A Little Prince

Simla, India 1914

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"A very long time ago there was a young prince who lived in a different world. A world where dragons, giants, and fairies exist. Everything was as it should be... Until a dragon the size of a castle stormed the kingdom. The little prince went to investigate the loud noises and screams. He saw his father, the king, be taken by the beast. The beast used its mighty wings to fly away. The little prince cried out to his father as it got further and further away." A woman with puffy curly brown hair says dramatically. She sits by a lake with a giant head statue peeking out of it. A waterfall nearby and a baby elephant splashing in the water.

"Have you ever met a prince, Puffy?" A boy with a soaked white t-shirt and shorts asks with wonder. He climbs up the head statue and sits down, looking down on Puffy.

"Yes Tommy, I have met a prince. You." She smiles brightly.

"I meant a real prince!" He rolls his eyes.

"All boys are princes who turn into kings. All girls are princesses who turn into queens. I think it's everyone's right." Tommy spends the rest of the day running through the forest, holding up a stick for a sword. Claiming one fine day, he will be king.

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Tommy is under the covers of his giant bed. All push with pillows and blankets, woven with different colors. His father stands out on the balcony staring at the sun set with his hands behind his back. Tommy sits up.

"I'm going to miss it here," his father sighs. "It stirs up imagination."

"Wish we could stay here forever," Tommy grumbles. Phil turns around, the sun hits his father's hair and it glows bright yellow, like his own. But Phil's hair is straight while Tommy's curls.

"I know sunshine." Phil sits on the bed. "But now that England has gone to war, I must go too." He leans in. "You understand that, don't you?"

"But why do I have to go to America? It's full of... Americans!"

"Because it's safer, mate. And it's the city your mother grew up in. And it's called-" He laughs in between his words.

"New York." Tommy flops all the way down and sighs. For a moment it's silent. "Dad?"

"Hm?"

"Puffy said that all boys are princes and all girls are princesses."

"Puffy is a very wise woman." Phil nods seriously.

"Then it's true!" His eyes widen and his voice grows higher.

"You can be anything you wish, sunshine. As long as you believe."

"What do you believe?"

"I believe that you are and always will be, my little prince." He leans in like he's telling a secret, speaking a wish, whispering for no one to hear, all except for Tommy.

"Gross!"

"Why you little-" His father jumps for Tommy as he squeals. He tickles him until they can't breathe from laughing too hard. Their faces turn red and tears almost come out of their eyes.

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Tommy looks out on the dark ocean as they cross the sea. The boat has multiple floors, each layer covered in lights and flowers. He can hear faint laughter and music playing in a different room. Tommy stays on the side of the ship with the least people, letting the breeze of salt water cool him. Behind him his father wraps his arms around Tommy's neck and places a necklace. It's a round locket with crows and vines carved into gold. Inside it, his father and mother's picture. Although the picture has no color, Tommy made his father explain to him a thousand times what she looked like. Raven hair that pours over her shoulders and warm chocolate eyes.