Do you know what next Sunday is?
We are so happy and thankful to you all for supporting us and our blogging endeavors over the past three years! We have decided to celebrate this momentous occasion so...........
Oh, so excessively diverting!
And what does this giveaway include, you may ask?
The prize includes one lovely bag (handmade by our own Mamma), perfect to carry your jewels in on your travels abroad, one box of Walmarts', ahem, I mean, the chocolatiers' finest truffles, perfect to cheer even the faintest of heart, and last, but not least, a box of comforting raspberry tea waiting to be brewed in your favorite mug or finest china, preferably after turning down a suitor!
Are you ready to claim this prize as your very own?
Well, then let's proceed to the directions on how you can enter!
Rules
To enter the giveaway, please do one or both of the following...
#1 Follow/ Subscribe and share our blog on your social media, making sure to comment telling us you did, to earn 1 entry!
#2 Continue the following story prompt in the comment section to earn a bonus entry! (All contributions must be family-friendly)
The Writing Prompt:
We will be announcing the winner in ONE WEEK on Sunday, the 21ST of MARCH, so be sure to enter ASAP!
We love you guys and are so excited to see who will win!
First rule: Obey all rules!
ReplyDeleteI almost died after that! We quote that all the time! I follow your blog and have shared it! That writing prompt is insanely amazing!
We quote it all the time too!!
DeleteYay! Awesome, you are in the running!
Isn't it though? There are so many ideas going through my brain about it!!
Yay, so glad you entered, Beth! Oh, that's so funny! Great families quote alike! :) Ha ha! I know, I love that prompt! So glad Grace found it!
DeleteDid my comment of the beginning of my story publish? I know you have to approve the comments but I wasn't sure if I published it.
DeleteSorry, Beth, we never got it! We look forward to reading it when it comes!
DeleteI already follow your blog :-) I hope that counts?
ReplyDeleteYes, it does count as long as you also share our blog! :)
DeleteShare it where? I was a little confused on that point.
DeleteSo sorry; share it on your social media. I'm going to clarify that above. :)
DeleteGot it! I have shared it here on MeWe and in my stories here on Instagram :-)
DeleteHalfway down the escape rope formerly known as your bedsheets, you look to your left and see someone else descending their own stairway from the stars, as it were. It's Tony Grady, your father's new valet. His rope is an actual rope, and it's a lot longer than yours because he sleeps with the other servants on the fourth floor.
ReplyDeleteWithout a word, you and Tony continue your descents. You really don't have far to go, since you were halfway down from your second-story bedroom window. A minute or so later, you're both standing with your feet on the ground, facing each other outside the dark, glassed-in conservatory where your family likes to gather in the afternoon to enjoy the sunshine and pretend they like each other.
You pick up your cute little powder blue valise that matches your new walking shoes, coat, and hat. If you're going to escape, might as well start life new in style. And who knows how long it will take to get to the city and get your own job?
Tony Grady picks up the bulging pillowcase he'd dropped from his own window. Still not saying a word, you both begin walking toward the road as quietly as you can. It's a big lawn, with no trees, and you both need to get out of sight as fast as possible. But the road is on the other side of a slight rise, and no one will see you from the house once you're there.
If you get there.
And, happily, you do. You and Tony both stop beside the road. Tony says, "Running away?"
"No, just felt like waiting eight hours for the bus to Philadelphia."
"Same."
You both walk toward town and that bus stop. It's five miles, which isn't that far if you're used to walking. Which Tony probably is, even if you're not.
Tony asks, "Mind if I ask why you're leaving?"
You sigh. "How long have you got?"
Tony chuckles. It's a good laugh, not mocking or forced. "All night?"
You smile. "Good point."
(THE END)
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!! THIS IS AMAZING!!! You are SUCH a talented writer!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!
DeleteAww, thank you! It's been a while since I just tossed off a snippet based on a prompt. Fun way to stretch the writing muscles ;-)
DeleteOk, Hamlette....that was just AWESOME!! But, I'm begging you.....please, you have to finish this for me, now! I want to read the rest of my new favorite book! :) Oh, You did such a SUPERB job with this prompt! Agh, just so good!
ReplyDeleteAs you wish...
DeleteWhile you walk through the moonlit night, you tell Tony everything. How Mr. Barclay has been coming around every Wednesday for dinner for three months. How he's some financial wizard or something that's helped your father make new investments. How he asked your father last night if he could marry you, and your father said yes as if this was the 1420s instead of the 1920s. And how, when you dared to say you'd like to have a little input into your own matrimonial prospects, your father locked you in your room the way he used to when you were ten.
"And did you climb out the window then too?" Tony asks. By this time, you're halfway to town, and you've both gotten warm from all the walking. You've got your jacket slung over one shoulder, and Tony's got his stuffed in his pillowcase. He's got that over one of his own shoulders, and your valise in his other hand now.
You laugh. "No. I'd read my books and play with my toys and pretend I was there of my own free will."
"Not a terrible plan."
"But not one that works when it's a marriage you're protesting, not lima beans."
"I suppose."
You walk onward, the night filled with the noise of crickets, frogs, and other things you can't identify. You pass a house or two, set far back from the road like your own is. Estates, they like to call them. Makes it sound like you live in England and not Pennsylvania.
Finally, you ask, "What about you? I don't remember any of father's previous valets running off in the middle of the night. Or at all, come to that."
"Yes, well, truth is, I'm in a bit of a jam."
You wonder now if you should have entrusted Tony with your valise. "A jam?" Will he run off any minute now, taking the three hundred dollars you hid inside one of your stockings?
"Yeah. I asked your father for a week off, but he wouldn't hear of it. Not when I've just started this month. Said I hadn't earned it."
"Why do you need the week off?"
"My brother's wife ran off, and he's got no one to look after his three children. He'd hire someone, but he can't take the time off from work to look for, what would you call it, a nanny? A housekeeper, maybe?"
You blink, feeling like someone's just opened a door and given you a peek of the future. "Hire someone to look after his children?"
"And keep the house a bit, yeah."
"Sweep and cook?"
"I expect so."
"But not live there?" You blush, knowing what you're implying, but needing to be sure. The darkness hides your blush, at least.
Tony Grady looks at you. "No, just for the day, while he's at work. Come in the morning, leave when he gets home for supper."
"And you're going to do that until he finds someone?"
"Guess so. Can't leave the kids alone. They're little, don't go to school yet."
"Where does your brother live?"
"Yeadon."
You take a deep breath. "Might I apply for that position? I don't know anyone in Yeadon, so it's as good a place to start life over as any other."
"And your father isn't likely to look for you there, eh?"
"Exactly."
Tony shrugs. "Can you cook?"
Delete"A little."
"Well, that's all his wife could cook, too."
"If you take me there, and he'll hire me, you won't have to miss more than a day of work, really."
Tony throws back his head and laughs. "I think you're forgetting one very important detail here."
"What?"
"As far as anyone knows, I've just run off with the boss's daughter. If I try to step foot on the lawn, they'll probably shoot me."
You shiver. "I suppose they're right, though."
"About what?"
"Well, I AM running away. And so are you. So... we're running off together." You grin up at him in the moonlight.
Tony smiles back. "I guess that's true."
"Well, then... on to Yeadon?" you ask.
"On to Yeadon."
You look at the road stretching before you. The town looms in the distance. If you can catch the first bus, the one that comes through before most of the businesses are even open yet, no one will see you, and no one will know where you've gone.
No one except Tony Grady, ex-valet and new friend.
You realize that is just fine by you.
(And thanks for the compliments! I'm glad you liked it!)
DeleteOh, YAY! You wrote more! You are so good to me! :) :)
DeleteOk, she and Tony have to get together!
DeleteThree Years Later...
DeleteYou're pushing the pram toward your favorite park, trying to keep an eye on the other three little ones when you hear a voice you'd almost forgotten.
"Eloise? Eloise Fitzgerald? Is that you?"
You stop. Close your eyes a moment and summon all the patience that remains unto you after a summer morning of jammy hands, teething, and bubblegum stuck in someone's hair on purpose. Not your hair, at least.
You turn and smile, surprised to find the smile turns from forced to genuine. "Hello, Nancy."
Your sister looks pale, as if she's feeling faint. "Eloise, what is the meaning of this?"
"The meaning of what?"
Nancy waves a slim hand at the pram, then the children, then you. "Are they... are you...?"
"Are these all mine, do you mean, Nancy? Have I somehow managed to be away from home for three years and produced four children, three of them above the age of three?"
She sighs her most elegant, relieved sigh. "Thank goodness."
You grin. "Those two monsters and the harridan are my nephews and niece," you explain, waving a hand at the three who are now orbiting around you like tiny, rambunctious moons.
"Only this one's mine." You gently push the pram back and forth as you talk. Little Anthony needs this nap. So do you, really, but no matter.
It's probably wrong to enjoy the way Nancy's face switches from relieved to shocked.
"It's lovely to see you, Nancy. How are Mother and Father?"
Nancy turns up her nose. "As if you care."
"Maybe I'd care more if anyone had actually answered the telegram announcing my marriage. Or the one when my son was born. I figured since I got to reply, the family had washed their hands of me. Of us. Was I wrong?"
Nancy clasps her hands together. "I'm sure they'd forgive you if you'd come home. Even after three years."
"Oh, I'm going home all right."
She smiles triumphantly.
"Just as soon as I've let these three run off all this energy at the park. Would you care to join us for lunch? Tony only works half days on Saturdays, and I have some egg salad and half a cold ham. Some biscuits..." You stop and wait.
Nancy actually wavers for a moment. You know she must be very curious. Eager to bring home details to the family that has shut you out. Possibly they're curious too. But then she stiffens. "I'm meeting Harry in town. I'm just here to pick up a parcel that was left at the wrong Post Office."
"Harry? Harry Barclay?" You glance at her left hand. See the bulge of a wedding ring under her glove. "Ahh. I see. I'm very happy for you Nancy." You even mean it. "If you ever want to stop by, you'll find us in the phone book under Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Grady." You hold out a hand, and Nancy takes it limply. You wait until she turns away, then resume your walk to the park.
Won't that make for something interesting to tell Tony over lunch! You grin as you imagine his reaction. Your sister and the dreaded Mr. Barclay. He'll find it as funny as you do.
The End
(For real this time, I swear.)
That was enjoyable! Great job!
DeleteYes! Tony and Eloise got married! AND had a baby! And it's so funny that Nancy got with Mr. Barclay in the end! :) Thank you so much for indulging your writing skills for our immense enjoyment! This was so so good!
DeleteThis whole story is non-stop fun! I love it!! I'm tremendously pleased that Tony and Eloise had everything turn out!
DeleteHappy St. Patrick's Day ;-)
DeleteOh joy!! Congratulations on your Blogiversary!! This post was just delightful! I shared about your party over on my blog. I'm hoping to submit a story soon!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Sarah! Ok, we have you down for one entry so far! Can't wait to read your story :)
DeleteAnd I absolutely love the new design! <3 (I always do!!) Who is the Dowager you quote in the sidebar? It's a great quote!
ReplyDeleteOh, you are too kind - I really like how the header turned out! The Dowager is the Grandmother from Downton Abbey. :)
DeleteThank you Sarah, the design is all Katherine expertise at work! Glad you like it!
DeleteHere is the beginning of my story. I have kind of got carried away with it...
ReplyDeleteIt had never been my idea to marry young. Marriage itself was always foreign to me. The thought of marrying a man I had never met seemed completely out of the idea. Sadly, though my father did not think the same. I wrestled with the idea of whether I should consent to the marriage or make an escape in the dead of night. I had argued with my father, but he would not listen. Half the time he was drunk which made him of no use to talk to. He was as stubborn as a mule but so was I. Night after night I lay motionless in my bed staring at the sealing and canceling my ideas of making an escape that night. I thought of myself as fearless and brave to achieve such a quest of escape but when the time had come, I would fail utterly. Then the day came. The day at which I was to never sleep alone again. To wear a ring on my finger and live with a man whose hair color I was void of at present. There was the small hope that I would not have to spend the entirety of my life with him. That came with him leaving the earth before expected. That though did not seem likely, for I had heard he was a man of fine health. Was not in the least sickly. Though, I had never met nor seen him, so knew nothing for certain. My father, who had arranged this so-called marriage, had never met the lad, as he called him, either. He himself knew little and told me less. Father’s strength was not speech, but neither was mine. Thankfully though, I possessed some of what my mother had which was a witty tong and fine humor. This situation though, I found neither witty nor humorous, as I think few girls would.
Continued:
ReplyDeleteThat day was of the most pain I had ever felt. When I was a young girl my mother had died leaving me alone in this world, as I thought. The pain of that day and days after had been excruciating pain. I never thought pain could be worse. Little did I know, for to have to marry a man you have never met at the age of seventeen, without your mother’s comfort nor wisdom was of more pain than my heart could bear. I had never missed my mother more now than I did in the weeks after she died. My father did not know how to raise me. After my mother died, he turned to the demon licker to fill his emptiness. Though, one’s belly being full does not change the emptiness of one’s heart and soul. That is one place that God alone can fill.
With our once fortune going to licker my father began to run into debt and with debt came gabling and with gabling came more debt. The debt rose those 4 years she was gone. Rose until my father did not know what else to do but to marry me to someone with great abundance. Money that is. We still barely had our home and most of our servants which made us appear to be in fine standing, except to those who we were in det to. I still had my dowry, thank God, for he had not yet turned it into licker.
Still my pain grew. My mind wrestled all day with the escape I once again planned. I scolded myself for not having done it the night before or the night before that. At dinner that night I took but one bite of my food. My father had caught my nerves and assured me the wedding jitters would soon pass and to not be afraid of the lad thinking me pretty for I took after him. He was not drunk but continued at the glasses of wine next to his plate. He then continued.
Continued again:
ReplyDelete“Mrs. Lewis,” the mother of the lad and my name to be, “is a fine woman and will make a fine mother-in-law. She has assured me of her son’s capability to take care of you.” I heard this talk before. At least a dozen times. Still, he talked, drank wine, and ate. He was in a pleasant mood. I am sure it had nothing to do with great assistance of wealth she would give him.
I had met the old hag but once. She came calling one afternoon about a month ago to meet me and to assure her son’s arrival before the wedding. I was to meet him but then it seemed he had a delay in his trip around the world and would not get back till the day before the wedding. I was grateful at first but then I saw that it still would have been nice to know his looks and age before walking down the aisle. I did not want to confuse him with the preacher. I assumed he was more than a “lad” as had been thought, for his mother looked old enough to be my grandmother.
Apart from all these things, my jitters came from the idea of him being in the same town as me. I would not go outside nor glanced out my window, which faced the street, for fear of seeing a man who happened to be him. His mother lived on the far side of King Burrow which made it silly for me to fear seeing him. Still, I feared.
At last, my father finished his dinner and I finished arranging mine on my plate.
...
ReplyDelete“Well dear,” said my aged father as he stood up from his chair and set his napkin beside his plate. “I think I shall turn in early. I assume you are tired as well. Important day tomorrow. You will need to get up early in order to get ready and look your best.”
Why should I look my best for a man twice my age? I should look my worst and maybe halfway down the aisle he will change his mind.
My father made his way to me and placed a kiss on my forehead. Something that he seldom did. “Good night dear.”
“Good night,” I whispered back in a voice he could not hear. My mind was in thought and my eyes unmoved as they had been the entire day. Slowly but surely, I made my way out of my chair. I grabbed a nearby candle and struck a match to light it. The sun had just finished setting and its glow no longer lit the sky.
It took me a tremendous amount of time to climb the long stairs to my bedroom on the second story. There was no rush to make it to the top. Once I reached my room, I quickly packed a small bag of clothes and things to make my getaway. As I did so I questioned whether to make my way out a door or a window. Finally, I faced my optioned. It was but a bit past seven and I knew the servants would be up for a few more hours. I could leave out a door in 3 hours or so, or I could leave now out my bedroom window. The later at which scared me a bit for I was up on the second story of the house and death seemed a possibility. A possibility at which I did not object to tremendously at the time.
(For some reason I could only publish so much at a time. Sorry for the misspelling. I haven't really edited it yet.)
DeleteContinued...
DeleteI walked to my door and peeked out to catch a glimpse of a maid making her way down the hall and to the stars. I knew the possibility of making my way out of a door of our house, without being spotted, were near impossible. My cousin Ella was to come to the house at 8. She was to be my bride’s maid and help me getting ready. I knew I needed as big of a head start as possibly to make the best getaway. The window did seem to be the best option for that. In making the decision I began to tie my bed sheets together as I had planned for running away a few nights before. My body shook and I found it difficult to tie them. I opened my window and threw my carpet bag out to the ground below. The chilly night air met my face and made me shiver. I could see lights shining through the windows below but took no heed of them. Shakily I tied one end of my “rope” to my heavy bed and threw the tale out my window. With a large blow of hair from my mouth I blew the candle, which sat on my nightstand out. Then I began my descend. It seemed easier than I had thought for the bricks against the house assured good grip for my feet. Slowly I glanced around to make sure no one was spotting me. The left side of our house was still and peaceful with not a soul in sight. When I turning to my left, I was shocked. A human.
Right, sorry. Not left. *When I turning to my right, I was shocked. A human.*
DeleteContinued...
I almost lost my grip and fell. A young man mirrored my image from the house next door. His image was faint yet well in sight. This started me and took me a second to pull myself together. He too was climbing out of a window but with a rope, which proved better than bed sheets. Our eyes locked and he looked just as shocked as me. After a second he continued his climb and landed his feet on the solid ground. I proceeded to try to do the same. Then is when I fell. Straight down into the bushes below still holding my untrusted sheet. Quite clumsily and I did let out a gasp despite my efforts to keep quiet. The sheets which I tied together where of good condition, but I am afraid the knots I tied where a different story. I blamed myself for my clumsy mishap though it was not entirely my fault. I had never run away before and had never been taught how to tie bed sheets together in a sufficient way to hold one’s weight. Though I shatter to think of anyone who would give lessons on such a thing.
...
DeleteFrom my position I saw the man’s figure leap over the 4-foot wall which stood as a divider between my home and the one he had come from. I sat up and began to dust off my legs. Thankfully, I was near enough the ground that I was not sufficiently injured.
“Miss! Miss! Are you alright?” I heard a voice nearing my present state on the lawn.
“Yes, I am fine. Thank you,” I said as the young man bent towards me.
“It seems your bed sheets where not tied together as well as they ought.” A grin spread across his handsome face as he looked up at the remaining rope which still hung from my window. I let out a small laugh.
“Indeed.” I started to try and stand. He offered his hand and I accepted. “Maybe next time I will take your example and use a rope.” Finally standing, I was able to see what he looks like properly. He was a tall lean fellow with a full head of hair. It was light and combed softly back or had been at one time. It seemed that the descend from his window had caused the wave that had once been in his hair to array. He was dressed in fine clothing. Nothing that would be worn by a king but not that which would be worn by a beggar or servant for that matter. He most certainly was that of a gentleman or a gentleman’s son.
His lips curved into a small smile and then awkward silence grew between us. What were we to say? Two people who meet while descending out of windows? Unheard of.
“What seems to be your reason to climb out of your window at this hour?” He said breaking what ought to be broke.
“Oh that?” I said with a laugh and grin. My wit and humor seemed to kick in for the first time that month. “Well, I always like climbing out my window at night. Good exercise. The night air is good for the lunges.” A grin broke across his face as he looked towards his feet. “No,” I sighed. “My wedding day is tomorrow. My father is forcing me to marry a man I have never met, and I shall not stand for it.” Realizing the words had just flew out of my mouth I picked up my bag that lay to my right. Such things I had not spoken out loud and came as a shock to hear them with my own ears. It was strange enough to say such things but stranger still to speak them to a stranger.
“Married? Tomorrow morning? To someone you have never met?” He said in a voice of startlement and confusion but mostly something else that I could not pinpoint.
“Indeed. I’ve never laid eyes on the man.”
“Really?” He let out a small chuckle. I looked up at him with a confused brow and his laugh ended. “What is the name of this scoundrel of man anyway? Does he live in these parts?”
“Mr. Theodore Lewis. Why? Do you know him?”
“Oh, um really? A… I do. A bit... But um ugh, not as well as I should, I believe.” My brows knitted as I again reflected on this conversation which seemed very bizarre to be having with this man.
“I’m sorry,” he said after a pause. “Forgive me. Fredrick.” He held out his hand and I again excepted.
“Annabelle,” I said as I shook his hand and kept to my first name as he had. “And what is your reason for your climb?”
“Oh,” he hesitated with a chuckle. “Just some nightly exercise I guess.” As he said this a noise was heard from my above window. The door to my bedroom was being opened. I looked up to my window and could see the glow of a candle.
Cute! Her falling because she didn't tie good knots is the most relatable thing ever! XD I would totally do that accidentally.
DeleteOoh, what a cliffhanger! I really like the "I was just getting some nightly exercise" line! So funny! And I suspect this "Frederick" is not actually named Frederick...*wink wink* :)
ReplyDeleteHaha! Actually he is... lol
Delete...
Delete“Annabelle?!” came a voice from above. A voice I had heard many a time.
“I think someone is calling you,” he said quickly shifting his feet towards the wall he had just climbed. “Will you be at the palace ball next week?” He began to run towards the wall.
“What? No…”
“I hope to see you there,” he said with his eyes lit and a large smile on his face. “Goodbye!” And with that he leaped over the wall. His figure disappeared from my eyes but still I looked. I stood in shock for a moment at the sweetness Fredrick bore. A smile crossed my face without thought of doing so, but my thoughts where soon interrupted.
“Miss Annabelle!” came the sweet voice of the old maid. She stood perched over my window looking down into my eyes with a candle in her hand. “What in heaven’s name are you doing down there? You aren’t running, away are you?”
“Of course not,” I said with a small grin and hesitation. “Just getting my nightly exercise that’s all.” Hannah had seen me and would tell the other’s if she saw me run right before her eyes. I knew I could no longer leave. Not that I any longer wanted to. The last month without sleep finally hit me like a wall. The energy which I had possessed for my getaway 10 minutes ago no long ran through my veins.
“Nightly exercise indeed! You will get ill in this night air!”
“You’re quite right Hannah. I wish to go to bed. Would you come down and open the door for me.” I surprised myself with the words I spoke along with tone I spoke them in. I said them with a cheerful voice that was calm and quiet.
Hannah did so as I had asked, and I made my way to bed in fulfillment of my words. Hannah took my sheets from my window and the lawn and put fresh ones on my bed. She closed my window and promised to keep my nightly exercise a secret my from my father as I had asked her. The plump women helped me dress for I found it difficult being in the daze I was. I ran the memory of my attempt to escape over and over in my mind. Still, it puzzled me. Even after Hannah left me in my bed to dream of fairies and what not I still found myself baffled. I truly wondered if my fall had injured me more than I had thought. Quickly though I fell asleep while wondering what made me no longer wish to flee my home. Perhaps it was my injury or the sleep that awaited me. Or perhaps neither. Perhaps it was the unusual meeting. Yes, it must have been. It must have been the bizarre young gentleman, whose acquaintance I had just become.
That's a neat twist with her deciding to stay! :) The plot thickens!
Delete[This is a comment our friend Chalice emailed me last night at 11:31PM, since she was having trouble commenting!]
ReplyDeleteHas it really been three years?? No, I don't believe it!
Here's to more years of happy (or sometimes serious) blogging! Happy Bloggiversary to the extraordinary Maidens of Green Gables!!!
[Continued]
DeleteAnd here's my (extremely goofy, hehe) story entry for your giveaway:
This has got to be the most childish thing I've ever done since I was... well, a child. The thing is, I ain't a child no more. I'm making my own choices like a real adult. Even if those choices include tying bed sheets together in a childish attempt to escape. (Have I established the fact that this is childish? Okay.)
It's the night before my wedding and I'm running away.
I poke my head through the bedroom window and try to estimate how far down the drop to the ground is. I can't tell through the darkness if the makeshift rope reaches all the way down.
Oh, dear. This is a terrible idea. Cowardly even.
I pull my head back in to reconsider my options.
Option 1. Remain here at the castle and marry a gal I never met. Also staying on good terms with Pops would be in there somewhere.
Option 2. Climb out of the window like an absolute CHILD in pursuit of the greater good that is True Love. Granted, I may not have met this True Love before, but I'm pretty sure it ain't the Princess that Pops set me up with. Princess Adora, her name is. Not that I care.
Yep, I'm going with my inner child.
I turn back to my room and light a candle. If I'm going to leave, I gotta do it right. I bend over my desk to scrawl a quick goodbye note.
Dear Mother and Father,
I know you will be disappointed that I left. The simple fact is, I've followed the rules my whole life. I've been a good prince, you cannot deny. Or maybe you can, but the fact remains, I'm going on an adventure. I'm breaking the rules for once. You can comfort yourselves in the fact that I'm leaving in pursuit of True Love. You can also comfort yourself in the fact that I'll probably be back tomorrow morning when I realize what an idiotic idea this is.
But just in case that moment of realiza never comes, this is Goodbye.
Tell Cyrus I think he'll make a great king someday.
Tell Erren to please take care of my unicorn.
Tell Ivy I forgive her for stealing my stash of dark chocolate last week.
Oh, and tell the Princess it's nothing against her. I just don't feel like marrying someone I've never met. No hard feelings or anything.
Sincerely,
Prince Torryn IV, of Istocia
[Continued again!]
DeleteI leave the note on my desk and lunge for the window before I can talk myself out of it. I would have given a swashbuckling victory cry at this point if I hadn't been concerned about waking anyone up.
Climbing out the window is a bit harder than I had imagined, but I manage to do it without pulling any major muscles. My heartbeat accelerates as I begin to lower myself down. Wow, I'm really doing this. I'm actually being rebellious. Not sure if that's a good thing, heh heh.
No, Torryn. Keep your resolve. The greater good. True Love, remember?
I think I'm about half-way down now. I don't want to look, I might lose my cool. I look anyway. I am half-way down. I'm also out of sheets. For half a second I consider jumping, but I'm not THAT idiotic. There's no way I would make it down alive.
And then I hear laughter.
Oh, snap. One of my siblings probably heard me. I'm never going to live this one down.
I look around, but instead of finding a sibling or two with their heads out the window, I spot a dark figure, several yards away, hanging from a line of knotted sheets, feet planted against the wall. Also at the end of their rope. And they're laughing their head off.
Then I hear the sassiest, warmest voice call, "Is that who I think it is?"
Oh, no. This is worse than a sibling.
"Maybe." I shout back, indignant. "Who are you?" But I have a dreadful feeling I already know.
"It's Adora." She practically sings.
Oh, ginger snaps. I knew it.
"What are you doing?" I ask, as if she's the only crazy person on earth who would try such a kiddish escape method.
"I could ask you the same question." She laughs again.
"Maybe we didn't quite think this one through."
"Maybe not." She replies. "Oh, well." She's still snickering as she begins climbing back up. "See you at the wedding then, I guess."
"Hold on a minute." I'm still gripping the end of my sheet rope. The dark figure pauses. "I bet if we tied our sheets together, we could reach the bottom. Then we could run away.... uh, together."
Even in the darkness, from several feet away, I think I can see her smile.
"I like your thinking," she says, then after a pause, "Meet me at this time tomorrow night."
I climb after her until I'm back at my window, and she's back at hers. She gives a little wave and then slips back into her room. I clamber clumsily back through my window without breaking any major bones, and pull my sheets back in after me. Well, that was an adventure. Or I guess I should say the beginning of one.
I walk over to my desk and pick up my Goodbye note, rethinking my two options. Now that I think about it, maybe I don't have to choose one or the other. Perhaps I can do both.
I smile to myself and rip the note in half.
Then I get to work wrenching the knots out of my sheets.
This has me giggling because it was so great! I love the narrator's voice with his mature life decisions. XD Perfectly fun!
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