The Spinning Wheel

The Spinning Wheel

In the beginning it’s Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty,

but it has an interesting twist as Jenny’s brilliant writing takes over!

September 2012

 

              Long ago there lived a good king named Stefan. For many years King Stefan and his queen wished and wished for a child.

              At last their wish came true. The king and queen named their daughter Aurora.  A great feast was planned to celebrate the birth of the new princess. Everyone in the kingdom came to the feast.

              King Hubert arrived with his son, Prince Phillip. The two kings decided that one day Phillip and Aurora would marry.

              “That way our kingdoms will always be united,” King Hubert told his son.

              Three good fairies came to the feast. Each had a special gift for the princess. Flora waved her wand.

              “I give you the gift of beauty.”

              “My gift shall be the gift of song,” said Fauna.

              “And my gift…”

              Suddenly a blast of wind blew open the castle doors.  A bright flame filled the room.  Then the wicked fairy, Maleficent, appeared from the flame.

              “You did not invite me to the feast, King Stefan.  But I, too, have a gift for the princess.”

              Maleficent pointed at the cradle. “Before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, the princess will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel.  And she will die!”

              “Seize that creature!” shouted the king.  But Maleficent disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

              Luckily, Merryweather still had her magical gift to give.  The good fairy could not undo the evil spell.  But she could soften it.

              Merryweather waved her wand.

              “Sweet Aurora,” she said,  “Not in death, but just in sleep,

               The fateful prophecy you will keep.

               From this slumber you shall wake,

               When true love’s kiss the spell shall break.”

*** (end of Walt Disney’s version, beginning of Jenny’s)

            "Oh, Merryweather!  You are so clever! Of course, she will grow to love someone and on her sixteenth birthday she will be kissed and the spell will break!" Fauna exclaimed.

            "Oh, but how can we protect the princess on her sixteenth birthday?" Flora asked.

            "I know what we'll do!  We will burn up all the spinning-wheels in the kingdom, and then she'll be safe!"  King Stefan announced proudly.

            "Stefan! You are ridiculous!” Queen Petunia exclaimed. “Then our royal clothing would become all tattered with no new clothes to replace them!  And no spinning-wheels to make them!  No.  I have a different idea.  We will train strong, brave men in the kingdom to find Maleficent and kill her!" Kind Stefan was content. He would do that instead.

            The time passed quickly and Aurora was told never to touch a spinning-wheel. Men were selected, turned into knights, and sent to find Maleficent. All the while Aurora grew. She was truly beautiful. She had a slim figure, with dazzling golden hair, shining sky blue eyes, and the most charming smile.  The only fault in her was her temper.  She would throw a fit if she couldn't eat what she wanted to, when, where, how, and with whom she wanted to, or if she couldn't watch the play she had been ever so much wanting to see.  But other than that she was glorious.  If she chose to she could be everything you could want in a person. The farmers thought that if they could have her as their wife, they would be perfectly happy (for they had never seen her throw a fit).

            But her bad temper began getting worse and worse! All too soon the fateful day of her sixteenth birthday came.

            She was getting ready for her sister’s wedding (she really didn't want to) when suddenly she heard someone say, "Come up-stairs!  I will show you what you want."  Of course, Aurora went up-stairs, and there was Maleficent with a spinning-wheel.

            Impulsively she put her hand out to touch it, but wait, what about all the stories of her great-grandmother, and how she had touched a spinning wheel and had fallen into a deep sleep, and had never wakened (These where made up stories about what might happen to her).

            "Touch it, touch it!" Maleficent urged impatiently.

            "Why?  What will you give me for it?"  Aurora asked haughtily.

            "A man just right for you, and he will love you and care for you always."  Maleficent said trying to think of something Aurora would want.

            "All right. I will touch it if you bring this man to me right afterwards. And I'll send my fairies to make sure you will!"  Aurora said.

            "I promise."  Maleficent slyly smiled.

            Aurora reached out and touched it.  And that was all.  Maleficent had gone against her rules!

            Rule 1: If she promised something to someone, without doing it, she would die.

            Maleficent had had no thought of doing it.  It hadn't even crossed her mind.  So she died. And with her died the curse.

            Aurora was completely and perfectly fine!  The problem was that now the kingdom had a snooty princess and no way to get rid of her! Although Maleficent never intended Aurora to get her perfect man, it just so happened that she did find him.


... to be continued..

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