Princesses and Prince Charming
I was sitting in my brother’s living room when Gleek and her four year old girl cousin came prancing into the room. They were all decked out in princess gear complete with dresses, tiaras, and wands. Patches followed along on all fours wearing his normal clothes. I listened as the two girls spun a story about how they were the most beautifullest girls ever. Then they went to a ball in the kitchen to meet the prince. There was a brief effort to press Patches into service as the prince. He didn’t want to be a prince. He wanted to be a puppy. He was quite adamant about being a puppy. Confronted with the prospect of a barking, panting prince, the girls decided to make do with an imagined prince.
I listened to see how they would solve the problem of a single prince for two princesses. I expected them to conjure a second prince into existence, but Gleek just declared with a wave of her hand that the prince just married both of them. Apparently Prince Charming is a polygamist. This would explain why he features in so many different fairy tales. Won’t Cinderella and Snow White be surprised when they find out?
The obligatory ball-and-wedding having been dispensed with, the two princesses and their puppy trooped back downstairs to do other princess things. Poor imaginary Prince Charming was abandoned in the kitchen like the prop that he was.