Once there was a princess who lived in a beautiful castle. Her father was the King and loved her dearly. The princess was very pretty, yet was kind and good. Yet, she wondered why she was different from the other youth in her country.

One day she asked her father why she was not permitted to go with the other damsels to the ball. “Dear Father, she said, “Why may the village girls go to the ball and I must not go?” Her Father was known though out his Kingdom for his honesty, fairness, and great wisdom. The king looked at his maidenly daughter and smiled kindly, yet with a knowing smile. He knew this day would come and he had known he would need a ready and lasting explanation.

Beckoning to his daughter he said, “Ah, my daughter, the time has come to teach you a lesson that I have been preparing for this day.” He led the princess out to the royal gardens where flowers of every shape and size, color and fragrance grew. He led the way to a particularly beautiful rose bush that grew in the choicest area of the garden.

Pointing to a closed, red, luscious bud he said, “Open it, my dear daughter.” “Oh no” cried the princess. It is not time for it yet to open and if I pry the petals open they will fall to the ground and the rose will be destroyed, never to open.” “So it is with you my daughter, “said the king with a nod of his head.” You are like a rose, but still a bud, not yet ready to fully open. The other maidens of the village are also roses; each unique and beautiful, yet still buds. Yet some of them are being opened before it is time.” “You are being protected until you blossom forth into womanhood, all radiant, not wilted and broken”.

The princess had tears in her eyes as she took her father’s hand and said, “Thank-you, my father, for this lesson. I will forever cherish it.” Then they turned and walked back to the castle, hand-in-hand. THE END