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CHOICE
Copyright © 2018 Jean Booth
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Published by Windswept
an imprint of BHC Press
Library of Congress Control Number:
2017961407
Print edition ISBN:
978-1-947727-16-8
Visit the publisher at:
www.bhcpress.com
Also available in trade softcover
For Mom,
For believing I could.
Once upon a time there lived a beautiful young girl named…Claudia.”
Ashlyn made a very inelegant snort. I’d forgotten there was a girl in her class she didn’t like that was named Claudia. I gave her a pointed look. Our rule was, if she wanted a made-up story, she wasn’t allowed to interrupt. She gave me innocent eyes, lifting one shoulder and pretending to twist a key on her lips, so I continued.
“Claudia dreamed of a happily ever after. She believed the fairy tales she’d read, and every night wished upon a star for her prince to rescue her from the evil witch that was her captor. The years went by and Claudia developed into a striking young woman. She didn’t recognize her own beauty, though. She’d spent too many years being bullied by the evil hag that was the only family she’d ever known. Still, Claudia hoped, wished, and prayed for her dashing prince and her happily ever after. Eventually, the evil hag departed from this world, and Claudia was left all alone. Claudia left the only home she’d ever known to seek out other people, hoping to one day find her handsome prince.
"She walked for days in a seemingly endless forest until she could no longer take another step. Curling up against an old oak tree, she prepared for her final sleep. For the first time in her life, she felt true bitterness as she gazed up at the stars. She couldn’t understand why the girls in her stories got their happily ever after, while she was destined to die alone after living a secluded, miserable life. She cried herself to sleep that night.
"The next morning, Claudia awoke with a start. In place of the gnarled roots of the old oak tree, a down pillow cradled her head. She opened her eyes and took in the room around her. Directly to her right sat the most handsome man she had ever seen. As soon as their eyes met, they fell in love. And, as in any good fairy tale, they married and lived happily ever after.”
“Aunt Tash?”
“Yes, Ashlyn?” I said with a suppressed smile. I knew what she was going to say before the words even left her lips.
“Your stories really stink. You missed out on all the adventure of the prince rescuing the princess from something really bad. Can you try again?” Her big blue eyes pleaded with me. It was our last night together before I left on my vacation, and I knew we were both feeling the sting of the imminent loss.
“Well, quit asking me to tell them if I’m so bad at it,” I replied with a chuckle. “I lost my ability to tell stories long before you were born. If you want to read one of your stories before bed, you can go ahead. I’ll try to have a better story for you when I get back, okay? I love you very much.” I kissed her forehead as I tucked her under her princess sheets.
“Love you, too. Night.” She yawned, revealing the gaps in her mouth left by teeth that still hadn’t filled in. She was snoring softly before I reached the doorway.
I closed her door so that only a crack of light showed through. She was still young enough to be afraid of the dark, but old enough to think that a night-light was for babies. I made my way to my room to make sure I was all packed for my trip. I didn’t live with Katie and Ashlyn, but for the three days that Katie was at work, I stayed with them. It was easier on them, and allowed me to develop a closer bond with Ash than I would have if I only saw her on occasion.
I couldn’t help but wonder again, as I had many times before, why little girls treasured fantasy stories so much. How did girls in today’s society still grow up hoping for the elusive happily ever after? After everything, why was I still hoping for it?
As I finished up packing, I mentally went over the story I’d told Ashlyn. The portrayal of ugly, disfigured women as witches or shape-shifters that are evil incarnate was not an idea I wanted to promote. It caused girls to believe that beauty is the most important thing to possess. According to stories like the one I’d told Ashlyn, it doesn’t matter if a woman is smart, strong, rich, or powerful; if she’s not beautiful in society’s eyes, she’s destined to live life as an ugly, lonely old hag. Part of me regretted telling my sweet niece these stories. Another part of me yearned to keep Ashlyn young and innocent for as long as possible, believing that one day her prince would come and rescue her. Her mother and I knew better.
I hadn’t been on a vacation since before our parents died. Even when they’d been alive, we’d gone
