"Gedoff me Tommy, gedoff” I says angrily, snatchin' me hand away from him. He is holdin' tight so I has to struggle to stop me basket of blueberries from fallin'. “See whatcha almost done? These be for the princess Rose's bir'day. Mama would give me a spankin' if I dun't bring them back” I continues, shakin' the basket under his small nose. Tommy giggles, the silly boy.
“Comma see Jon, comma see” he says happily, clappin' his chubby hands toge'er. I rolls me eyes an' follows, keepin' a careful watch on me precious blueberries. One can never be too careful with Tommy aroun'. I dun't want him to come, but mama made me take him. Shes makes me watch him oft, 'cause I is older then he, me bein' a'ready eight an' him bein' only four. No amount o' beggin' nor pleadin' makes her change her mind, so I is stuck with him. Tommy runs afront of me gleefully.
We reaches the castle walls an' slips through the servants' entrance.
“Look Jon, look.” Tommy points, star'in' to giggle again. At first I dun't see nufin' amiss. The servants' garden is full as always. But then me notices the quiet, an' the fact that nobody moves an' how nobody seems to be standin'. All are sittin' or lyin' or slumpin' over walls an' on the floor an' the benches.
All are asleepin'. Even Fluffer the cat is lyin' there an' he ain't movin' no muscle. I looks at Tommy, all perplexed like.
“Why's everyone asleepin'? Isn' there work to be doin'?” I asks. Mama had said that there ain't no time to play today, 'cause its the princess's bir'day an' all an' there is tons an' tons to prepare. We continues walking to the huge kitchen to give the blueberries to mama. She wouln't be sleepin', that I knew for sure. Mama never slept when there was work to be done. But the kitchen were as silent as the garden. Our mama was slumped o'er the huge wooden table, snorin' gently inno a lump of dough. Her face were covered in flour, even more then usually, an' her huge rolling pin was still in her hand. I is startin' to get scared by now, but Tommy is happy as usual. He rans up to mama an' hugs her big leg. “Mama! Mama! We got blueberries mama, like you asks us!” he shouts joyfully, but shes no answerin' him. I puts the blueberries down an' takes Tommy by the hand. “Come, she's restin'. Lets go play.” I says, 'cause I know that's what mama would want. “Stay outta the way” she woudda said, “An' take Tommy with you”. So we plays Hiders an' Finders in the sleepin' castle an' I pushes the questions outta me head.
Evenin' falls, an' still me an' Tommy are the only ones awake. We goes back to the kitchen, 'cause we both are getting' hungry. I goes over to mama, an' I shakes her arm.
“Wake up mama. I'm hungry.” I says. She don't move. I sees her breathin' so I know she's only sleepin', but why i'nnt she wakin' up?
“Mama, wake up” I says again. Tommy starts to cryin'. I’m feelin' tears in my eyes too, but big boys dun't ever cry, so I wipes them away.
“I'm hungry Jon” Tommy wails, so I tries wakin' mama up again. At last me own hunger is gnawin' too badly so I goes to the larder an' takes out some bread and splits it in half an' Tommy an' I eats it hungrily. There is other food at the table, lots of it, but I knows it's for the princess's banquet, so I dun't touch it. Tommy an' me don't wanna play no more, but we dun't wanna go to sleep in our bed without mama there, so we ends up curled up on the kitchen floor between mama's legs and goes to sleep there.
In the morning, nufin' has changed. We takes more food from the larder an' go lookin' around. We plays again Hiders an' Finders, but this time both me and Tommy are the finders and we are findin' someone else who is awake. But we dun't find no one but sleepin' people in the servants wing. So we gives up an' play chase. At night we sleeps again next to mama's feet.
The next day I thinks that maybe all the awake people are not in the servants wing, but in the rest of the castle. So we goes into the halls of the castle, all shakin' and scared like 'cause we was never allowed to goes in there. But here everyone all sleeps, snorin' in colorful dresses an' tight pants an' strange hats I ain't seen the likes of ever before. Me and Tommy have some fun tryin' them on, 'cause the people are all sleepin' anyways so what do they care? At night we go back to the kitchen again. I have started likin' night when I dun't feel alone 'cause I am sleepin' just like everyone else. But I gets scared sometimes that when I goes to sleep I will not wake up, just like everyone else.
So me and Tommy manage somehow, waiting for the world to wakes up again. The days start turnin' to nights and the nights to days an' I’m sure weeks an' months an' maybe even years are goin' past but I ain't feelin' it. The days are all the same, explorin' the castle an' eating from the larder an' sometimes even goes to the woods for a bit, jus' to hear uther things movin' an' to pick berries 'cause we finished the blueberries a'ready. But we have to stop that after a while 'cause huge thorn bushes start'd to growin' around the castle, too thick and sharp to get by.
So we explores the castle more an' more 'till we knows everythin' there is to know about it.
One day we finds some steps an' we starts climbin' an' climbin', goin' up an' up an' up 'till our legs ache an' we starts to pant but at last we reaches the top of the tower. There we finds a girl, lyin' on a huge bed. We walks up to her slowly, 'cause both me an' Tommy feels that there is sumfin' differunt 'bout her. We sees her and she is the most beautiful maiden we has ever seen, tons prettier then any of the maids in the castle or the sleepin' noble ladies. Her hair is golden an' her lips are pure red an' she just is so pretty, lyin' there inna beautiful gown an' I know at once that it be Princess Rose herself.
“Kiss her, Jon,” Tommy whispers next to me.
“Why?” I asks, feelin' my face gettin' red.
“'cause that's how you make her wake up” Tommy explains, an' I gotta smile, 'cause I know he gets that from all the princess stories mama used to tell us. An' then I wanna cry 'cause I want mama awake again, an' I want her to tell us stories again like she used to but big boys dun't ever cry so instead I says: “but I ain't a prince.”
“Please Jon. Please try,” Tommy begs, his eyes wide. “I want her to wake up.”
“So does I,” I whispers, an' without thinkin' I leans over and kisses her quickly on the lips an' pulls away quickly again an' wipes me mouth on me sleeve tryin' notta throw up. We both stare at her, wishin' she would wake up. Somehow we both knows that if she wakes up, everyone will. Or we hopes, but whats the difference anywho? But nufin' happens.
When the food in the larder finishes, we start eatin' the banquet food. None of the food has rotted or gone bad at all, an' the princess needs no banquet whilst she is asleepin'.
Tommy an' me waits, an' we waits an' we waits for the prince that has to be comein' sometime to wakes everyone up, 'cause they can't be asleepin' fore'er. But he ain't comin' and still we waits an' we waits more days an' more nights an' still nufin'.
So much time passes an' everythin' stays the same. Me and Tommy stays the same an' the castle stays asleepin' an' no one wakes up an' the food never spoils and the princess is sleepin' an' sleepin' an' sleepin'. We have food an' a place to stay, an' it never gets too warm or too cold, but we are bored an' all we have is ourselves an' I jus' want everyone else to wake a'ready an' I want mama to hold me again an' to sing me to sleep an' to tell me stories an' order me aroun' an' even spank me when I dun't do sumfin'. Tommy has gotten quiet, he barely giggles anymore. I understands him. I feels like I never wanna smile for ever and ever again. I jus' wan' everythin' to be back the way it was. Nufin' is changin' an' we is stuck in the quiet an' the silence jus' the two of us, an' sometimes we even runs aroun' the hallways, shoutin' loudly jus' to 'ear the echos we makes an' it makes it easier to pretend that we ain't alone. We waits for what feels like forever an' ever an' ever an' I is scared sometimes that the whole world is asleepin' an' only we is awake an' no prince will never come to wake the princess. Me an' Tommy sits for more days an' more nights an' sometimes we sits in the tower an' we stares at the princess still asleepin' as if she will wakes up if we wishes it hard enough. An' even though I know years have been gone by I is still eight an' Tommy is still four an' mama's hair is not turnin' white an' nufin' ever changes an' its as if only yes'erday me and Tommy went to pick blueberries an' came back to find everythin' sleepin. Tommy cries oft an' I wanna cry too 'cause I jus' want it to end an' I just want everyone to wake up again an' not to be stuck like this fore'er. But I dun't ever cry.
Then one day we hears a noise when playin' chase in the garden an' we gets a scare 'cause we ain't heard another noise in so long. An' me and Tommy runs back inside an' inno the main castle an' we sees a man, another man with a sword an' a cloak an' he is dressed all fancy like, but different from the sleepin' nobles. We follows him silently, 'cause we are scared that its a ghost or a spirit or sumthin' 'cause he is awake an' we are awake an' everyone else is still asleepin'. The man goes up the stairs of the tower an' Tommy tugs at me tunic an' whispered “It's a prince, Jon. I knows it is,” an' he is soundin' all excited for the first time in ages. I wanna be excited too but I is scared that he ain't a prince an' I dun't wanna get me hopes up. So we sits down an' we waits to see if anythin' will happen an' we holds each other an' I feel myself shakin' despite meself 'cause what if he is the one, an' what if he will wakes the princess up?
An' then suddenly everythin' starts to stir an' we sees the sleepin' people movin' an' stretchin' an' rubbin' their eyes an' joy floods through me an' I feels happy again' an' I ain't felt happy for so long, an' me an' Tommy sits there an' we stares at all the movin' people. Then we remembers mama an' we runs back to the kitchen an' we sees her there, standin' up again' an' lookin' aroun' all confused like an' movin', finally movin' an' we runs up to her an' I hugs her tightly an' I dun't wanna ever let go. An' mama strokes me hair an' holds me back an' asks where the blueberries be an' I ain't able to answer 'cause I is cryin' an' cryin' an' cryin'.
“Comma see Jon, comma see” he says happily, clappin' his chubby hands toge'er. I rolls me eyes an' follows, keepin' a careful watch on me precious blueberries. One can never be too careful with Tommy aroun'. I dun't want him to come, but mama made me take him. Shes makes me watch him oft, 'cause I is older then he, me bein' a'ready eight an' him bein' only four. No amount o' beggin' nor pleadin' makes her change her mind, so I is stuck with him. Tommy runs afront of me gleefully.
We reaches the castle walls an' slips through the servants' entrance.
“Look Jon, look.” Tommy points, star'in' to giggle again. At first I dun't see nufin' amiss. The servants' garden is full as always. But then me notices the quiet, an' the fact that nobody moves an' how nobody seems to be standin'. All are sittin' or lyin' or slumpin' over walls an' on the floor an' the benches.
All are asleepin'. Even Fluffer the cat is lyin' there an' he ain't movin' no muscle. I looks at Tommy, all perplexed like.
“Why's everyone asleepin'? Isn' there work to be doin'?” I asks. Mama had said that there ain't no time to play today, 'cause its the princess's bir'day an' all an' there is tons an' tons to prepare. We continues walking to the huge kitchen to give the blueberries to mama. She wouln't be sleepin', that I knew for sure. Mama never slept when there was work to be done. But the kitchen were as silent as the garden. Our mama was slumped o'er the huge wooden table, snorin' gently inno a lump of dough. Her face were covered in flour, even more then usually, an' her huge rolling pin was still in her hand. I is startin' to get scared by now, but Tommy is happy as usual. He rans up to mama an' hugs her big leg. “Mama! Mama! We got blueberries mama, like you asks us!” he shouts joyfully, but shes no answerin' him. I puts the blueberries down an' takes Tommy by the hand. “Come, she's restin'. Lets go play.” I says, 'cause I know that's what mama would want. “Stay outta the way” she woudda said, “An' take Tommy with you”. So we plays Hiders an' Finders in the sleepin' castle an' I pushes the questions outta me head.
Evenin' falls, an' still me an' Tommy are the only ones awake. We goes back to the kitchen, 'cause we both are getting' hungry. I goes over to mama, an' I shakes her arm.
“Wake up mama. I'm hungry.” I says. She don't move. I sees her breathin' so I know she's only sleepin', but why i'nnt she wakin' up?
“Mama, wake up” I says again. Tommy starts to cryin'. I’m feelin' tears in my eyes too, but big boys dun't ever cry, so I wipes them away.
“I'm hungry Jon” Tommy wails, so I tries wakin' mama up again. At last me own hunger is gnawin' too badly so I goes to the larder an' takes out some bread and splits it in half an' Tommy an' I eats it hungrily. There is other food at the table, lots of it, but I knows it's for the princess's banquet, so I dun't touch it. Tommy an' me don't wanna play no more, but we dun't wanna go to sleep in our bed without mama there, so we ends up curled up on the kitchen floor between mama's legs and goes to sleep there.
In the morning, nufin' has changed. We takes more food from the larder an' go lookin' around. We plays again Hiders an' Finders, but this time both me and Tommy are the finders and we are findin' someone else who is awake. But we dun't find no one but sleepin' people in the servants wing. So we gives up an' play chase. At night we sleeps again next to mama's feet.
The next day I thinks that maybe all the awake people are not in the servants wing, but in the rest of the castle. So we goes into the halls of the castle, all shakin' and scared like 'cause we was never allowed to goes in there. But here everyone all sleeps, snorin' in colorful dresses an' tight pants an' strange hats I ain't seen the likes of ever before. Me and Tommy have some fun tryin' them on, 'cause the people are all sleepin' anyways so what do they care? At night we go back to the kitchen again. I have started likin' night when I dun't feel alone 'cause I am sleepin' just like everyone else. But I gets scared sometimes that when I goes to sleep I will not wake up, just like everyone else.
So me and Tommy manage somehow, waiting for the world to wakes up again. The days start turnin' to nights and the nights to days an' I’m sure weeks an' months an' maybe even years are goin' past but I ain't feelin' it. The days are all the same, explorin' the castle an' eating from the larder an' sometimes even goes to the woods for a bit, jus' to hear uther things movin' an' to pick berries 'cause we finished the blueberries a'ready. But we have to stop that after a while 'cause huge thorn bushes start'd to growin' around the castle, too thick and sharp to get by.
So we explores the castle more an' more 'till we knows everythin' there is to know about it.
One day we finds some steps an' we starts climbin' an' climbin', goin' up an' up an' up 'till our legs ache an' we starts to pant but at last we reaches the top of the tower. There we finds a girl, lyin' on a huge bed. We walks up to her slowly, 'cause both me an' Tommy feels that there is sumfin' differunt 'bout her. We sees her and she is the most beautiful maiden we has ever seen, tons prettier then any of the maids in the castle or the sleepin' noble ladies. Her hair is golden an' her lips are pure red an' she just is so pretty, lyin' there inna beautiful gown an' I know at once that it be Princess Rose herself.
“Kiss her, Jon,” Tommy whispers next to me.
“Why?” I asks, feelin' my face gettin' red.
“'cause that's how you make her wake up” Tommy explains, an' I gotta smile, 'cause I know he gets that from all the princess stories mama used to tell us. An' then I wanna cry 'cause I want mama awake again, an' I want her to tell us stories again like she used to but big boys dun't ever cry so instead I says: “but I ain't a prince.”
“Please Jon. Please try,” Tommy begs, his eyes wide. “I want her to wake up.”
“So does I,” I whispers, an' without thinkin' I leans over and kisses her quickly on the lips an' pulls away quickly again an' wipes me mouth on me sleeve tryin' notta throw up. We both stare at her, wishin' she would wake up. Somehow we both knows that if she wakes up, everyone will. Or we hopes, but whats the difference anywho? But nufin' happens.
When the food in the larder finishes, we start eatin' the banquet food. None of the food has rotted or gone bad at all, an' the princess needs no banquet whilst she is asleepin'.
Tommy an' me waits, an' we waits an' we waits for the prince that has to be comein' sometime to wakes everyone up, 'cause they can't be asleepin' fore'er. But he ain't comin' and still we waits an' we waits more days an' more nights an' still nufin'.
So much time passes an' everythin' stays the same. Me and Tommy stays the same an' the castle stays asleepin' an' no one wakes up an' the food never spoils and the princess is sleepin' an' sleepin' an' sleepin'. We have food an' a place to stay, an' it never gets too warm or too cold, but we are bored an' all we have is ourselves an' I jus' want everyone else to wake a'ready an' I want mama to hold me again an' to sing me to sleep an' to tell me stories an' order me aroun' an' even spank me when I dun't do sumfin'. Tommy has gotten quiet, he barely giggles anymore. I understands him. I feels like I never wanna smile for ever and ever again. I jus' wan' everythin' to be back the way it was. Nufin' is changin' an' we is stuck in the quiet an' the silence jus' the two of us, an' sometimes we even runs aroun' the hallways, shoutin' loudly jus' to 'ear the echos we makes an' it makes it easier to pretend that we ain't alone. We waits for what feels like forever an' ever an' ever an' I is scared sometimes that the whole world is asleepin' an' only we is awake an' no prince will never come to wake the princess. Me an' Tommy sits for more days an' more nights an' sometimes we sits in the tower an' we stares at the princess still asleepin' as if she will wakes up if we wishes it hard enough. An' even though I know years have been gone by I is still eight an' Tommy is still four an' mama's hair is not turnin' white an' nufin' ever changes an' its as if only yes'erday me and Tommy went to pick blueberries an' came back to find everythin' sleepin. Tommy cries oft an' I wanna cry too 'cause I jus' want it to end an' I just want everyone to wake up again an' not to be stuck like this fore'er. But I dun't ever cry.
Then one day we hears a noise when playin' chase in the garden an' we gets a scare 'cause we ain't heard another noise in so long. An' me and Tommy runs back inside an' inno the main castle an' we sees a man, another man with a sword an' a cloak an' he is dressed all fancy like, but different from the sleepin' nobles. We follows him silently, 'cause we are scared that its a ghost or a spirit or sumthin' 'cause he is awake an' we are awake an' everyone else is still asleepin'. The man goes up the stairs of the tower an' Tommy tugs at me tunic an' whispered “It's a prince, Jon. I knows it is,” an' he is soundin' all excited for the first time in ages. I wanna be excited too but I is scared that he ain't a prince an' I dun't wanna get me hopes up. So we sits down an' we waits to see if anythin' will happen an' we holds each other an' I feel myself shakin' despite meself 'cause what if he is the one, an' what if he will wakes the princess up?
An' then suddenly everythin' starts to stir an' we sees the sleepin' people movin' an' stretchin' an' rubbin' their eyes an' joy floods through me an' I feels happy again' an' I ain't felt happy for so long, an' me an' Tommy sits there an' we stares at all the movin' people. Then we remembers mama an' we runs back to the kitchen an' we sees her there, standin' up again' an' lookin' aroun' all confused like an' movin', finally movin' an' we runs up to her an' I hugs her tightly an' I dun't wanna ever let go. An' mama strokes me hair an' holds me back an' asks where the blueberries be an' I ain't able to answer 'cause I is cryin' an' cryin' an' cryin'.
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