3She was home. Not that stuffy old castle that she lived in most of the year but beautiful cottage in the prairie with Mama and Yuma and all of her best friends.
Wanda dropped her backpack on the porch and pushed the door open. It was oddly quiet for such a beautiful day. Maybe everyone went uffleberrie picking… yes that must be it! She hurried off to her room to change.
Her room hadn't changed a bit since she last saw it. The soft chartreuse window dressings billowed in the breeze. Centaurs, dragons, unicorns, and faeries danced on her wall paper. Wanda sat in front of her vanity admiring the simple delicacy of the pink porcelain wrought with brilliant gold. She ran her finger along the edge and did not find a speck of dust. Yuma must have been cleaning.
"That's good," she said to herself. "Nothing worse than a dusty mirror."
She set about plaiting her thick black curls into a braid and thought of all the wonderful memories she'd had in this room. Her bed was by far her favorite part. It was an excellent foundation for a fort. And so soft. The swan down felt like a dream after a long day in the sun.
"I wonder if…"
Yuma used to leave treats under her pillow; especially if she had been naughty and was sent to bed without dessert. Wanda put down the brush, flipped the braid over hr shoulder and snuck up to her pillow. She reached underneath and found a small sac of candied iola leaves! Wanda grinned.
She changed into her best uffleberrie picking outfit: a yellow sundress with her brown ridding boots, her wicker basket, and a wide brimmed straw hat decorated with daisies. She slipped out the French doors because it was much faster than going out the main entrance. Uffleberries wait for no one!
After a good hour in the fields, Wanda still hadn't found anyone. And she still hadn't picked any berries. She consoled herself with the iola leaves but she was worried. Where was everyone. She kept walking down the path.
"What an odd place for a tea party," Wanda remarked.
And indeed it was. There in the middle of the field was small table set for two. It was laden with cakes and moffins and biscuits and of course, tea. A man was sitting there. He was stirring his tea but not drinking it. His thoughts seemed elsewhere; his eyes were sad. By his manner and dress, Wanda could tell he was very important. His jacket was deep blue with silver trim; like the family crest. His hair was dark like Wanda's and curled about his ears and the nape of his neck just as hers did. He seemed so familiar, but so far away…
"Papa?" Wanda voice was barely a whisper. "Papa?" she said again, louder this time. The man looked up at her, shook his head and turned away.
"No!" Wanda gathered up her skirts and ran toward the table. As she did her Iola leaves fell to the ground and scattered.
"Papa, it's me! It's your Wanda!" She ran as fast as she could but still she drew no closer to the table.
"I missed you so much, Papa!" she said through bated breath. "They told me you were gone forever! But you're here!" She slowed down a bit for the ground seemed to be getting steeper. He never looked at her. He just kept shaking and his head saying, "She had so much potential, so much promise…"
"Please stop moving away, Papa," she pleaded. "I am very tired and these boots are giving me blisters…"
"Spoiled," he roared. His ears went red just like her Papa's used to when he was angry. "Vain, selfish, arrogant fool!"
Wanda shrank back. Her Papa was never angry with her. "No. No, I've been good, Papa! You would be so proud of me! I - I've been studying hard and learning my spells and - " she sniffed trying to find words to placate his rage. "Obner says I'm making progress - "
"Imbecile," he cried, still not looking at her. "Irresponsible, indecisive, ignorant child!"
Wanda was crying now. Fat, salty tears streamed down her cheeks and she unabashedly wiped the snot from her nose.
"Why are you saying such mean things, Papa?" she choked out. "Why would you say that to your lovely little button?"
"Unfit," he was muttering now. "Unfit for the throne…"
"No! That's not true! I am fit! I am very fit, Papa!" She ran forward desperate to reach him, desperate for him to hold her and tickle her nose like he used to. "I'll be good queen, Papa! I'll make you proud, I swear!"
She kept running and running but to no avail. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned.
"Mama!" Wanda hugged the slender wraith-like woman. "Papa's here, Mama! He's not well; he's saying all these awful things but I know it's -"
The fair-haired woman smiled and put a finger to Wanda's lips. She wiped away her tears, took Wanda's face in her hands and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Wanda was stunned to watch the woman walk to the table and join the man for tea. He smiled as she came, taking her hand and kissing it softly.
She tried to join them but the table moved away once more. She would never reach them. She wasn't invited. They were leaving her all alone.
"NO! Mama, please! Don't go! I won't lose you! I can't lose you, too! " The woman waved at Wanda but didn't stop drifting away.
"Papa?" Wanda implored. "Please! I'll do better!"
He shook his head and poured some tea for the woman. "Such a disappointment…"
Wanda collapses to the ground. The sundress was soiled with mud and twigs and her knees were scraped.
"But Papa," she sobbed. "I'm trying…"