This week we feature another winner in this year's Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's Creative Writing Competition. This story, written by Tariq Robinson from Clarendon, won a silver medal.
There once lived an evil prince who was very wicked to all those he came in contact with. Sir George Grumpy lived in a large, beautiful palace made of pure diamond and gold. This palace was the most beautiful site in the town of Cow Bay. However, the prince was so mean that everyone feared getting close to him. The palace had no mirrors because the prince hated mirrors. The servants would set his bath only in his absence, and if they spoke without being asked a question, he would have them killed. The prince was so evil that one day he had a visitor and because the visitor stared him in the eye he ordered that his eyes be plucked out of his head.
Not far away lived a poor village girl whose name was Sarah. Sarah grew up in a small village called Hopewell, three miles west of Cow Bay. Sarah lived with her father who had taken care of her, all by himself, since she was two years old. Sarah's mother died in childbirth and her father had been ill ever since. Sarah, now 12, decided that if she could provide food and medicine for her father then he would laugh, sing and play his old flute again. So Sarah decided to go in search of a job.
Early the next day Sarah got dressed. Although her clothes were torn and had patches of all colours, it was the best she had. She took her mother's lucky mirror and her father's flute so that she could remember them. She put them in her pocket that was neatly tied at the bottom. Sarah said her goodbyes to her beloved father and all the people in the small village of Hopewell. She walked along the long and winding dirt track leading to the town of Cow Bay. After two long hours of walking in the scorching heat, Sarah decided to take a rest in the shade of a tall willow tree. Sarah fell asleep but awoke minutes later to the sweet sound of a nightingale. As if in a dream, Sarah saw the most beautiful place she had ever seen in her life. It was a huge house with stones that glittered. There were people moving in and out of this big house and they wore clothes that had no tears or patches. Sarah fell in love with the place. This was Prince Grumpy's palace.
Sarah decided to pay a visit as she thought she might be lucky enough to get a job. Sarah stopped at the biggest and most beautiful door and gave a loud knock. The door opened and a wrinkled old man came out. Sarah told him of her intention to get a job but he only walked away and closed the door. Sarah knocked again and this time the door opened by itself. Sarah walked in and was amazed by the beauty inside. Immediately she began to scream and shout with excitement. Suddenly, Sarah realised there were people on their knees. These people were kneeling in two straight lines of about 50. At the end of the line was the largest chair Sarah had ever seen. How comfortable it must be, she thought. Sarah ran towards the chair and climbed in. One servant tried to warn Sarah but she was too excited to listen. Suddenly, as if thunder shook the Earth, the sound of footsteps were approaching. Sarah saw a tall, strong man, wearing the most beautiful clothes standing in the doorway. This must be the owner, she thought. Sarah ran towards the prince and began begging him for a job. She told him of her father's illness and her mother's death. She showed him her mother's mirror and the prince made an angry shout. He ordered that Sarah be thrown in the dungeon to be killed the next day, under the charge of speaking without being asked a question, looking him in the face and taking a mirror into the palace.
Sarah was frightened by the guards who grabbed her arms and shoved her towards a dark, cold room. She soon realised her fairytale world of everybody being friendly was not true. Sarah began to cry then she remembered that whenever her father was sad he would play his flute to cheer himself up. Sarah began to play.
The prince was so angry at what the little girl had done that he began to scream and break everything in the room. He remembered how his evil mother, the queen, treated him badly before she died. She also told him how ugly he was and she ordered that the prince's only daughter killed at age 12 because she was ill. Ever since, he hated mirrors reminded him of how he looked or people looking him in the face. Suddenly, the prince heard the most beautiful sound. It was the sound of sweet music. It was the sound of a flute. The prince began to hum and dance. He remembered how his little Ariel used to play her flute before she died.
Immediately, the prince sent for Sarah. He began to cry. He begged her forgiveness. He offered her a stay at his palace if she would only play her sweet music for him every day. Sarah requested that her father live with her too. Soon the prince started to laugh and sing. Sarah became the new palace chief and gave jobs to many people from Hopewell.