The Very Little Princess: Zoey's Story (9 page)

“Not Today, I Think.”

So … where does this story end?

With Zoey’s mother coming back?

I wish I could tell you that was so, but though she may come back someday, that hasn’t happened yet.

With Zoey and Regina becoming good, good friends?

Yes. That one’s right.

With Princess Regina learning how to eat? That’s right, too. Her favorite foods are tiny
peas, fresh from Hazel’s garden, and the crispy tip of the wing from a roasted chicken.

And ice cream, of course.

She thinks a person might as well eat tree bark as try to chew celery, but that may be only because her teeth are so small.

And, naturally, she’s had to learn about going to the bathroom, too.

At first Zoey thought she was going to have to put the doll in tiny diapers, because Regina didn’t pay that much attention to what was going on down there. The princess didn’t like being messy, though, so she learned pretty fast.

She’s had something else to learn, too … that flesh is exceedingly tender. A china doll can break, but skin can bruise and bleed.

It can sing when it is stroked, too.

“Does being made of blood and bones mean that I will die?” Regina asked suddenly one bright blue morning.

Taken by surprise, Zoey looked to her grandmother. And Hazel, wise and loving Hazel, answered. (It turned out she had not forgotten nearly as much as the doll and the girl had thought.)

“Not today, I think” is what she said.

So Zoey and Princess Regina have learned to live with that.
Not today
. Not today for dying, or for Zoey’s mother coming back, either.

But today for waking, for being delighted to see one another, for dipping a corner of toast—or a crumb—into the runny yolk of a fried egg.

For smelling the good, dark smell of the earth.

Today for making up games in the throne room, too.

Princess Regina still doesn’t care much for changing the roles about, but she tries it now and then, just the same.

Together they have learned that today, every day, is a day to be brave in, a day to be alive in … a day to love in.

And if a few tears fall? Well, a good friend can always be counted on to wipe them away.

Isn’t that so?