The Smart and the Pretty

Sorry I have been away for a while - life has been crazy hectic! Today, a fable. Thanks to my blog buddy (you know who you are) for the idea.

Once upon a time there were two princesses in two castles on opposite sides of the kingdom of FFY. One was named Smart. The other was named Pretty. And appropriately named they were, for Smart was clever, and ambitious and wise, and Pretty was, well, pretty. (Actually, Smart secretly thought she was pretty too, but kept this to herself. She didn't want to take away Pretty's only glory -- see, Smart was also diplomatic. But I digress.)

Now Pretty won the hearts of all who saw her. They swooned at her prettiness, and in return, she preened for hours and wore the latest robes and crown-styles to keep them happy. And when she fluttered her eyelashes just so, it made the news (The Daily Parchment, actually). Statues were erected in her honour. Best of all, the King and Queen of the land expected nothing of Pretty except for her to be, well, pretty. And this was good, for Pretty was REALLY good at being pretty. And she didn't mind her lot in life because all was handed to her. If Pretty didn't graduate from Princess School, it was ok, so long as she was still pretty. If Pretty couldn't pay her horse & carriage bills, someone else would, because Pretty's job was to be pretty.

I think you get the point.

Meanwhile, in the other castle, Smart was kinda ignored. After all, Smart didn't bat her eyelashes just so, didn't preen enough, and definately had no interest in the latest princess fashions. But Smart was okay with this. She had been told at an early age that she had to fend for herself because she was expected to. She was told that being smart meant that she was independent which meant that she didn't deserve or need help or support. But was Smart sad? No. (Ok, a little angry perhaps, but nothing the right medications couldn't fix.) Smart learned how to charm with her words and her actions, not just her looks. Smart got enough education to assure she could support herself. And Smart was happy, if a little tired.

One day, at Pretty's royal ball, Pretty smiled and danced and glittered from room to room, while Smart (who had been up until 3am the night before preparing a handmade gift for Pretty), struggled to keep her eyes open and mentioned that she was a little too tired to dance.

Pretty's eyes flashed with rage upon hearing this and she loudly exclaimed "Oh there goes Smart, moping about again, like she always does!" for all to hear. Smart said nothing, assuming Pretty's diatribe had ended.

But the public humiliation had only begun.

"Just like Smart" Pretty said in front of all of their friends and family and strangers, "it's ALWAYS about her! Well I'll not be letting her ruin MY royal ball no matter HOW hard she tries!" Smart was even in the same room at the time, while Pretty continued shouting about her like she wasn't even there. "She's ALWAYS like this, every event we have, Smart is always making problems, just ask anyone! Why does she even bother coming!?" Pretty stormed about the room, slamming things as she went, "She is ALWAYS trying to ruin everything!!!!" Everyone was staring.

Smart quietly slunk into the kitchen.

Oh, wait, don't think Smart is weak! Smart saw visions of murder with wooden utensils, and slashed carriage wheels and pleasurably drawing and quartering Pretty! In fact, that's why Smart left, because she didn't want to spend the rest of her natural life in a dungeon for her almost soon-to-be committed crimes.

But the pressure, the exhaustion, the helplessness got to be too much, and Smart cried. (Yes, Smart cries.) Pretty had won again.

Or had she?

TO BE CONTINUED...