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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Horror
- Subject: Horror / Scary
- Published: 10/28/2018
Princess For A Day
Born 1948, M, from Eastbourne, United KingdomPRINCESS FOR A DAY
It had been an unusually hot night and, despite the windows being left wide open, Minna had barely been able to catch a wink of sleep. It wasn’t the heat or the humidity that had kept the little girl awake however, far from it. It was sheer, joyful anticipation. For tomorrow it was her turn; she was to be princess for a day!
She well remembered how her elder sister, Marjana had been bestowed with the honour just before the cold of the previous winter had crawled into the lives of her family and friends. She had watched enviously as her sibling had breathlessly left their home in Papa’s car to head for the ceremony. There was so much joy in the house that day; so much excitement!
Minna missed her sister. After the great ceremony Marjana had gone to stay with Aunt Aesha at her lovely home in the north of the country. She’d looked so lovely in her long robes and Minna had desperately wished that she could go with them, at least to watch the event, but no; they’d said that she was too young. Always too young! It was so unfair!
Now it was to be so different. Although she was barely nine years old, the family had agreed that she should have the honour. Princess for the Day! She spoke the words over and over almost reverently, trembling with anticipation.
Sunlight was beginning to stream through the blinds and Minna knew that, soon it would be even hotter outside. She also knew that it was way too early to get out of her damp little bed. Papa and Mama would be angry if she woke them yet. She opened her pyjama top and wafted the air over her slight frame, the warmth of the atmosphere doing little to cool her body down. She listened carefully at the wall which separated her and Marjana’s room from that of their parents. She heard only the sound of Papa’s snoring, loud but oddly comforting.
Minna picked up her little wooden figurine from her pillow; the doll that she called Malika after a pretty girl whom she had seen singing in the square that summer. ‘Well, Malika,’ she said, very quietly, ‘today is the day. I am going to be a princess, just like Marjana was! I will dress in special robes that only a princess is allowed to wear and I will be taken to the great hall where all the people are and I will be the prettiest girl there!’
The doll said nothing in response but Minna knew that she understood. ‘Don’t worry, Malika, I will take you with me. We will both be princesses!’ Minna sat her on her pillow and draped a small piece of satin cloth over its head. She kissed the small, wooden face lightly. ‘See, you are a princess already!’
In the distance a dog barked, then another and another, signifying that the dawn was breaking rapidly. Minna took her gown from the back of the bedroom door and draped it across her shoulders and then sat on the edge of her bed and waited.
It seemed like ages before she at last heard the sounds of muffled voices coming from within her parents’ room. She stood up eagerly and stared at her bedroom door, waiting impatiently for it to be opened. She glanced at her bed and smiled to herself proudly as she realised that the next time that she lay on it she would have been a princess for a whole day!
The door opened and Minna caught her breath. Her mother entered, holding a bath towel over her arm. ‘My, Minna,’ she said kindly, ‘awake already! Come, you must bathe and prepare for your adventure!’
Minna obediently followed her mother into the shower room, feeling her heart beating heavily inside her tiny chest. She relieved herself whilst Mama tested the water from the shower, ensuring that it wouldn’t scald her precious little girl. She turned and looked at her daughter. ‘My, sweet Minna, so pretty,’ she said. Minna smiled. Mama always said things like that, especially at shower time.
She stepped under the stream of cool water, relishing the gentle lick of it against her hot skin, the sweat of the previous night dissipating into nothing. She stood motionless, watching the stream of water as it disappeared into the small drain and wondered why it always curled into a circle before vanishing into the earth below them.
‘Come, Minna, don’t dawdle,’ her mother called. Minna shook her head, her long hair sending splashes of water against the shower-curtain just as Mama pulled it open. ‘Minna!’ she scolded. ‘Come on, girl! You must dress! You have no time for silly play today!’
Her mother dressed her in simple, lightweight undergarments, explaining that the princess’s cloak would be heavy and the weather was already hot outside. Just the sound of the word ‘cloak’ was enough to make Minna’s heart leap in her little chest. A royal cloak! Her friends would be so envious of her! Minna remembered how she herself had felt when Marjana had been dressed in the regal outfit. She had looked so wonderful; so much like a real princess!
The basic dressing completed, Mama patted her daughter’s bottom lightly. ‘Now, go and wait in your room, Minna,’ she said softly, ‘your grandmother and grandfather are coming to see you today.’
Minna grinned. Grandma Jiddati and Grandpa Jiddi were coming, just to see her on this special day! Yet they lived so very far away! Could things get better than this? She picked up her little doll, Malika, and held it to her chest.
‘Minna!’ her mother said sharply, ‘don’t let your Papa see that! You know it is forbidden!’
Minna pushed the doll under her pillow. She always obeyed her father, even to the extent of addressing him with that odd title ‘walidy’ when his friends called at the house. Her mama had told her that it was polite and, in the same circumstances Minna called her mother ‘kayamma’. Minna was a good girl, which was probably why she was about to be crowned as a princess for a day!
Nevertheless, she couldn’t understand why a little doll annoyed her father so much.
She only had to sit in her room for a few moments when she heard the jovial sounds of Grandma Jiddati and Grandpa Jiddi chatting in loud voices to her parents. She rushed to her bedroom door and opened it. Grandma was the first to see her standing there and ran over to hold her tightly. ‘Ah, she’s my angel! My perfect girl! Already, she’s a princess to me!’ Minna felt almost crushed under her grandmother’s caress, the old ladies massive bosoms smothering her little face. Minna giggled and struggled free.
‘Grandma! Grandma! I am to be a princess for the whole day!’ Minna’s excited cries echoed through the house and, for once she wasn’t scolded.
‘Yes, oh yes,’ replied her grandmother, once more attempting to hug the little girl but this time her efforts were foiled by the child’s deft sideways movement. ‘such an angel, a precious jewel!’
Minna was used to Grandma Jiddati’s superlatives, but she liked to hear them nevertheless. She glanced across towards Grandpa Jiddi’s slightly stooped figure. He was holding a large package wrapped in dark material and it seemed to be very heavy. She smiled to herself. This had to be her cloak; the cloak of a princess!
The old man set his burden down onto one of the chairs nearby. Minna walked over to it and ran her hand over the top. ‘Minna!’ snapped her father, ‘do not touch! It is not ready!’ His tone was unusually harsh and it startled her. She stepped back quickly and hung her head.
Mama rushed over to her and hugged her. ‘Don’t scold her so,’ she said angrily to her husband, ‘she is excited!’
‘It must be ready; it must be perfect!’
‘And it will be,’ continued her mama, ‘now leave us so we can dress her!’
Minna’s father and grandfather left the room, their expressions resigned but stern. Mama carefully unwrapped the package. She spread the exquisite garment carefully onto the large table, smoothing the silken robes as she did so. ‘Well?’ asked Grandma Jiddati, ‘what do you think?’
‘Perfect,’ said her mama, ‘perfect.’
Minna walked over to the table cautiously, desperately wanting to touch the material but scared that she might again be told off. The cloth seemed to catch the light, shimmering somehow, as though it were alive. She looked at her mother, her eyes filled with the wonder of a delighted child. ‘It is beautiful mama,’ she said.
Final adjustments were made to Minna’s undergarments and then she was stood in the centre of the room as the two women lowered the robe onto her slim shoulders. It was heavy; very heavy, and at first Minna worried that she might not be able to bear the weight. She forced herself to stand erect and the overbearing heaviness didn’t pull her as much. ‘Try to walk slowly across the room, Minna,’ said her grandma. The little girl did, albeit with some difficulty.
‘You will be fine, my dear,’ said her mother, ‘now you know why a princess always walks slowly.’
After a few more practice steps her mama opened the door and called to the men, ‘The princess is ready to be taken to her carriage!’ Her father offered her his arm and she took hold of it gratefully, walking with him to the main door and then to the road outside. The car was polished, its paintwork glinting in the strong sunshine. Minna smiled proudly. Her father rarely cleaned the old car, claiming that whenever he did there was another sandstorm!
She was seated in the back of the vehicle with grandpa and her father in the front, papa behind the wheel. She watched as he eased the car forward, driving a lot slower than his usual angry pace. Minna knew, of course, that a princess’s carriage never speeds through a town! People would want to see the royal person, to wave to her, and smile as she passed by. She smiled happily as she looked out of the car’s window. Some of the people looked up, some smiled in return and some even waved to her. They saw a beautiful young child who was grinning broadly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Minna knew that they were looking at a princess.
Papa brought the car to a halt outside a large building that Minna had only seen once before, and that she had never entered. She watched as many, many people moved in and out of the huge arched entrance. It looked like a great palace, a place of wonder and mystery. Was this where she was to be crowned?
Minna’s uncle leapt quickly from the car and opened the rear door of the vehicle, beckoning to her to climb out. She shuffled along the seat and, with her uncle’s help managed to clamber into the hot sunlight. For a brief moment she wished that she wasn’t wearing such a heavy robe, but then reminded herself that, as a princess she must endure such discomforts in order to maintain her regal decorum.
Her uncle bowed and gestured for her to enter the great building. She looked into his face questioningly. ‘Enter, your highness,’ he said, his voice filled with emotion, ‘you are to walk to the very centre of this place. You will see a room where there are many policemen. They are there to protect you and serve you as their royal princess.’
Minna smiled proudly and looked back at her father, who was still sitting inside the car, its engine purring softly. ‘Are you not coming with me Papa?’ she asked.
‘No, child,’ her father replied, not looking at her, ‘this is your special day. You must enter alone.’
Minna looked back at her uncle and then at the huge entrance to the building. For a moment it seemed daunting, the prospect of entering this strange place alone. She felt small, very small. She looked back at her uncle, her breathing shallow and her heart thumping. He merely smiled and nodded, then climbed back into the car. The little girl watched as her papa drove slowly away, leaving her alone.
Minna turned and faced the entrance to her palace. Taking a deep breath she moved slowly forwards, joining the milling throng of people, all of whom were seemingly keen to be part of the forthcoming ceremony. Some of them looked at her, a couple even smiled, no doubt entranced by her beauty.
The great glass doors in the archway parted to allow her passage and the coolness of the air inside hit her immediately as the doors shut silently behind her. She gasped at the scene that lay before her. It was like nothing that she could ever have imagined. Everywhere she looked there were shops, stores, brightly lit displays of wondrous gifts. Was this all for her? Surely not, but then she was a princess after all, even if just for one day!
She searched for the room, the one where her police guards were supposed to be waiting, ready to serve her. The place was so vast and there were so many people! As she walked slowly along she looked into some of the shop windows. There were so many beautiful things to be found in this place; why hadn’t her parents brought her here before? The only time that her mother had ever allowed her to accompany her to buy provisions for the family was to a grim marketplace close to their home. And yet, this exciting place was only a short car-ride away!
Then she saw it, the special room where her guards were waiting. There were many of them and all wore smart uniforms. Minna took a deep breath. She would be safe here. She walked regally over to them and stood facing them, smiling broadly. At first they didn’t seem to notice her and then one of them looked down.
‘Hello little girl,’ he said with a smile.
‘I am your princess,’ Minna replied, attempting to sound regally confident but wavering slightly. The guard took off his cap and bowed almost double. She giggled childishly; he looked so ridiculous!
‘Indeed you are,’ continued the guard, now kneeling before her, ‘and such a beautiful princess.’ The other guards joined their colleague in making a fuss of her, surrounding her and stroking her long, dark hair and smooth cheeks. Minna felt that she might faint; such was the joy in her heart.
Another of the guards put a fingertip to her lips. ‘Such gorgeous eyes and a lovely smile too, with bright, white teeth,’ he said grinning almost lecherously.
He never said another word as Mina’s teeth tore through his face, her jawbone tearing his head from his shoulders. The other guards were all similarly ripped to pieces by the vast explosion, as were many of the people standing close by.
A short distance away from the shopping mall Mina’s father threw the cheap mobile phone into the gutter. It had served its purpose.
He started the car and drove to the mosque to pray to his God.
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