Crowned

Chapter 1

Gracie always woke up right before Gabby. I guess it was kind of funny that way, because Gracie was born first. Gracie slipped into her slippers and tiptoed down the steps of the palace. Sheila, the head maid, was folding towels near the laundry room, when she heard Gracie's footsteps.

"Gracie dear, what are you doing up? It's 5:30." Sheila said with her heavy English accent.

"I was no longer tired. I decided to wake up." She said properly.
Being the "oldest" of the twins by one minute, Gracie was always a little more proper than her sister. She only spoke at he dinner table when asked, and never made jokes. Gabby however, was very different.
Gracie walked slowly over to Sheila to help her. She stared to enclose the edges of the pink towel.

"Oh no, dear. I'll do this," She grabbed away the towel. "You go to kitchen and ask Charlie for your surprise." She whispered.

"But I want to he-"

"No. It's your sixteenth birthday! Go enjoy it!" Sheila yelled.
Gracie smiled and wandered into the enormous kitchen. There were five overstuffed pantrys, three ovens, a large microwave, and a huge wooden counter where fruits and vegetables were waiting to be claimed. Gracie grabbed and apple and sat on the counter. She crossed her legs in a proper way, even though she didn't have to. The chefs were in their quarters, still sleeping. She quietly chewed on her apple thinking about what her surprise might be. Just then, Gabby stumbled into the kitchen like a zombie.

"You're up early." Gracie said to her.

"So are you. Can you believe that in..." She glanced at her purple rolex. "Three hours and twenty-four minutes, we'll be sixteen!" She yelled, jumping up and down with joy.

"Shh!" Gracie held one finger to her glossy lips. "You're going to wake the whole kingdom."
Gabby smiled. "Oh loosen up a little." She joined Gracie on the counter. "Where's Charlie?" She asked. Just then, a familiar face stood in the doorway to the kitchen. It was Charlie, the head chef.

"Good morning, G&G." Charlie always said. He had fluffy, thinning, gray hair that puffed around his ears.

The girls grinned at him and hugged him.
"I heard you had a surprise for us for our birthday." Gracie commented.

"It's your birthday?" Charlie teased. Gabby pretended to punch him. He told them to wait a second. He ran into the next room. When he came back, he was joined by two chocolate chip muffins and two small boxes.

"I thought you two might like these." He said. His apron was orange with green cookies painted on it. The twins ran to him, with grins on their faces.

"Chocolate chip muffins! My favorite!" Gabby screamed. Gracie waved her arms in excitement. While they started to nibble on their muffins, Gracie notices the boxes.

"What's in those?" She pointed to the small velvet boxes.

Gabby lets some crumbs fall out of her mouth.
"Yeah! What's in those?" She muffled.

Charlie slowly handed the girls the boxes. Once they were opened, a sparkling gold locket shone at them. "Oh my gosh! Charlie! Where did you get this?" Gabby said. She pulled the locket out from the box and admired it.

Charlie looked down at his shoes. He smiled at the twins, and then looked down again.

"Well actually, your father wanted me to give you these on on your sixteenth birthday." He explained.
A tear fell from Gracie's eye and landed on the locket that had Gracie engraved in it. The locket seemed to shine even brighter. Gabby opened up her locket and found a picture of her at age four and King David. His arm was around her and she was laughing. She couldn't remember what she was laughing about. She missed her father, even though she didn't remember him that well. She quickly closed the locket and thanked Charlie. She ran up the marble stairs toward her room. Gracie wiped her eyes on her sleeve of her nightgown and followed Gabby.

Charlie looked down at his shoes. He didn't mean to hurt their feelings.