Jennpunzial

She was Jennpunzial, and she lived in the tower of misery, if you asked her. Her stepfather insisted that the tower was for her own protection because the land outside was a dangerous place, but Jennpunzial, Jenn for short, didn't believe her. So she was locked away, acres and acres away from any one else, and in a place she didn't really want to be. But what was a locked up princess to do?

She couldn't escape, unlike the princess in one of her books, Rapunzul. She had had long hair - "Rapunzul, Rapunzul let down your long hair" - and though Jenn would very much like some long hair, of any colour, even purple, it was not happening. Her hair was kept short, cropped like a boys. So how was she going to escape the tower of misery?

She was scheming on that very topic when a bluebird came by. "Hi Bluebird" she said. The bluebird whistled. "Oh, you too?" asked Jenn. The bluebird cocked it's head. "I agree, Mr. Bluebird. It is lonely here." The bluebird looked at her and flew off. Jenn sighed. Talking to bird. What was that a sign of?

She sighed again and went back into the main part of the tower. It was supper time. Now only if the old devil didn't come back. But he would, she knew. Sooner or later, her stepfather always came back. It would be worse this time, she knew. Her hair was almost 9 inches long and it would be cut soon, back to the pathetic 2 her caretaker so desired.

She slept fitfully that night, dreaming of a knight in shining armour to rescue her that very night. It was a night knight night.

The next day her stepfather arrived. "Stepfather" she said coldy.

"Jennpunzial" he replied. "Ready?"

She stiffled a cough. "Ready to be shorn like a sheep? You bet I'm ready. I've been looking forward to it like a cow awaits her slaughter day."

He didn't catch the sarcasm. "Oh, good!" he said. "I was afraid you were going to complain like last time." Jenn rolled her eyes. That man...

He got out his scissors and began to sharpen them on his boot. When he was satisifeid, he went up and got ready to cut her hair. As he started to arrange the scissors around his hair, a rock flew through the window and hit him in the back of his head. He rubbed his head, dropped the scissors and looked out the window. "Who is there that dares to throw stones at me?"

He didn't see anyone, so he went back to shearing. Again, a rock hit him on the back of the head, but this one was larger. "Ow" he said. He went back to cutting the hair, but again, and again, right before he cut, a rock would hit him.

Finally, bidding Jennpunzial a quick goodbye and giving a promise that he would be back, he went downstairs to find the troublmaker rockthrower, and give him a piece of his mind.

But he only found a nice girl. "Who are you?" he asked.

"I'm Vicky." she repliedl "and I demand you let Jennpunzial let her hair down and climb away. She deserves spa days, not shearing days."

"And if I refuse?" he asked her smiling widely. "What are you going to do about it?".

She smiled. "This" she said as she kicked him in the knee and punched him in the stomach in a devestating one two punch.

"Ow" he said.

She smiled, revealing two row of perfect teeth. "And there's more where that came from, Buster, unless you give up Jennpunzial."

He grimaced. "Ok, ok" he said. Have it your way. So he opened the door, and Jennpunzial, who had been waiting at the bottom, flew out and hugged the girl.

"You're my hero!" she said.

"Twas nothing!" said the girl. "My name's Vicky by the way."

Jenn embraced her again. "Why did you save me?"

Vicky smiled. "I'm part of the Fairytales Female Protection Task Force, Guarded Girl division, or FTFPTFGG for short."

Jenn looked at her. "Can I join?"

Vicky smiled. "You already have. Come on!"

And leaving the stepfather grimacing, they left for new adventures, two new friends.

#jenn #peter #vicky