Alex T Smith's Polly - Problem Princess 

Polly was a princess.

She had the crown and seventeen pink royal ponies to prove it.

Here is what she DID like about being a princess: the castle, the personal indoor lagoon, her pampered pooch Percy.

Here is what she DIDN’T like about being a princess: everything else!

The problem was that she was always being bossed about.

“Polly!” the queen would cry. “Stop climbing that tree immediately! Your dress will be filthy and the Evil Baron’s coming for tea in a minute!”

“Polly!” shouted the king. “Stop welding saucepans to the Royal Yacht! You will scuff your shoes, and what on earth will my Knights of the Occasional Table think?”

The bossiest person of all had to be her fairy godmother, Miss Pinch. She was a miserable woman who looked like a toad wrapped in chiffon.

“Polly! Stop shampooing the Royal Elephant and come and kiss these frogs!” she would holler.

“Polly! Stop sharpening your crayons with that sword and see if you can feel the pea I’ve hidden under your mattress!” she would snap.

“Polly!” Miss Pinch would scream. “Stop waving my knickers out the window and come here NOW! I want you to prick your finger on this spinning wheel so I can see what happens!”

If Polly didn’t arrive quickly enough, she and Percy would get whacked on the head with Miss Pinch’s wand.

“I’ve had enough of this, Percy,” complained Polly after a particularly trying day. “I’m fed up of all this bossing! I wish we could be all by ourselves somewhere marvellous.”

Polly pursed her lips and Percy pursed his too.

Then Polly had an idea…

“Miss Pinch!” cried Polly. “The magic mirror just said you weren’t the cleverest lady in the land!”

Miss Pinch burst into Polly’s bedroom, red-faced with panic. Whilst she bashed and shook the mirror, Polly swiped the magic wand!

“I wish we could be all by ourselves somewhere else,” Polly whispered, and she shook the wand above herself and Percy.

They closed their eyes.

There was a flash.

Slowly Polly and Percy reopened their eyes. They were on their own desert island, miles away from everyone.

“Perfect!” laughed Polly and she splashed into the sea.

by Alex T Smith

© Alex T Smith 2008. Story taken from WOW! 366 published by Scholastic Children’s Books. All rights reserved.If you enjoyed this story, why not try some of Alex’s books: Eliot Jones, Midnight Superhero and Home