose what I see in the mail,” Mrs. Smith smirked. The family stared at her confusedly. Maria shouted out eagerly, “Is it money!” Mrs. Smith nodded trying not to shriek again. “All right everyone I can’t bare it anymore it’s a invitation,” Mrs. Smith claimed. Everyone began to get very excited.
Mrs. Smith began to read it then she frowned. Mrs. Smith cleared her throat, “Maria this is for you”. Maria looked confused as she grabbed the letter. Maria began to read the letter aloud.
HERE YE, HERE YE
YOUR LOVELY CHILD HAS BEEN SELECTED TO PROFFER INTO THE “ACADEMY OF ROYAL PRINCESSES”.
WE NEED THE PERMIT BY DECEMBER 18th. WE SURELY HOPE THAT YOU WILL PERMIT YOUR CHILD INTO THE ACADEMY.
SINCERELY,
MARY WILKINS
The whole Smith family began babbling about the invitation. Mrs. Smith bit her lips nervously as if she was hesitating. All of a sudden Mrs. Smith raised her a fork and tapped her a glass. Then everyone was silent at the table. “It isn’t that necessary we don’t have to sound like wild animals,” Mrs. Smith nodded. “Did you hear the invitation,” Maria giggled. Mrs. Smith took a deep breath, “I surely did and I don’t approve of it.” Maria jumped out of her chair angrily. “You mean I can’t go,” Maria exclaimed. “That’s exactly what I mean,” Mrs. Smith replied.
Maria grew angrier and angrier at every minute. Maria looked at her Papa and then her sister. “If Grandmother was here she would be furious,” Maria said. Mrs. Smith paused for a moment. “Well, I am your Mother and she is not,” Mrs. Smith nodded. Maria let out a loud sigh. “Do you know how important that invitation is,” Maria wondered. Mrs. Smith squinted her eye at Maria. Mrs. Smith glanced at Hannah, “Sweetie, tell me what is so important about the invitation”. Hannah shrugged. “Well, it would be a great chance for us to be wealthy and if she goes to the Academy I’ll be going to college in a month then you can have enough money for food,” Hannah explained.
Mrs. Smith stared at Hannah. Hannah gulped and continued to swallow her soup. It turns out that Mrs. Smith wanted Hannah to agree with her. Papa began to speak up. “Honey, Hannah is right the people at the college will feed and take care of Hannah and at the Academy they’ll do just as well,” Papa explained. Mrs. Smith took a deep breath. “Well, the truth is you’re just a little child you’re not old enough to be on your own at the Academy,” Mrs. Smith nodded. Maria scoffed and held her Mother’s hand. “Mother I’m thirteen,” Maria said. Mrs. Smith smiled. “I know you are sweetie I know,” Mrs. Smith nodded.
A couple of hours later Maria was walking to school. Kids threw paper at her big kids and even little kids. Everyone teased her about her old and raggedy clothes. A couple of tall girls a few inches taller than Maria stepped in front of her. One of them who was the tallest had the longest hair. She had brown hair and she had light caramel skin. “Hi, Maria nice sweater I’ve never seen you where it before, but I’ve seen other kids wear before like two years ago,” she teased. “Leave me alone Mindy,” Maria growled. Mindy chuckled, “Oh, I won’t have to bother you anymore.” Maria’s eyes bulged she was completely stunned.
Maria was speechless she couldn’t believe that Mindy would
stop bothering her. Mindy had once told Maria that she would taunt her on her deathbed. Mindy began to stammer. “Yes, it is true I am going to the Princess Academy,” Mindy smiled. Maria’s mouth gaped wide open. Mindy began to smile as if she was bragging without words. “That’s impossible I’m going to the Academy,” Maria said. Now, Mindy was stunned. “You have no chance of becoming a princess,” Mindy claimed. Maria smiled and walked away. Mindy groaned.
Afterschool Maria was walking home alone. A girl with short black hair came running down the hill chasing after Maria. It was Maria’s best friend Sally. Sally was from America, but her family was from India. Sally was very short and she didn’t look like the other girls at their school. “Is it true,” Sally wondered. “Is what true,” Maria wondered. “Is it true you got accepted in the Academy,” Sally asked. “Why yes, but my Mother hasn’t approved,” Maria said. “I am eager to go home today cause Grandmother is coming back from the hospital today,” Maria explained. Maria waved to Sally and skipped along.
At home Maria sat at the dinner table waiting for her Grandmother. The door swung wide open and there was Papa and Mama helping their Grandmother into the house. “Hi, Grandma,” Maria exclaimed smiling. Their Grandmother laid down on the bed in the living room. I know can you imagine a bed in the living room? Well, Maria slept upstairs in the attic with her sister and their Mama and Papa had a room to themselves. “Grandmother you’ll never believe what I received in the mail,” Maria said. Maria’s Mother frowned and walked over to them. “So Mother what did the doctor say,” Mrs. Smith wondered. Her Grandmother Ann kicked off her shoes. Grandmother Ann sighed rubbing her feet. “He said my foot is going to swollen for a couple of weeks so all I have to do is stay in bed and drink plenty of milk and eat healthy food,” Grandmother Ann replied.
Maria was getting furious she realized what her Mother was trying to do. Maria flopped in the bed beside her Grandmother and smiled. “Now, back to what I was saying,” Maria claimed. “I got an invitation to Princess Academy,” Maria chuckled. Mrs. Smith groaned, “Maria, don’t you have homework or something”. Grandmother Ann clasped her hands together. “She can’t do homework now I have to tell her a magnificent story,” Grandmother Ann said. Maria got comfortable in the bed. Then she ordered everyone to sit around. “Okay, I almost became a princess once, but it happened a different way,” Grandmother Ann explained. Grandmother began to go on with her story, but Hannah walked in. Grandmother Ann ordered her to sit down then she continued. “It was about thirty years ago I was visiting England with my Father before he went out to war,” Grandmother Ann informed. Grandmother Ann cleared her throat, “Then he told me he was a great friend to the Queen of England and he was going to show me their castle”. Grandmother began to laugh to herself.
Grandmother slipped a necklace out of her pocket. The necklace read princess. “She gave me this necklace as a souvenir and when I went back home I had received a letter from the Queen,” Grandmother Ann smiled. Grandmother Ann smirked and took a deep breath. “The note was about the necklace and how it had been passed down from traditions and she said since I now owned the necklace I was apart of their family and I was a true princess,” Grandmother nodded hugging the necklace tight. Maria smiled, “Oh, that is sweet”. Grandmother Ann sniffed wiping her tears away. “Well, you must get along doing your homework while I talk to your Mother,” Grandmother Ann ordered. Grandmother Ann stared at Papa and Hannah as they sat there and then she added, “Alone”. They got up sighing and walked upstairs.
Mrs. Smith moved around the kitchen washing pans and cups. “So what did you want to talk about Mother,” Mrs. Smith asked. Grandmother Ann tried to relax in the bed before she replied. “Well, I could tell that you didn’t want Maria to go to the Academy,” Grandmother admitted. Mrs. Smith poured a bucket of rice into a pot. Upstairs in the attic Maria and Hannah listened. Their parents didn’t know that they have a little lift up door in the attic. The lift up door led them to a little small room where Maria and Hannah study and have alone time. You can also hear what their parents are saying downstairs if you listen closely. “Why yes because she is only a child,” Mrs. Smith replied. Grandmother scoffed. “She is thirteen that is no child that is a teenager,” Grandmother assured. Mrs. Smith sighed. “Mother she is my child,” Mrs. Smith said. Grandmother Ann sighed. “There she is listening to everything you tell her to do and you can’t reward her,” Grandmother exclaimed. “I brought her into this world how much more do I have to reward her,” Mrs. Smith yelled. Grandmother sat up in bed. “Don’t you know that this can help us get more wealthy,” Grandmother asked. Mrs. Smith nodded, “Everyone keeps saying that it’s not that easy I’m doing her a big favor”. Mrs. Smith slammed the oven door and stomped upstairs.
Maria and Hannah heard silence and then they could hear footsteps. They quickly closed the trap door and locked it they covered it up with the rug and ran to their bunk bed. Hannah lay in the bottom bunk studying and Maria laid on the floor studying. They heard the ladder squeak and then it made a loud thump. Maria and Hannah was use to that cause it happened all the time. Their Mother stepped inside and checked upon them. “Maria are you still in the Christmas pageant at your school,” Mrs. Smith wondered. Maria nodded. Mrs. Smith smiled. “Are you having trouble with your homework Hannah,” Mrs. Smith questioned. “No, ma’am I’m doing just fine,” Hannah replied. Mrs. Smith closed the door gently.
Hannah glanced at Maria chuckling. Maria looked up at Hannah and squinted her eye. “You’re in a Christmas pageant,” Hannah giggled. Maria nodded. “What are you the sheep,” Hannah taunted. “No, I am the angel,” Maria said. “It’s not like an ordinary pageant we’re making up our own,” Maria explained. Hannah frowned. “Are you allowed to that,” Hannah asked. Maria shrugged, “If the teacher’s make us do it then I guess we are”. Hannah chuckled nodding. “No, I mean a pageant is like something traditional and historical, but making up your own is not traditional or historical,” Hannah demonstrated. Maria shrugged again. Then they continued doing their homework.
At dinner everyone gathered around the table even Grandma. They were going to have a festive dinner today cause the people at the hospital-donated food to Grandma for her foot. Maria thought it was pretty weird cause it was just a silly foot, but she wasn’t complaining cause they hardly had anything good to eat. Maria thought about the letter that she had received saying that she needed to turn the permit in by the 18th well the 18th was just in three more days and she had to urge her Mom to permit her in. They were having rice, potatoes, scones, ham, and an English muffin. Maria sighed. “Mom I was wondering if I could to that school,” Maria asked again. Mrs. Smith groaned. “No, Maria end of discussion,” Mrs. Smith said. Grandma smacked on her soup and stood up then she ordered Maria to come with her.
Maria found an old cane in the backyard yesterday and she gave it to her Grandma so she could get around easily. They went around a corner. Grandma smiled. “I know you really want to go to the Academy, but your Mother is just starstruck,” Grandma explained. “Well, if she’s starstruck why isn’t she letting me to the Academy,” Maria wondered. Grandma took a deep breath. “Your Mother has had a rough childhood she’s been turned down in so many things and she just doesn’t want that to happen to you,” Grandma explained. Maria glanced at her Mother. She now understood why her Mom was being so hard on her, but she still wanted to go to the Academy.
Maria walked towards her Mother and smiled. “Mom Grandmother explained why you won’t let me go to the Academy,” Maria told her Mom. Mrs. Smith glanced at Grandma. Then Mrs. Smith took Maria’s hand and sighed. “Mom I understand you have been turned down a lot, but this means so much-so much to us,” Maria demonstrated. Mrs. Smith shed a tear. Maria handed her a napkin. “Maria I know how much this means to you and there’s another reason why I’m not letting you go,” Mrs. Smith began. Maria’s eyes widened she glanced at her Mother. “I don’t want to lose my little girl,” Mrs. Smith nodded. Maria chuckled. Then Maria sat in her Mother’s lap. “Mom no matter how old I get I will always be your little girl,” Maria explained. Mrs. Smith stared at her daughter then she smiled. Mrs. Smith hugged Maria and kissed her forehead. Maria was her precious little girl.
The next morning Maria was in the kitchen eating breakfast. Today they were having chicken noodle soup and corn. They were having a sale for corn and greens so tonight they would eat rice, greens, and potatoes. There was a loud knock at the door. BANG! BANG! BANG! Everyone looked at each other. They were too scared to open the door. Maria volunteered and opened the door. Maria slowly opened the door and took a sigh of relief. Sally was standing there with a basket of fruits. “Sally what are you doing here so early,” Maria asked. Sally chuckled. “Quick you have to come,” Sally ordered. Maria turned towards her parents. Mrs. Smith nodded. Sally peeked into the door and waved. “You might want to come to,” Sally assured. Everyone got up and followed her. Sally led them to the county fair. The Smith family had never participated only Maria was the only one who visited. The sheriff of the town stood on a huge stage.
RAILROAD OF TEARS
Everyone was quiet then he tapped the mike and smiled at everyone. Then the Smith family shuffled through the crowd. “I understand some of our beautiful ladies in this village will be leaving us to go to England,” the sheriff announced. “I’d like those beautiful girls to come onstage,” he ordered. Everyone clapped as girls piled up on the stage. Sally shoved Maria. “Go ahead don’t be shy,” Maria smiled. Someone laughed an evil grin. Maria looked forward and it was Mindy. “Yeah, go onstage Princess,” Mindy teased. Mindy flashed a wicked smile and hopped onstage. Maria inhaled and stepped onto the stage. It began to get quieter. Only a few were still talking, but then they started pointing at Maria. Then everyone was quiet and shocked. The sheriff stood in front of the girls and giggled. “Okay, I want you to give all these beautiful ladies a congratulations and wish them the best,” the sheriff told everyone. At first there was slow claps. Then Mindy began to clap for herself and made loud noises. “Yeah, we all
want to wish Maria the best the most cause she is very-very poor and there is no way she is going to be a Princess,” Mindy snarled staring
into Maria’s eyes.
Mindy stepped off the stage with an evil look in her eye. Sally pushed Maria. “What is your problem,” Mindy growled. “My problem is you,” Sally exclaimed. Mindy squinted her eye. Then she glanced at Maria and chuckled. “I understand you want to defend your little friend well for your information your little friend is a poor little loser there is no way she’ll be a Princess,” Mindy told Sally. Mindy walked away. Sally placed her hand on her hips. “There is no way you’ll be a Princess,” Sally said. Mindy stopped then she turned. “Why is that,” Mindy wondered. “Princesses aren’t snobby and ugly,” Sally warned. Mindy laughed. “Yeah, you know all about ugly,” Mindy snickered. Sally’s mouth dropped. Maria skipped off the stage. Sally and Maria began walking back home. “Look Mindy doesn’t know what she is talking about you are not ugly,” Maria nodded. Sally smiled with her eyes watery. Sally sniffed. “Thanks I have to go,” Sally told Maria. Hannah caught up with Maria and laughed. “What,” Maria asked. Hannah nodded still laughing.
TO BE CONTINUED…..
PRINCESS ACADEMY
There once was a couple of
young teenage girls that wanted
to be come princesses. In order
for them to become a princess
they must go to the number one
Royalty school in England
“Academy of Royal Princess.”
While the other girls are there
for the pettiness there is one
girl who is there to help her family.
Her family isn’t very wealthy
and everyone is depending on
Maria to succeed.
