literature

Boy Meets Girl

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Literature Text

It had been a sad and tragic year for the boy.  At just nine years old, he lost both of his parents; killed when their village was raided by a horde of Giddy Goons.  Orphaned, he fell to the care of his uncle, Sir Duncan the Bold, his father's brother and a knight serving King Ethelred of Etheria.  Duncan was a caring, but tough man. To teach the boy the value of hard work and to strengthen his body, he got him work as a palace stable boy.  The boy hated it.  He was up every morning just before dawn, and he spent most of his day shoveling manure, stacking hay, and various other chores.  It didn't help that he happened to be quite clumsy, and often found himself falling into puddles of mud...and that was when he was lucky.  This made him the object of ridicule among the other stable boys as well as earning the stable master's wrath.  His only relief was the meals spent with his Uncle and the hour or two a day Duncan spent teaching the boy combat techniques and the code of chivalry, when he was available.

"Uncle Duncan," the boy cried at dinner one evening. "Why must I continue to work in that awful stable?"

Duncan sighed.

"I know it's hard lad, but someday you'll understand the value of this experience."

"Yeah, right," muttered the boy.

One beautiful Spring morning, the stable was abuzz.  Queen Esmerelda was coming to take her little daughter, the Princess, out for her first riding lesson.

"I want this place in tip-top shape when Her Majesty arrives, or so help me, I'll skin every last one of you," roared the stable master.  "Now where is that no-account--"

Before he could finish, the boy, having overslept, arrived a good half hour late, missing the news of the Queen's visit.

"Boy," growled the stable master. "If you screw up today, there'll be hell to pay!"

The boy quizzically looked to the others, wondering what was so special about today.  They merely shrugged, suppressing smirks.

"Boy!", barked the stable master.  "Get up to the loft and start throwing down those bales of hay."

The boy, wasting no time obeying the master's orders, found himself too busy to notice the arrival of the Royals.  Once his task was finished, he began climbing down the ladder.  When he was halfway to the ground, he lost his footing and fell into a large puddle of mud.  As he was getting his bearings, he heard the delighted giggles of a little girl.

Looking up, his face flushed. There, just outside the stable, stood a girl of about six.  She wore a brand new riding outfit and had her long, golden hair tied in braids.  And she was laughing uncontrollably.  This final humiliation was too much.  The boy put his head in his arms and began to cry.

"Are you all right?"

The boy looked up again.  Now the girl was standing in front of him.  She was no longer laughing, and there was real concern in her bright blue eyes.

"No! I hate it here! I work all day, I can't do anything right, and nobody here even likes me!"  

"I'm sorry I laughed at you," she said.  "I thought you did it on purpose."

"Why would I do that on purpose?", the boy asked, puzzled.

"Well, Jingles the Jester does stuff like that all the time to make me laugh.  He's really funny!"

Before he could ask about Jingles, the girl suddenly jumped into the mud next to him.

"Why did you do that?!", cried the astonished boy.

"Now we're both dirty.  You don't have to feel bad anymore."

The boy stared at her for a moment, his mouth agape, then for the first time since coming to this awful place, he started laughing.  The girl quickly joined him.

"Anyway, it's not true that nobody here likes you.  I like you."

"You do?"

"Sure! You're funny!" The girl beamed and held out her hand. "My name's Daphne.  What's yours?"

"D-Dirk," the boy stammered, shaking her hand and suddenly realizing who he'd been talking to.

"Pleased to meet you D-Dirk," Daphne smiled.  "I'll see you after my lesson."

"Daphne!" came an exasperated cry from outside the stable.  "What on earth are you doing in that filthy mud puddle?"

"Sorry Mommy, I was just talking to my new friend Dirk," she replied cheerfully.  

The woman, hurried over to help her daughter out of the mud.  She was a tall, regal looking woman who shared her daughter's bright blue eyes.  She wore a riding outfit that matched the girl's though her own golden hair was tied in a bun. Dirk realized this was Queen Esmerelda.

"Honestly Daphne, I don't know what I'm going to do with you."  Turning to Dirk, "I hope my daughter hasn't been keeping you from your chores.  She can be very chatty."

"Um, no ma'am--um Majesty.  She's been very sweet actually."

"That's how she gets away with so much mischief," the Queen replied, a small smile forming on her lips as she helped her daughter onto her horse.

"Well Dirk," Esmerelda began, mounting her own steed,"I'm pleased to have met you, and I believe I speak for my daughter when I say I look forward to our future visits."

"She does,"  smiled Daphne brightly as the rode away.

Dirk stood there for a minute, shocked at what had just taken place. Did he really just meet the Queen and the Princess?  Did the young Princess just call him her friend?  Dirk looked around and noticed that the other stable boys, as well as the stable master himself, looked equally stunned.

"Alright you wretches," roared the stable master. "Show's over!  Back to work! Dirk, there's a pile of manure over the that needs shovlin' and it's got your name on it."

Dirk immediately went to work, the day falling back into it's usual routine.  But for the first time since arriving at this place, he was smiling.
Dirk the Daring meets Princess Daphne.
© 2012 - 2024 mcbain755
Comments5
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hsrhejadis's avatar

Awww, this story is so cute! I have read several versions of how Dirk and Daphne came to be in each other's lives, but this one is about the best!


Thank you!