The Last Dance

Katherine was very excited. It had been a very exciting week. Katherine is a thirteen-year-old princess who is 100% girly-girl, with long golden hair and dark brown eyes. She loves dresses with almost all her heart. The rest of her heart was saved for three things. Those three things were her mother who had died while giving birth, her nanny who acted like a mother to her, and her father who had always been there for her. These things and pretty dresses are all she knows, but she also likes dances. Dances are where she got to wear the most beautiful dresses, and the Autumn Dance tonight is what made this week so exciting.

“Time to get ready Katherine,” said Nanny. “Yyyyyessssssss!” cried Katherine. “What shall you wear?” asked Nanny. “Hmm,” thought Katherine, “what about that white dress and head band?” she asked. “Beautiful,” answered Nanny, “you will look darling.” First Nanny helped Katherine put on her clothes and shoes, and then did her hair and makeup. Katherine’s dad slipped a note under her door wishing her good luck. Off to the dance they went.

It was a grand dance, everyone was there. Katherine thought all the boys were so cool, especially when they asked her to dance. But as usual her dad got the first dance. “There’s sooo much food,” whispered Katherine to Nanny. Just as she went to go say hi to her best friend Bridget, a dancing knight bumped into her and spilled wine all over her dress. The room got very quiet, then all of a sudden everyone started laughing. “Stop! Stop laughing!” Katherine yelled. But no one stopped until she ran through the ballroom and upstairs to her room crying “Stop! Stop! Why won’t you stop?” Now that made her dad furious. “She is only thirteen” he yelled, then ran upstairs to comfort his little girl. The ballroom was dead quiet. Everyone just stood their for a minute and then left.

Knock, knock, the king knocked at Katherine’s door. “Who’s there?” she asked miserabley. “Just me,” he answered slowly. “Dad, good, I have a question,” she said. “Um, ok,” he said as he walked through the door. “Can you outlaw dancing?” she asked temptingly. “WHAT! OUTLAW DANCING ARE YOU CRAZY?!” he yelled. “No, I‘m not crazy!” she said. “For me? Please?” she begged. “OK, but are you sure you want tonight’s dance to be your last dance?” he asked seriously. “YES!” she cried with a sigh of relief.

The next morning the king made an announcement. “As of today there will be no more dancing in this kingdom because of the incident that happened at the Autumn Dance. My little darling girl has begged me to outlaw dancing, so I said I would, and I kept my word. There will still be a birthday party for my little girl who will be turning fourteen and I expect all of you to be there bringing gifts. She mainly wants dresses and makeup. Is the man who spilled wine on my daughter’s dress here? Yes? Ahh good, she would like a special gift from you - the identical dress you spilled wine all over. What’s that? You cannot afford something like that? Well then, it is off to the dungeon unless you can. Ahh you can? Good. Does anyone think they don’t have the money for a gift or cannot make it to the birthday party? No? I did not think so. The party starts at 6:00 pm next Saturday.”

The day of the party came. “It is six o’clock,” said Katherine. “I am sure they will be here,” assured Nanny. All of a sudden a whole bunch of people came rushing through the door, screaming “Happy Birthday!!” Sure enough, they were all holding giant boxes filled with gifts for her. Katherine gave a sigh of achievement, and then they all just stood around her. No one had any fun. All they did was eat a little, drink a little, and talk a little. Everyone got very bored. Katherine then announced that it was time to open presents.

The laundry maid rushed forward and said “Please open mine first!” Inside the box was the original white dress and headband. No stain at all - it was white as could be. The princess gasped, turned to her father, smiled, and said, “Let the dancing begin.” She paused and added, “After I finish opening my presents!”

At the end of a very enjoyable evening with laughing, music, feasting and dancing, Katherine’s father turned to her and said, “Aren’t you glad the Autumn Dance wasn’t the last dance after all?”