Prince Antonio

By Pamela

It was Sunday evening and I was watching Evita when I fell asleep. The last thing I remember was watching Che and Eva waltzing. I woke up the next morning in this strange place. I didn't know if I was dreaming at first when I heard this banging on the door. A woman's voice said, "Get up, you are late with your chores." The woman opened the door and screamed "Why are you still in bed? There is no time off in this house, young lady."

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Don't act dumb with me, or I will beat you, understand?" She finally left me alone. The room was cold and dark. The walls had holes with pieces of plaster on the floor. The bed was old, no legs just sitting on blocks of wood. I did have a dresser and a closet, but the clothes wre worn and needed mending. Where was I?

I got dressed left the bedroom wondered down the hallway found the bathroom. I then found the kitchen there were three young girls at the table eating their breakfast. I started to approach the table when this woman yelled. "You don't get breakfast until your chores are done."

"Who am I, Cinderella?" I asked. The woman hit me across the face and said, "get to your chores, now!"

"What do you want me to do?" I asked with tears in my eyes.

"Well for starters, I want you to clean up this mess here in the kitchen, then clean the bathroom, do the laundry and then feed the animals, like you do every morning - and stop that crying." she said.

I had started cleaning the kitchen when one of the girls tossed a dress at me and told me to fix her dress it had lost a button. "Who are you?"

"You don't know who I am?" she asked.

"No."

She looked at me strangely, "I am Melissa; you're my cousin. Have you lost your memory?"

"Yes, I don't know where I am and I don't know who you are." I looked over at the table and asked, "Who are they?"

She pointed to her sisters and said, "The one on the right is Rebecca and the other is Victoria."

"I see, and who am I?"

Melissa yelled, "Mother, Christina is acting strange - she doesn't know who she is!"

"Why are giving me so much trouble this morning?" the older woman said and then continued, "You are Christina and I am your aunt Martha. You have been living with us for most of your life. I promised to take care of you when mother died. So, I have raised you like my own daughter."

"Then why do I have torn clothes and they are wearing nice dresses?"

"Shut up! Why are you asking so many questions?" she said, standing there with her hands on her hips. "Just go do your chores."

"Where is my father?"

"He is dead, too."

"Oh, sorry I asked." I went outside and was sitting on the bench in front of the house when I noticed two men riding up on horses. They looked like royalty, dressed in fine silk clothes. One had short black hair with a touch of grey and was dressed in a reddish colored jacket, and the other had curly dark brown hair wearing a creame colored jacket. They approached the house and stopped in front of me. I asked, "Would you like some water?" I saw this in a movie once; there just happened to be a well in front of the house.

"Si, we would, that would be so kind," the older gentlemen smiled.

"Why are you here?"

"We are inviting all senoritas to come to the ball tomorrow night. The King is having a party to find a bride for his oldest son."

"Are you serious?" I must have been dreaming.

The younger man got off his white horse, came over to me and handed me an invitation. He had beautiful brown eyes with soft curls around his face.

I looked at him with sad eyes and said, "I can't go to this ball I have no clothes to wear."

He turned to the older gentleman and said. "George, please help this senorita find some suitable clothes." He turned back to me and said, "I want everyone in the village to attend, no one should be left out." He then winked at me and gave me a charming smile.

My aunt Martha came out to see what was going on. "Christina, get into the house I don't want these men to see you like this." She pushed me away and turned to the gentlemen, and asked. "What can I do for you?"

"As I just told the senorita, we are out inviting all senoritas to come to the ball we are having tomorrow evening. The King is having a party to find a bride for his son."

"Oh, I will be glad to attend along with my daughters." She turned to me and said, "Except you Christina, you have to stay here and take care of the house."

The younger one was surprised what she had said. "We are inviting senoritas, no exceptions. Gracias, Christina for the water," he smiled.

"You are welcome." I smiled back and went into the house.

My aunt followed me into the house and said, "You are not going to the ball. Do you understand?" She stared at me. "Besides you have nothing to wear."

"I will be there," I said with confidence.

The next morning I found a package on the dresser. How did this get here? Maybe I have a fairy godmother, I laughed. I opened the box and found a beautiful blue satin dress with lace and matching shoes. I wonder where this came from? I looked under the dress there was a note that read "Christina, this is for you." This is incredible I am going to the ball.

I went and did my chores. I watched as my aunt and cousins get ready for the ball. "Can I ride with you to the ball?"

They laughed. "Christina, you can't go looking like that; you will embarrass all of us."

They finally left me alone; I went to my room and stared at that beautiful dress. How could I get to the ball when I didn't have a way to getting there?

I heard a knock on the front door, I peeked out and saw a man dressed in fine white silk with gold trim. I opened the door and he said in a nice deep voice, "Christina, come with me. I will take you to the ball."

"You are the one I gave water to yesterday." I looked at him in disbelief.

"Si, that was very kind of you to offer us water on such a hot day," he said.

''I can't believe this. You must be my fairy godmother or I should say godfather?" He laughed at me as I ran to my room and quickly got dressed.

When I returned he was standing looking out the window; he looked at me and said, "Are you about ready?"

"Yes, I am ready, just a little bit nervous. Tthis is my first ball." He escorted me to the waiting carriage, opened the door and helped me climb in. He then climbed in and sat across from me. He gave a signal to the driver that he was ready to go. I looked at him he had a strong handsome face. "Who are you?" I asked.

He looked at me with those beautiful brown eyes and said. "I am Prince Antonio. I knew you needed a ride so I decided to come here myself and take you to the ball."

Wow, a Prince and he was taking me to the ball, this was great!

"You look beautiful. The dress I sent you looks great on you," he smiled.

"You sent this to me?" I asked. "Why would you do this?"

"Yesterday when we met I couldn't get you off my mind and I wanted you to be there at the ball."

"Thanks." I was blushing I didn't know what else to say. I just smiled at him.

We finally made it to the castle. His driver helped me out of the carriage. The Prince got out of the carriage and said, "I will see you inside." He kissed my hand and then gave me an unforgettable smile.

"Wow, this is unbelievable." The servant escorted me inside the castle; there was music playing and people dancing. I sat at a table near the dance floor. I looked around the room and found my aunt and cousins sitting on the other side of the dance floor. I hoped they wouldn't see me and then I thought, yes, I do want them to see me.

A trumpet sounded and an announcement was made; the Royal family came into the room. I sighed when I saw the Prince he was more handsome than a few minutes ago.

The Prince started making his way around the room dancing with every young girl. He was an accomplished dancer. When it was my cousins' turn, they weren't very graceful, stepping on his toes. And they thought I was going to embarrass them...this ball seemed to go on for hours and I could see that the Prince was getting tired. I watched him as he left the room; he looked frustrated. So, I decided to follow him out on the terrace. "Nice evening isn't?"

"What are you doing out here?" He didn't seem pleased to see me.

"I was concerned I could see that you are not having a good time at your party."

"How did you know the party was for me?"

'I just guessed. Shouldn't you be in there looking for your bride?"

The Prince looked at me and said, "This is all wrong. I can't find a wife this way. My father wants me to give him a grandson so he will know that his kingdom is in good hands for the future. I shouldn't bother you with my problems; why don't you go back inside, I'll be there soon."

I went back inside and sat at my table. The Prince finally came back in and started where he left off dancing and talking with every young lady.

It was finally my turn to dance, he took my hand and led me to the dance floor. I was nervous I didn't know if I could do this, if the others couldn't dance how did I know if I could? He looked at me intently with those hypnotic brown eyes and I waltzed with him around the dance floor. I felt like I was flying. We finished our dance and he said, "Thank you, Christina, for the dance." He then kissed my cheek.

After the dance I had to go out on the terrace to get some fresh air, I was feeling overwhelmed by the power of those sensual eyes. I know I was blushing the entire time we were dancing. I couldn't believe how attractive he really was. I was looking at the moon and stars when I felt someone coming up behind me; I turned around and it was the Prince. "What are you doing out here?" he asked as he caressed my arm.

"I was warm and I thought the cool night air would be nice and refreshing."

"Si, it is." He came close to me and touched my face with his hand and gazed into my eyes without hesitation gave me a sweet gentle kiss.

"You shouldn't be doing this, you are supposed to be in there finding a bride, your Highness." He was making me nervous.

"I have found my bride." He looked at me tenderly. "When I first laid on you, yesterday, I was in love with you," he said. "And stop calling me that."

"Why? You are a Prince and I was just showing you some respect."

"Just call me by my name, Antonio." He then kissed me again parting my lips with his tongue and then whispered in a soft alluring voice, "Let's dance, mi amor."

"Okay your Highness," I smiled.

We could hear the music from inside, so we began to waltz and he then stopped and pulled me closer to him and deeply kissed me again. I knew I wasn't Cinderella because the clock was stricking midnight and I was still there with my prince. I soon discovered that the bells I was hearing were my alarm clock. I woke and looked around - I was back in my own bedroom - and smiled. I guess it was a dream, but what a great dream. I went to work with a smile on my face. No one would ever believe where I had been even if it were real.