The Book

Lying there on the grass next the ocean waves, I realised one thing; I was a fraud, a complete and utter fraud. I'd sold at least a thousand books; and i was a fraud. a fraud for taking that little girls' work, a fraud for claiming it as my own. Me, a failed writer who just made it big. I sit up and look at the book lying next to me on the grass, it's title spelled out in bold green and yellow letters in Calibri font. I read it's title.1

'The Princesses Secret.'2

I open the books cover, my name written in tiny blue letters, 'Jack Foremann' and then underneath 'The best fantasy childrens' book i've read yet' by 'The Times'3

I stare at the inside page for a while and then silently and slowly turn the next into a sea of words that blend into each other. I focus and start to read the first page.4

'Once, in a time full of grace and plenty, and when the land was as pure as the sea, one city, Muldergrade, stood tall. It's buildings were sleek and smooth, it's people, pleasant and graceful and it's character more graceful than a butterfly. One girl, Terrisha, was especially beautiful, and being the King's son, was ordered the best princes in the county. But when the Princes were lined up, the Princess would not make up her mind.5

"Come now my dear, you have to like at least one of these..." But the Princess shook her head.6

"I see darkness and greed in their hearts and I don't find them fit." Being his daughter, the King solemnly agreed and The Princes were sent away. The next lot of Princes came in and Terrisha studied them for a while, but she shook her head again and replied,7

"I see foolishness and stupidity in their heads and I don't find them fit." she replied.8

And so it went, day after day, week after week until it came the girls' Seventeenth birthday. A few of her friends from the village took her into the town for the night and there she met the man of her dreams. He was tall, dark, plump but slender and had sea grey-green eyes and Auburn coloured hair. At the bar they danced for a night,but at three in the morning it was time to go. He pleaded for her to stay, but before she swept away she whispered in his ear,9

"Meet me here tomorrow night."and with that he went home to dream about her.10

The Princess, in the mean time went to her Father and told him of her romance. He was outraged that she had gone out, but was calmed by the truth of the Man she met.11

"I want to meet this young man Terrisha, Bring him to dine tomorrow." and he walked away to his study to drink red wine for the rest of the evening. Late that night Terrisha sneaked out and went to the bar and there she saw him.12

"My Father wants to meet you. He has invited you to dine tomorrow. Please come in your best."13

And she went."14

The next night He came to the Castle and found the Princess who sneaked him in. She led him to a Great Hall and sat him down in a chair. The King came in and saw a peasant sitting in his seat.15

"Get out you filthy muck!How dare you sit in my chair!" The Man fell to his knees and said,16

"Please Sir have mercy! Your daughter brought me here!" The King looked at his daughter.17

"Terrisha? Did you bring this scum and put him in my seat?"he asked.18

"Father, this is the man I was talking about, Von Taylor. I want to marry him." The King laughed, and Terrisha, embarrassed, ran up into the tower and locked herself there.19

Sadly, one day when she was cutting the roses twining along the tower wall, she slipped and fell. Her death brought many sorrows. Unfortunately the peasant man, Von Taylor, was not allowed to attend her funeral, and like all her ancestors, she was buried in the Royal Graveyard. One night the Prince desperate to see her, went to the Graveyard and prayed that she would rest in peace after her Fathers' insults.Then, Terrisha's ghost appeared and led him silently to the sea's cliff. 20

The next morning while to fishing boat was out fishing, they pulled up the body of Von Taylor. A funeral was held and as soon as he was placed in the ground, a terrific storm came and washed the city to ruins. The King had no option but to evacuate the City and move to higher ground. As the King's gravediggers went to retrieve Terrisha's casket, They found another one lying above it. Out ofpure curiosity, they opened it. To their surprised, it was empty. pushing the casket away and thinking nothing of it,the gravediggers dug out Terrisha'scoffin, but when they picked it up, it was as light as a feather. They checked inside the coffin, but Terrisha's body was gone.21

Way out in the middle of the ocean, two birds looking down into the ocean, onto the ocean floor, see two bodies lying side by side, holding hands.'22

I close the book, I can't believe I've read it already. I look at the cover, and walking to the Waves coming up to my ankles, I hurl it as far as I can, into the sea.23

The booksinks deeper and deeper until it reaches two familiar faces, and two familiar hands holding each other, sleeping side by side.24