Todays Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

[Guest guest]

Flower Princess

By Owens

I patted the tulle clouds of my white dress as Mama brushed my dark

hair.

She clipped tiny ivory flowers to the top of my head, and I was complete -

a

real princess. Flower girl, they called me, but in my four-year-old mind,

I was

Cinderella.

We arrived at the church early to practice, and Bonnie, the bride,

handed

me the basket of all importance. Tucked inside lay dozens of crisp purple

orchids. The outside was white wicker, adorned with bows and satin

ribbons. It

whispered to me, " Princess, princess, princess. "

My turn in the rehearsal came, and Bonnie leaned over. " Now, don't

put any

of the flowers down yet, " she said. I nodded, thinking Mama must have been

wrong when she said my job was to drop flowers on the carpet. Poor Mama.

She

must have never been a flower princess.

I marched to the front of the church, clasping my basket, holding my

head

even and stiff. The prettiest bridesmaid, phine, winked and said how

grown-

up I was. My fingers longed to touch her long satiny skirt, but I stood

tall

and still, like a real lady.

Then the people came. Tall people, squatty people, people in hats and

vests and polka-dot dresses. Men in collars and aloha shirts. Women in

heels

as tall as pencils. I watched the other kids in their suspenders and

pigtails

and long flowered muumuus. Well, I thought, feeling sad for them, I

suppose we

can't all be princesses.

They filled the church with their hushed laughter and rustling dresses

and

warmth. Up front, Mrs. Ayabe plunked beautiful music out of the old piano.

Mama kissed my forehead. " You'll do just fine, sweetie. " She put my hand

in

Bonnie's and left.

Bonnie and I waited at the very back in our matching Cinderella

dresses.

We waited through the music and the praying and the turning pages. We

waited as

the bridesmaids in their satin skirts went before us - one, two, three,

four.

And then it was my turn.

Hundreds of eyes rested on me, but I stared straight ahead to the

front of

the church. Watching only the old man with the Bible, I slowly traveled

the

skinny aisle, just like Mama told me - first foot, together; second foot,

together.

My fingers gripped the handle of the wicker basket as I guarded my

treasure. I wished right down to my toes that I could sprinkle a few

flowers,

just to show everyone how purple they were. But Bonnie's words whispered

in my

head. Don't put the flowers down yet.

As I reached the man up front, I saw Mama smiling. It was a funny

smile.

The kind she gives when I mix the buttons on my shirt, or forget which shoe

goes

where. I thought maybe her strange look was from being so proud, but a

little

part of my stomach tied worried knots.

After lots of talking and praying and singing, when I almost had to

yawn, I

saw one of the men kiss Bonnie smack on the lips. I didn't think God

allowed

kissing in church, but the man with the Bible was nodding, so I let it

pass.

Then everything was music and clapping and people swarming around Bonnie

and the

kissing man.

Mama found me after the wedding, and knelt down to my size. She held

both

of my hands, even the one still clamped to the basket. " Sweetie, " she said

with

that smile, " Sweetie, why didn't you put down the flowers? "

I opened my mouth to explain when Bonnie glided by, all lace and white

and

tulle.

" You were adorable, Nicki, absolutely adorable! " she gushed. " And

it's

okay that you forgot about the flowers. " Then the sea of fancy people

swallowed

her back into their handshakes and hugs. I couldn't believe it.

I stood very, very still. I didn't look at Mama. The tears spilled

down

before I could stop them, splashing my cheeks, my dress, the rounded toes

of my

glossy white shoes. I wanted to use my screeching voice.

I had listened! I really had. I listened all perfect but I still did

it

wrong, and now I can't be a princess!

Mama hugged me close, saying, " It's okay. It's okay to forget.

Everybody

forgets sometimes, even Mama. "

I made my body stiff in her arms. " But I didn't! " I protested between

gulping sobs. " Bonnie said not to do the flowers! I didn't forget! " Mama

patted and shushed and peppered me with kisses, but I knew she still

thought I'd

forgotten.

Then I felt a new hand on my back. I blinked up into the sunlight,

and saw

phine's soft smile. She whispered something to Mama, who nodded.

phine

took my hand and led me back to the sanctuary, her satin skirt swishing.

The church was empty and quiet and big as we stood at the wooden

doors. I

looked at phine. " Go ahead and put your flowers down, " she said.

" It's

time now. " She waited at the very back, and I walked slowly, carefully

down the

aisle of the empty church. I fingered the smooth flowers and dropped one

here,

then here, then here. The last orchid fell just as I reached the front of

the

sanctuary. Perfect. Just like a princess.

Turning toward the back of the church, I stretched my skirt wide and

curtseyed deep to my imaginary audience. phine's laugh was like

silver.

When I looked up, Mama was standing beside her. She beamed my favorite

smile,

all shining and rounded cheeks - the kind that means she's so glad I'm

hers.

I raced back over the trail of scattered flowers. Then we left the

wedding, Mama with her smile, and me with my empty basket and a glow that

rivaled Cinderella's.