Haley
Princess Haley. Daddy always calls me his princess, but I never imagined I would really be one. It's kind of like a fairy tale. I know I'm too young to think about it, but I hope I meet a nice prince or princess who can give me a happily ever after like Papa James and Daddy have. Anytime they look at each other, it's like they can't imagine anything better than looking at each other.
My brother is named Kevan. I named him because he is very cute and small, like Kevan from Super Space Adventures. He kind of looks more like a doll than a real baby.
Kevan has very dark brown eyes and blond hair. He doesn't cry much. Most of the time, he just looks around with his big eyes.
He's a prince and I'm a princess. Even though I'm older, Kevan will be king someday. I'll always be a princess, but I don't really mind.
Besides, all that kind of stuff is years and years away. First, Papa James and Daddy have to be the kings. And the only way they can do that is by getting married!
Daddy got out of the hospital about a month before the wedding. He's very busy preparing for it, but he also makes sure to spend lots of time with me.
I'm busy too, though. Because Papa James adopted me and made me his daughter for real, I got taken out of school, and now I have a bunch of new teachers.
Now, before I know it, it's the wedding day. Servants and guards run all around the palace doing a ton of things. There are tons of people dressed in very beautiful clothes, drinking and talking loudly.
I eat breakfast in my pajamas, and then I go to my room to change. There is a girl servant who follows me around a lot, named Gertie, and she helps me put my dress on and do my hair. She doesn't like to talk very much, but I am trying to make her my friend anyway. I think she needs one.
A good thing about having another girl help me is that she knows how to brush hair the right way, so it doesn't hurt. I love my Daddy, but he is such a boy sometimes.
When Gertie finishes helping me, she steps back a little and points at the mirror. "Do you ... like it?"
I look in the mirror. My dress is white and long and simple, with red ruffles on the edges. I look like a reverse Denmark flag. My hair is brushed nice and soft and smooth, lying on my shoulders.
Around my neck, I wear a necklace. On the chain is the little promise ring Papa James gave Daddy. They gave it to me to keep safe.
"It's beautiful," I say. I take Gertie's hand. "Let's go!"
The wedding is going to be held in Molt-ke palace. I can hardly believe my eyes when I step inside with Gertie. Red and white banners flow from the staircases, hang across the walls, dangle from the ceilings. Flowers — roses and poppies and daisies — form beautiful arches over every door and entrance. Huge plants in golden pots are everywhere, some of them tall enough to drape their leaves down on top of the heads of the guests. It's like the palace is now a forest.
Guards in their uniforms and funny hats stand in front of a lot of doors. I want to go over and try to make them laugh, since they aren't supposed to, but Gertie doesn't like to misbehave. I'll show her some other time that it's fun to be a little bad.
We follow the signs to reach the chapel, where the ceremony is going to be. In there, everything is gold, though there are so many flowers and decorations that it is kind of hard to tell. Long rows of benches are filled with people, and more are coming in all the time.
Gertie tugs her hand away from mine. "I should go," she says "And so must you."
I have to get in position, because I am a flower girl and I am going to be a ringbearer.
