Jack

The scent of freshly baked something fills my nose. I breathe in the warm summer air and open my eyes. The village is alight with energy. Mothers walk about with their little girls trying to get them ready. Shop owners yell lively words at their customers. Boys run around with sticks and play fight. There are dangerous feats and daring performers all around. I hear the shouts of joy from children as they watch a man swallow a sword and I know that today is going to be a good day.

“Ella and I can get off here dad!” I yell.

“Nonsense, we need to meet Mrs. Diamond first,” My father answers.

“Aww come on we’re missing it, besides I don’t want to have to drag her annoying girls around,” I complain.

“Now Jack, what did we talk about?” My father says glancing back over his shoulder at me.

“As a boy it is my job to escort them around the fair,” I sigh.

“Precisely, now here we are that didn’t take long,” My father says pulling the wagon to a halt. He and Ella hop down off the cart and walk around to the back.

“Jack?” I hear a sleepy Hansel yawn, “Are we at the fair already?”

Hansel rubs his eyes and stifles a second yawn. “Yep,” I say ruffling his hair, “Time to get up.”

My dad lowers the back wall of the cart and lifts Hansel cleanly down. “Pass me Gretel,” Ella says gesturing to the sleeping baby.

“‘Course,” I say.

I bend over my little sister and gently lift her so her head rests perfectly in the crook of my elbow. I look down at her peaceful face as she naturally cuddles up to me and smile. She is so beautiful. Life is beautiful.

I pass her to Ella who lifts her head to her shoulder and wraps her in a cocoon of soft warmth. I hop off the cart and follow dad, Ella, Hansel and Gretel, into Mrs. Diamond’s hat shop. We hear the bell ring over the door and a shrill voice yells from the back room, “Is that you Jack?”

“Yes ma’am,” My father hollers.

We’re both named Jack, I’m named for him. Mrs. Diamond appears in the back doorway and walks to my father, he lets go of Hansel’s hand and stoops low over her hand to bestow her with a respectful kiss.

“My girls are just getting finished with prepping for the contest, is Ella going to participate?” She asks, eyeing my sister with a smile, but her eyes have a distasteful undertone that I don’t like.

“Yes,” Ella smiles brightly.

There’s been something different about Ella lately, she’s been all smiles and all laughs. It’s wonderful and I love seeing her so happy but I can’t help but think she’s hiding something. 

“In that dress?” Mrs. Diamond asks raising an eyebrow.

“Why not?” Father asks, “I think she looks wonderful.”

“Well of course she does,” Mrs. Diamond smiles to cover her misstep, “I just think that she will be underdressed is all.”

“Why what are your girls wearing?” Father asks.

“Let me call them: Girls!” She shrieks, “Girls!

“Coming mother,” Two obnoxious voices call from the other room.

The door swings open and Thumbelina appears in the opening. She is wearing a gaudy pink dress covered in flowers. “Is Thumbelina competing? Isn’t she too young?” My father asks clearly concerned.

“On the contrary she is two days above the minimum age,” Mrs. Diamond smiles proudly as Thumbelina struts up and down the room in her awful outfit.

“Everybody ready to see?” Goldilocks calls from behind the wall.

“Of course dear!”

Goldilocks pops into the frame and I have to take a second to keep myself from laughing. She’s wearing a ridiculous looking silver and gold thing that looks like it’s supposed to be a dress but missed the mark. 

She gives us a twirl, “Isn’t it to die for?” She brags, “Oh Ella, you’re not wearing that are you?”

Ella’s cheeks turn pink, “I was going to..”

“Nonsense,” Mrs. Diamond jumps in, “We can’t have you potentially dancing with the prince in those clothes. Allow me to find you something to wear.”

“I don’t know,” Ella hesitates.

“Come with me, I have a darling blue dress in your size, it’s not nearly as fancy as my girls’ dresses but it’s definitely better then what you’re already wearing.”

“Well okay,” Ella says, “Here Jack, take Gretel while I change.”

Ella passes Gretel to me and she turns her face into my sleeve. Ella follows Mrs. Diamond into the other room. Father kneels down to talk to Hansel and Mrs. Diamond’s girls begin fussing over each others’ hair. I feel their voices scratching at my brain and I wish they’d just shut up.

Ella

Jack has never really liked Mrs. Diamond and her daughters, he says they’re spoiled brats who have never done a lick of work in all their lives. I disagree, I think Mrs. Diamond is doing the best she can to raise them since her husband passed, and they are being the best people they can be without a father to look up to.

Mrs. Diamond leads me through the door and I catch my breath for a moment, there are gowns upon gowns upon gowns. I feel lightheaded just looking at all the fine material. Rows and rows of gold gowns, silver gowns, pink gowns, purple gowns, blue gowns, big gowns, small gowns, puffy gowns, simple gowns, frilly gowns, gowns, gowns, gowns! I’ve never seen so many immaculate shining garments in all my life.

I feel Mrs. Diamond’s hand on my shoulder and I look up at her, “Isn’t it marvelous?” She asks me.

“Father never told me about all of this,” I whisper excitedly.

“He doesn’t know, and you can’t tell him. This room is just for the girls, so I will share it with you, and someday I’ll share it with Gretel too; but you cannot tell anyone about it; it’s our little secret,” There is a twinkle in her eye as she brings a finger to her lips and winks at me.

“I promise, I won’t tell anyone; not father, not even Jack. But where did they all come from?” I ask taking a twirl to see the gowns along all four walls. The colors swirl together as I blink and giggle.

“Magic,” Mrs. Diamond says with a smile, “Now Ella, what kind of a gown are you looking for? Do you have any preferences?”

She begins to pace about and look through the dresses. I walk up to the wall and examine a red one embroidered with rubies. “I’m not sure,” I say.

Mrs. Diamond walks up to me and looks me up and down, “Let me see, put your hands down,” I laugh and do as she says, “Now give me a spin,” I spin, “Marvelous; I have just the thing.”

She walks to the back wall and pulls a gorgeous white dress, it’s simple-like me. It looks like a swan’s feathers, except it’s spattered with diamonds that sparkle like a thousand stars. She holds it out to me and I walk toward it slowly. I reach a hand out and touch the soft fabric. It feels like heaven between my fingers, I’ve never seen something so fine.

“What is it?” I ask my eyes wide as I admire the detail.

“Magic,” She says again.

“Jack says when people say something is magic, it means that they just don’t know what it actually is,” I say quietly.

“Jack is a skeptic; magic is real and more than wonderful. Trust that,” She says, “Do you like the dress?”

I nod, “I’ve never seen something so beautiful,” I whisper.

“Then it’s yours,” Mrs. Diamond smiles.

“Mine? Oh no I couldn’t possibly-” I begin pulling my hand away.

“Come now Ella, you’re smart, you’ve seen the way your father and I look at each other, it won’t be long now until you and I see each other a lot more often; I insist, take it as a gift of good faith from one who hopes to grow to care about you the way I care about my own children.”

She’s right, and to be honest I don’t really like the idea of having a new mother, but if she makes my father happy I won’t say anything, I shouldn’t deny Hansel and Gretel a mother just because I remember our real one. I nod slowly, “Alright,” I say.

“The changing room is just there,” She says pointing, “Go ahead and put it on, you can leave your things in there; your necklace will match the dress wonderfully; but you may want to take your hair down, it is just lovely.”

I nod and take the dress. I go into the changing room and put it on. I look in the mirror and my eyes fill with tears, I see someone in the mirror who I don’t know. She is beautiful, she is pure, she reminds me of my mother-she is a princess. Well she isn’t a princess yet; I pull my hair down with a tug. Now she’s a princess.

I walk out of the room and Mrs. Diamond takes a breath, “You are beautiful Ella. I would be surprised if the prince didn’t take notice of you.”

My hand goes to the ring on my finger and I think of Prince Amphibious. A small smile lights my face, I’ll see him again-tonight.

“Let me give you a proper introduction,” Mrs. Diamond says, “Wait here.”

Jack

I bounce Gretel up and down as we wait for Ella and Mrs. Diamond to come out of the room. I pace about the hat shop and roll my eyes as Goldilocks and Thumbelina tie about a hundred bows for each other before they are satisfied with how they look.

Eventually Thumbelina skips up to me and Goldilocks follows with a sour look on her face. “Your baby sister is so cute Jack!” Thumbelina exclaims.

“Sh!” I hush her quickly, “You’ll wake her.”

“That’s one thing we don’t need,” Goldilocks scowls, “A screaming baby.”

“Hey it’s not her fault; I’d scream too if I woke up to your voice,” I snap.

“You take that back!” Goldilocks whines.

“Never,” I grin.

“Guys you’re going to have to learn to get along because our parents-”

“Our parents are not getting married!” I interrupt.

“That’s the first thing you’ve ever said that has any sense to it,” Goldilocks agrees.

“Actually mom said-”

“I don’t care what your mom says Thumbelina, my dad would never replace my mom; he still loves my mom; so tell your mom to stop trying to replace the most wonderful person to ever live!” I bark.

“I-I’m sorry,” Thumbelina says staring at the ground.

I sigh, “No, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have gotten so mad. I’m just struggling with the idea of having a new mother, you’re right. They probably will get hitched pretty soon.”

“It’s okay,” Thumbelina whispers, “I shouldn’t have brought it up; I understand, I never knew my dad so it’s probably a lot harder on you.”

We both slowly turn to Goldilocks and wait for her to apologize too. She looks from Thumbelina to me and then back to Thumbelina, “Sorry guys I’m not gonna offer any kind of apology, I’m still holding on to the hope that mom realizes how lame Jack is and decides she doesn’t want to be related to him.”

I roll my eyes, “Thanks Goldie.”

“Don’t call me Goldie, my name is Goldilocks,” She scowls.

“Come on, as long as we’re gonna be related I may as well get to call you Goldie; it’s not like it’s worse than Goldilocks…I’d argue that Goldie is a significantly better name than Goldilocks,” I say roll my eyes.

“We’re not going to be related,” She crosses her arms.

“Whatever you say,” I whisper, “And for once I hope you’re right.”

“Can I hold the baby?” Thumbelina asks.

“Sure,” I say, “Just be gentle and quiet, she’s still asleep but there’s no telling what would wake her up.”

I pass Gretel over to Thumbelina, she looks down at the sleeping baby’s face. Gretel opens her eyes and yawns. She looks up at Thumbelina who smiles down at her, “Hi there,” Thumbelina whispers. Gretel smile big and I feel the corners of my mouth turn up.

“She likes you,” I say.

Thumbelina smiles. “That makes one of us,” Goldie locks mutters.

“Attention everyone,” Mrs. Diamond calls coming through the door, “Introducing the bell of the ball, the diamond in the rough: Ella Woodsman!”

Ella walks through the door, her blond hair falls around her face and her blue eyes sparkle. Her dress falls in pools of white foamy waterfalls around her and sparkles as if she’s surrounded by fireflies. I gasp and see her collarbone frame our mother’s necklace. My sister truly is the definition of breathtaking.

“Angelic,” My father breathes, “Ella, you look-”

“Amazing,” I interrupt.

“Except for my boots,” She laughs, raising the skirt to show off her muddy brown boots.