Grand Ball

   Today dad was supposed to be doing a fundraiser for the homeless shelter. I felt sorry for those poor people. I reminded dad over and over to not forget, what do you think he did…forgot! Instead dad said we were going to a grand ball! I was quite exited about that, more so than the fundraiser. I got all my stuff together and we were off. The plane was so relaxing as always. We own a private jet so we travel in that when we go on big trips. I was assigned a room and a seat at the grand table where all the rich people sat. I loved the place, it was covered in red, red curtains red carpet red napkins. I loved the old oak style too.  

   Tonight was the night I was going to preform my skills in dancing I was going to show all the princes how worthy I was for their love. I danced around in the large ballroom. From painted walls with fairy’s and Kings seated on there thrones there Queens along side them, to the long corridors to the half circle balcony’s outside the rooms made this place scream royal princes. I twirled in my gown and spun like the room was full of people, though it was empty, I still didn’t care. I kept dancing until my father Roger entered the room, then I wasn’t alone anymore so I felt kinda like I needed to impress him. I preformed one of the more complicated dances he had my teachers teach me. He didn’t even glance. 

   I stared around the room in silence. Dad took a seat at a small table in the far corner behind the split staircase. I stared down at my feet, and the sheep and grass painted onto the stone tiled floor. I walked over to dad, hearing my shoes tap on the smooth painted floor just made my stomach jump. Dad pointed back out to the open room. I looked at him in confusion.

   “Go to your room, the ball is in three hours. Why don’t you have your ball gown on yet!?” Father shouted. I raced back to my assigned room. The maids quickly got to work on me and my gown.

   I watched them put the red bows in my dark brown hair and place the red ribbon around my neck.  

   Exactly three hours later I walked down the long corridor that led into the ball room. My large red velvet dress. I glanced around the room. The first thing I noticed was there were butlers at every exit, or entrance. All the butlers looked like statues. I glanced around one last time before entering. As soon as I made it into the room I ran for the punch table. I soon found that dad was sitting right there guarding it, dad knew I was a punch pig. I snuck very quietly to the table and poured myself five glasses from under the table. It was a tight fit under there but it was worth it. I looked around for a Prince Charming enough for me but all of them had ether bad hair, terrible taste in fashion or long chunky chins and belts that were not buckled for fitting purposes. I wasn’t having much hope on this end. I was starting to lose hope when I spotted a handsome looking fellow, blonde with blue eyes, classic common rich kid. I looked around when I spotted a red dot on ME? Why on me? Was it supposed to be camera focus? I was dragged out into the corridor by dad. He raised his finger in front of me but did not speak. When he finally decided to open his mouth it wasn’t really something I wanted to hear.

   “Listen now Alaina,” he paused “You are to chose a man from this room to marry.” Father declared as he sent me back into the ball room. I sat to the side of the stairs. I waited and waited for the right young charming boy to come by but I was starting to lose hope. I tried to entertain myself by sneaking over to the punch table but dad had walked all the way back to where he was before. I thought I was gonna cry when I saw that. I decided I wasn’t going to get married to any of these ugly looking people. I was just going to have to live with the consequences. I glided slowly around the dance floor, if some chunky guy asked me to dance with him I would run away screaming. Some chunky guy started heading my direction so I acted as if I were really mad, I angrily picked up my dress and stomped in my high heels. I only wear heels because dad says so and I’m only 5ft 5” 

   My plan worked! The guy found some other lady to dance with, if dad saw me dancing with any guy he may make me marry him no matter who it was. I entered my room with joy I flopped on my bed. I just lay there thinking of how manny ugly prince’s there were in that room, I kinda expected more charming heroic prince’s but I got the old guys. Did dad want me to marry some guy who is 40 years old! I was only turning 19 that year.

   After I stoped complaining and finding flaws in dad’s plan I called the maids up to help me get dressed for bed. No one came? I poked my head out the door. All the maids were standing in the hall? 

  “What are you doing?” I asked

   “We were told not to help you until you find your man.” The small maid replied in a squeaky voice. 

   “Oh.” I said letting out a long sigh.