Standing in front of the full mirror, she brushed her raven hair. A small knock came and then her door opened. "Gianna, you should be in bed. You are to meet a very special person tomorrow."
"Ma la madre, promettere in matrimonio una principessa è cosí. ..100 anni fa." (But mother, betrothing a princess is so...100 years ago.) The small woman stomped her foot and crossed her arms. "English, Gianna." Dropping the hair brush onto the vanity, the young girl turned on her heel to glare at her mother. "Fine! I think it is ridiculous that you and mio padre have *chosen* a husband for me. This is the year 2003, NO body does that anymore." With a gleam in her eyes the queen kissed her only child on the forehead. "We do. Give it a chance, mia figlia (my daughter). He is a very handsome young man." She turned and walked to the door, opening it and turning back to Gianna. "Buona notte il mio amore." (Good night, my love) After the door closed, Gianna picked up a bed pillow and threw it at the door. In a mocking voice, "he's a very handsome young man, yeah, with the personality of a doorstop I'm sure."
Gianna watched t.v. and just after midnight, crept to her door. She listened with her ear against it. Satisfied that the palace was asleep, she dressed in a leather skirt and red corset. Carrying her heels, she crawled out of her third story window and down the trellis. Once on the ground she waved frantically at the road. Headlights flashed twice and then a car sped toward her. Stopping only long enough for the princess to climb in, it drove off in the direction of town and the night life waiting there.
"Ma la madre, promettere in matrimonio una principessa è cosí. ..100 anni fa." (But mother, betrothing a princess is so...100 years ago.) The small woman stomped her foot and crossed her arms. "English, Gianna." Dropping the hair brush onto the vanity, the young girl turned on her heel to glare at her mother. "Fine! I think it is ridiculous that you and mio padre have *chosen* a husband for me. This is the year 2003, NO body does that anymore." With a gleam in her eyes the queen kissed her only child on the forehead. "We do. Give it a chance, mia figlia (my daughter). He is a very handsome young man." She turned and walked to the door, opening it and turning back to Gianna. "Buona notte il mio amore." (Good night, my love) After the door closed, Gianna picked up a bed pillow and threw it at the door. In a mocking voice, "he's a very handsome young man, yeah, with the personality of a doorstop I'm sure."
Gianna watched t.v. and just after midnight, crept to her door. She listened with her ear against it. Satisfied that the palace was asleep, she dressed in a leather skirt and red corset. Carrying her heels, she crawled out of her third story window and down the trellis. Once on the ground she waved frantically at the road. Headlights flashed twice and then a car sped toward her. Stopping only long enough for the princess to climb in, it drove off in the direction of town and the night life waiting there.