by Sarah Earlene Shere, ©2025
(Jan. 10, 2025) — Once upon a time, there was a princess who never laughed. Now, whether she couldn’t or wouldn’t was never quite made clear. Still, the princess became proud of her ability to refrain from laughter. She even used it as a game, allowing others to challenge her. One day, this independent, arrogant ruler made an outrageous wager, feeling certain that she would win. The princess declared that she would marry the first man who could make her laugh, regardless of his social standing or lack thereof. Now, her beauty and wealth were a prize worthy of any man’s efforts to win them. Thus, men from all over the countryside flocked to the palace and stood in line, taking their turn, to try to make the stoic monarch laugh. Hours turned into days without even a giggle from the throne. Exhausted from their efforts, the contestants would each collapse off to the side in the throne room, congratulating each other’s efforts and cheering on the next man. Thinking the end of the line had been reached, and feeling herself to be victorious, the princess was just about to stand to leave when a final man stepped out of the shadows and approached the throne. She turned up her nose at his ragged appearance and the large item he held, which was covered with a dusty cloth. “Your highness,” he said with a bow, “more than laughter, I take this opportunity to present you with a gift.” Lifting the cover, he revealed a modest piece of glass and declared, “a magic mirror! This mirror has the power to show you a lady even more serious than yourself.”
Intrigued, the princess let the mirror be set before her. She leaned in, studying the image carefully. After a moment, she scowled, “All I see is my own reflection.” At that, she saw anger cross her brow and weigh down her already somber expression. So that was the wisdom of this man, to show her how even more serious she could be, and how very unbecoming it was. The heat of her anger slowly became a blush as she realized how foolish she had been, even silly. She saw the men reflected in the mirror behind her, collapsed in exhausted piles around the room. Yes, this whole thing was silly, and she was the silliest of them all. Suddenly, a smile played across her lips, a tremble rose in her throat and a laugh came forth from her mouth. She realized she had made herself laugh; the more she thought of it, the more she laughed.
A ruler of her word, the princess proclaimed she would marry the man who brought the mirror. But he shook his head. “I will only marry for love, and I would rather have a wife who was not so silly.” But the princess insisted that he be rewarded, thus he accepted the offer of a high position in her palace. And wouldn’t you know it, in time, they fell in love and did get married.
And made your readers laugh as well! Bravo!