The Princess Wears Flannel and Boots?

1: Definitely Not

"Gabrielle? Gabrielle! What are you doing up there?" From far up above and between the tree branches heavy with apples with I saw my father beckoning me down. "Come here, child. We have someone for you to meet."

I sighed at him, making my way down with reluctance. "Another potential husband, Pop?"

"Don't be so dour, child. He's a good boy, going to a good school. Tall, handsome.."

"Does he like Star Wars? Star Trek? Holy crow, Pop, does he even know the difference between the two?" I landed on the grass with a -thump-, but didn't fall over this time. My little brothers standing behind Pop giggled and I smiled. "Hey, monsters."

"Hi, big monster!"

"Does it matter?" Pop asked, getting closer to me, so he could pull twigs and leaves from my dark braided hair. "Star Trek or Star Wars?"

"I'd like to have something in common with my future husband! What good is handsome and tall and Ivy league if I don't like him?" I ducked away from him. He was yanking the tiny hairs painfully. "Ow! I got it. I got it. Don't scalp me, Pop."

He was studying me closely. I hadn't put makeup on today, just scrubbed my face clean and put on lip balm. My hair was still in the braid I put it in at night so it wouldn't tangle, and my clothes? His eyes squinted in disapproval. Faded jeans torn at the knees, red flannel that once belonged to him, and my old muddy combat boots. Even I'll admit, I could have put more effort into my outfit, but these were perfect tree climbing clothes and the best apples were way at the highest parts of the tree! I had to get them before the squirrels and birds, didn't I?

"Your mother will mount my head above the mantle if I let you meet Aruna like this-"

"Aruna? What kind of name is that?"

"I don't know. Hindu, maybe? Go upstairs through the back and change into decent clothes," he ordered, gesturing towards the sprawling compound in the distance that functioned as our home. "Go on. Shoo!"

"Monster?" one of my little brothers called me, his bright green eyes wide and angelic.. and expectant.

Laughing, I dug around in my deep pockets (these jeans I had swiped from one of my older brothers . Girl jeans have no pockets, what is with that?!) and pulled out the biggest, reddest apples that had been on the trees. They were still warm from the sun, their skin perfect all around. I tipped my handfulls into their arms and they both ran off squealing with laughter to divide the loot.

I gave one last look to Pop, surpressed the urge to sigh, and jogged of towards home.

Aruna, huh? Well, Aruna, I hope you didn't travel too far, I thought to myself. Because you're going back home today.