TWISTED

2. Wishes And A Prince

Ella walked to the market humming her favourite tune with a smile plastered on her face. She was instructed to make an appointment with the dressmaker on behalf of Courtney and Brian.

According to gossips running around the yard and the entire city, a grand ball will be coming up soon at the palace and influential people would be in attendance, including the Prince of course.

That information was enough to make all the eligible ladies go crazy, just for a prince, Ella thought as she waved to the shabbily dressed cobbler seated close to the Dress Makers' Quarters.

Speaking of Princes.

Ella sighed as she watched the young girls run around probably in search of competent dressmakers to engage. Ella felt a little bit jealous of the girls, of the way they were free to do whatever they liked, the way they talked and laughed within themselves. Oh! how she yearned to be free someday, but when?

"You've been standing there for a few minutes." Lucy, the dressmaker shook Ella vigorously till she recovered from her day dreaming. Ella wondered how she got into the elderly dressmaker's shop, if she could clearly remember, she had been watching a bunch of girls laughing and chattering boisterously.

These days, she had formed a habit of daydreaming and she knew it would put her in great trouble if she continued walking around the country subconsciously.

"I'm so sorry, Lucy, I only came to make an appointment on behalf of my stepfather and his daughter." Ella sat in the seat Lucy offered her. It was then she took notice of the beautiful already-made dresses hanging from their hangers.

"Let me check my other appointments." Lucy gave her one last glance and hurried to a table where she fetched a large book with a pen sticking out from underneath some pages. She opened the book and scanned the pages for the needed information.

"I'll be free tomorrow, tell them that." Lucy shut the book returned it to its former position. She picked up a mirror decorated with some jewels and examined her face in it. With her other arm, she touched her hair to make sure it was still in good shape.

"Yes, I will, thank you." Ella thanked her and pushed herself off the chair. She gave the beautiful dresses one last look and marched out of Lucy's shop.

She however didn't fail to catch the look of disgust Lucy shot her. Ella wondered what she has done wrong to deserve that look. Looking herself over, she found out why. The lower part of her gown was covered with mud, one of the perks of passing through the corn fields on her way to the market. Her shoe was totally ruined, its sole was almost ripped from the main shoe and her toes peeked out of the opening.

She sighed and tried pushing her toes back in without succeeding. Grunting, she whipped the shoes off and walked barefooted, carefully ignoring the odd looks shot at her by people especially the women.

Ella hurried back home and to Courtney's room where she was in a deep discussion with her best friend, Claire. When they noticed her entering the room, they abruptly halted their conversation.

"Ah! there she is! Come over here Ella," Courtney flashed an evil smile as Ella began advancing to Courtney's position.

There were times Ella wished she could permanently fly away from earth, to escape the bad treatment she always received. At the same time she was becoming tired of wishing for things which were practically non-existent.

"The dressmaker says tomorrow will be fine for her." Ella said and interlocked her fingers on her apron.

Courtney and Claire squealed in excitement and then ran out of the room, probably to bear the good news to Courtney's father.