New takes on old tales

Princess and the pea

Short Tales

Linda Ellsworth Crisalli

As the book selections by Midge Lyn’dee highlight, fairy tales retold can be much fun, give a new slant or perspective, a new twist and add life to a story that has been around forever. Which brings me to a time when my own little girl heard the story of “The Princess and the Pea” for the first time. (By the way, my own little girl is Julianna Crisalli, your Loop editor.)

“The Princess and the Pea” was originally written by Hans Christian Anderson and first published in 1835. It has been re-told and re-written many times over, with the main theme staying intact. There was a prince and he was looking for a girl to marry and be his princess. But he wanted her to be kind and sensitive. He looked far and wide but came home disappointed, having found no young maiden who could measure up to his standards. Then there was a storm. And in the storm came a dripping wet girl knocking at the castle door. They let her in, dried her off, fed her and gave her a bed for the night. The Queen, loving her son so very much, wanted him to find this kind and sensitive girl. So she had a dozen mattresses set one upon another and when towering above, she ordered a dozen coverlets on top to make the bed extra cozy. Then she placed a single pea under the bottom mattress and waited till morning. The poor young girl came to breakfast sleep deprived and bruised. When questioned she admitted to having a terrible sleep because the mattress was so lumpy. Well of course, there was a joyous response, love and a wedding. What little girl could resist this story?

Julianna came home from her kindergarten class so excited, and asked me for a pea! Yes, she did put it under her sheet. Yes, she did feel the pea. And yes, she was a princess too! When Julianna was 9 years old we collaborated and she came up with the story printed here. We sent it to several publishers and one actually liked it so much, they sent it through their system of editors and finance people for possible publication. Only at the very end of the process did they send us a letter of regret. It would have been wonderful to have a first book published at the age of 9! But as with all the rewritten versions of fairy tales, this story still lives and we share this one with you...

Princess Willow Rose and One Small Pea

By Julianna Crisalli

(collaborated with Linda Crisalli)

My name is Willow Rose but almost everyone calls me Princess. I am daddy’s Little Princess and mom’s Sweet Princess Girl. All dressed up I am grandma’s Pretty Princess. I am grandpa’s Princess no matter how I am dressed or what I say or do. My family has called me Princess my whole life.

Recently, I have started to wonder if I am a real princess. I tried asking the mirror on the wall, but it didn’t answer. My little brother heard me and rolled with laughter on the hallway floor outside of my door.

The grocery clerk, the lady who delivers our mail and the friendly greeter at the discount store all ask me, “How is the Little Princess today?” “Am I really a Princess?” I ask them. “Of course you are,” they all answer. But I still wasn’t sure.

I finally asked my teacher at school because she is the only one who calls me Willow Rose. She directed me to the local library for their afternoon of Fairy Tale stories. Unfortunately, mom made me take my little brother with me.

The library volunteer read from books that had wolves and rabbits and little lost children. When she started a story about a princess and a pea, I began to listen very carefully. When she finished, I couldn’t wait to get home. I grabbed my little brother by the hand and we flew down the street.

“Mom,’“ I yelled from the front door. “I really need a green pea.” Mother raised one eyebrow and asked, “ Frozen or canned?” “Frozen,” I answered. I headed for my very princess style room and my very princess style canopy bed. Oh so carefully, I put that one frozen pea under my very rosy pink sheets.

I slowly climbed up on the bed and gently laid down. Then I gave a wiggle to the left and a wiggle to the right and a wiggle to the left again. “I am a real princess!” I yelled. I ran through the house dancing and singing, “It’s true, it’s true!” Mom came running.

My guess is that my little brother had been watching and ended up on my very princess style canopy bed too. Because he is such a copycat and has to do everything just like me, I imagine he laid down on my very rosy pink sheets and made a wiggle to the left and a wiggle to the right and a wiggle to the left again. Because we heard him groan loudly and yell, “ Oh no! I’m a real princess, too!” “Serves him right,” I said to myself with a secret smile. Both of mom’s eyebrows went up this time!