Miss Seymour is the author of our brand new chapter book – THE ADVENTURES OF JAKE AND MOON GRANNY: SPACE PIRATE PANIC! But she’s also been included in a knowonder book before – our princess and dragon themed short story collection called “Spread Your Wings”.
So if you’d like to read sample of her excellent writing skills, then please enjoy the opening section of…
Royal Wishes
by Jaye Seymour
The problem with wishes is they sometimes come true. One minute Rosa was sitting at the kitchen table, blowing out the candles on her birthday cake and wishing she was really a princess, and the next thing she knew the cake, the kitchen table – the whole house in fact – had completely disappeared. She found herself in a huge stone hall, decorated with gloomy-looking tapestries and stuffed animal heads glaring down at her from the dreary grey walls. The kitchen chair had vanished along with everything else, and Rosa was now perched on a rather hard silver throne decorated with glittering rubies. It felt cold and uncomfortable, and the spiky red jewels dug into her bottom and the backs of her legs.
“Ow,” she muttered, wriggling from side to side to try and get comfy.
“STOP!” shouted a loud bossy voice. It was coming from behind a red velvet curtain strung across a nearby doorway. “I’m watching you,” boomed the voice. “Stop that fidgeting at ONCE and sit up straight. Proper princesses DO NOT SLOUCH!”
Rosa quickly did as she was told.
A white gloved hand covered in gigantic diamond rings appeared around the edge of the curtain. It was followed by an angry looking face with a pig-like nose, flushed red cheeks, and eyes like squished green gumdrops. They glared out at Rosa from underneath two enormous eyebrows and a heavy gold crown.
“Sorry,” Rosa whispered. “I think there’s been a bit of a muddle-up. I’m not even a pretend princess, let alone a proper one.”
“Nonsense,” boomed the scary-looking lady in the crown. She stepped out from behind the curtain to reveal a gruesome gold-sequined dress that made her look like a puffed-up goldfish. “Did you, or did you not, blow out the candles on your birthday cake and make a wish?”
“Ye-es,” admitted Rosa. “I suppose I did.”
“And did you, or did you not, wish to be a princess?”
“Ye-es,” said Rosa. “But I didn’t really think it would come true.”
“NOT COME TRUE? What use is wishing if it doesn’t come true? No, I’m sorry. You wished to be a princess and now you are one. It’s as simple as that. So we’d better get on with it, hadn’t we?”
“Get on with what?” asked Rosa, who was trying hard not to cry.
“With your princess training of course. Now, first things first. My name is Queen Hilary the Horrendous. You may address me as ‘Your Majesty’ or ‘Most Gracious Highness.’ I also answer to ‘Your Wonderful Royalness’ or just plain ‘Sir.’ I will be in charge of your teaching program. There are a few ground rules you need to remember while you’re here:
- Number One: I am to be obeyed in all matters.
- Number Two: No talking to the magic mirror in the Throne Room. Everyone knows I’m the fairest of them all anyway so there’s really no point.
- Number Three: No talking to the dragon in the castle dungeon.
- Number Four: No dangling your hair out of high towers for handsome princes to climb up. It just makes it knotty, and if there’s one thing I can’t abide in a princess, it’s knotty hair.
- Number Five: Frog-kissing is forbidden at all times.
- And Number Six: Most important of all – SIT UP STRAIGHT! I won’t have bottom-wriggling, seat-slouching princesses in MY castle. It simply won’t do. Do I make myself clear?”
“Y-yes, Your Gracious W-wonderfulness,” stammered Rosa. “I mean your High Horrendousness…I mean, sir.”
“Good,” boomed Queen Hilary, taking a thin, learner-crown out of her handbag and placing it on Rosa’s head. “Lessons begin in twenty minutes in the old banqueting hall. Don’t be late. Any questions?”
“Well…just one,” said Rosa, sounding a lot braver than she felt. “When can I go home?”…
About the Story
When Rosa wishes to be a princess, she doesn’t expect to face Queen Hilary the Horrendous!
You can read the full version of “Royal Wishes” and 30 other fantastic read-aloud stories inside Spread Your Wings – Volume 5 in our Story-A-Day Literacy Initiative.
About the Collection
This Volume 5 collection contains 31 original, fun short stories (including “Royal Wishes”!) written by professional children’s authors from around the world. The Princess and Dragon themed tales will inspire and delight both you and your child. Adventures, mysteries, magic, love and more await in this exciting book!
Buy the book here: Physical Copy | Kindle Version
About the Story-A-Day Literacy Initiative
Reading to your child every single day from birth is the single-m0st important thing a parent can do to ensure that child’s success in school and in life.
The knowonder! Story-A-Day Literacy initiative supports those parents who have made that commitment by giving them a new story every single day, by making it accessible, and by keeping it affordable.
Click here to learn more.
