The Daydreaming Princess

Princess Winklebee, of The Land of Winklestill, loved to daydream. Once, she dreamt that her castle was a giant strawberry that she could live in. And the nearby pond where she swam was made of milk chocolate.

But to daydream properly, Princess Winklebee had to be in bed by eight o’clock each night before. And just before bedtime, she’d blink her soft green eyes, brush her wavy blonde hair, wash her rosy red cheeks, clean her very white teeth, and tap her tiny little toes on the floor.

The sleep spirits, most known for their kindness, were happiest when she did this. “A little daydreaming is good for you,” Princess Winklebee would say. And it was so.

But one day, Princess Winklebee couldn’t daydream anything at all. No imagining life as a scientist, a nurse, a movie star, a teacher, a baker, a lawyer, a dancer, or anybody else.

Instead, she could only cry over her Prince Ralvadu, who had left that morning on a month-long voyage. “I will write you letters,” he promised her. His happy grin, his rounded cheeks, not a hair on his head out of place, oh, how she loved him so. And how terribly she missed him already.

So, there in her bedroom, she sat, growing sadder by the minute. A bright green bird, with a funny blue head, heard her crying from afar and flew over to see what was the matter.

Princess Winklebee did not notice him. The bird tapped his nose on the window, but it went unheard. Finally the bird shouted “Please let me in,” and Princess Winklebee, upon hearing this, replied, “What do you want?”

“I’m no trouble at all,” said the bird. Princess Winklebee let him inside. “Why, thank you,” he said, and flew onto her chair.

“Hey, that’s my chair!” Princess Winklebee immediately protested.

“You don’t say,” replied the bird.

“Yes!” said Princess Winklebee. “Now please leave. Go!”

“Well,” said the bird, “if you’re not using the chair, then why can’t I?”

Princess Winklebee burst into tears. “Oh, what’s the point of anything today!” she said.

“All right,” said the quick-thinking bird. He popped up from the chair and gently took hold of her arm. “Sit down then,” he said.

But Princess Winklebee refused.

“Well,” said the bird, “it’s much better than any tree branch I’ve ever been on. And it really is very comfortable.”

When the bird went to go sit back down, Princess Winklebee ran in front of him and onto the chair. The bird flew out of the way. But then he came right back and, swooping down, plunged his feathers into the back of her legs, stretching them outward. He did this so quickly that she barely knew what had happened.

Moments later, Princess Winkebee became relaxed. And then her mind started to wander without effort. Soon, she saw in her imagination Prince Ralvadu. He was riding a beautiful black horse, with a rainbow overhead, and beyond, a field of lollipops stretching as far as the eye could see.

When the bird pulled his wings back and flew past her, she felt a tickle at her nose. Her mouth widened with excitement. Outside her castle, large oak trees swayed in the wind, as if they were dancing. Princess Winklebee began to hum. And then her voice sang this song:

“I am happy because I care,

I am brave when love is near,

I am strong because I’m me,

I am a princess, Princess Winklebee.

When I see the world as my joy,

It’s like a friendly messenger boy,

Who delivers me the good news,

That I’ll be getting brand new shoes.

If I keep doing the best I can,

Then I will know how great I am,

And I will become what I dream,

I know I can, I can for me,

See I am brave when love is near,

I am happy because I care,

I am strong because I’m me,

I am a princess, Princess Winklebee.”

Afterward, the bird kissed her on the cheek and bid her farewell. Princess Winklebee smiled.

And from then on, all of her daydreams were spectacular.