Date:         Fri, 31 Jan 1997 05:26:37 -0800
Subject:      SUB: Valentine's Contest: "A Princess Finds A Stone":Short Story

The last day to send your entry! Check out=20
http://web.mit.edu/mbarker/www/val97/val.html for details.

Please reserve all critiques on contest entries until after Valentine's
Day!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>



                                   The Princess Finds A Stone


        Once upon a time, a Princess was taking a walk down the same darkly lit=
20
path
she always took every evening.  She loved to take long walks, especially
during the last minutes of daylight to watch the night slowly unfold.  On=
ce
the moon showed its face to her, it felt like home.  The gentle radiance =
from
the magic ball of light could make her spirit dance, even on the most dar=
kest
of nights.  =20
        Her feet made crunchy sounds on the cobblestones while walking along the
path.  The awakening of night birds happily reminded her she was not alon=
e.
 She smiled and began to flail her arms and twirl about, and for a moment
forgetting the sadness which still echoed in her soul.  She walked this p=
ath
every night.  The bench by the old oak tree was her destination where she
would recite poetry for the stars and animals to hear.  It made her feel =
good
inside to know that someone was listening, even if it was an owl or a
cricket.
        As she walked along, something on the ground caught her eye.  It=20
sparkled
like a diamond, and for a moment she thought it might be the remnants of =
a
falling star. Slowly approaching it, she saw that it was a stone, but not
like any stone she had ever seen before.  It had a smooth texture to the
touch and its color was a richly dark crimson.  There were little chips
carved within the stone giving it that sparkly effect. =20
        The Princess stared at this mysterious stone for a few moments=20
questioning
where it came from.  =93Someone must have lost it,=94
she thought aloud, and looked down the path to see if anyone might still =
be
there.  Not seeing a soul in sight, she slipped the stone into her pocket=
 and
went on her way.  A sound caught her attention and a man appeared. =20
        Startled, she questioned with uncertainty, "Hello?"
        The man came out of the shadows and smiled.=20
        The Princess felt a pang of fear, wondering why this man was hiding in=2
0
the
shadows.=09
        "Hello Princess, I see you've found it."=20
        Perplexed, the Princess asked "Found what?"
        "My stone." he replied.
        "Oh." she muttered.  "I didn't know it was yours.  I'm sorry."  She=20
reached
in her pocket feeling with her fingers its incredible smoothness.  "I fou=
nd
it just a few feet back, and just knew someone had lost it.  I was wonder=
ing
what a beautiful stone such as this one was doing amongst the pebbles on =
this
path."  Extending her arm she said, "Here, you must be lost without it."
        He reached out his hand and closed it around hers with the stone still
inside.  "You misunderstood me Princess, I left that stone for you.  I wa=
nted
you to have it."
        She smiled and felt her cheeks flushing, but questioned his intentions.=
20
 Why
would a complete stranger of the night want me to have something of his. =
 Not
just something, but a stone which captures such loveliness.  Then her
expression went from surprise to dismay, perhaps he mistook her for anoth=
er
Princess and would want it back.  Finally she asked the question, almost
fearing the answer.  "You wanted me to have it?...but why?"=20
        "Well," he began sensing her confusion, "I've seen you walk this dark=20
path
for quite some time and each time expecting there to be a Prince by your
side, but there never was.=94 =20
        Her heart inside was sinking.  How many times had she wished for someone
=
=20
to
walk beside her?  How many lonely nights did she get lost in the dream of
finding her Prince someday.  These were the very reasons sadness had rema=
ined
a permanent stain on her soul.
        The man looked into her eyes and could see the pain lurking behind them.
=
=20
 He
moved a step closer and said, =93I don't understand how someone as beauti=
ful as
you does not have a Prince to love.=94
        A tear began to trickle down her face.  She suddenly felt embarrassed=20
and
wanted to run away. =20
        He took his hand and gently wiped the falling tear.  Inside his heart=20
was
hurting to see her cry.  =93I've spent hours hidden in the shadows listen=
ing to
you recite your poetry to the stars and well . . . " he paused, now feeli=
ng a
bit flustered himself.
        "Yes." she whispered.
        "I wanted to give you this stone, as a token of my love and . . .=94
        =93Yes?=94 she said again, searching his eyes and seeing a familiar=20
loneliness
in them as well.
        =93I have a question I need too ask you, and that is if I can be your=20
Prince."
 He reached out his trembling hand hoping she would take it.
        The Princess stood there motionless and unable to speak.  Her dream of
dreams was coming true.  Her Prince had finally come.  As she took his ha=
nd,
the sadness and pain that had lied dormant in her soul for as far back as=
 she
could remember was washed away by the love that was now being born.  Not
saying a word they walked along the dark path together.


-------------------------------------------
"Yesterday they said today was tomorrow, but today=20
they know better."
                  --Poul Anderson, _The Visitor_

Michelle
winebird@inreach.com