Sleeping Beauty by Maureen McGowan

minutes before settling down to stand at attention.
    â€œWhat does he mean, ‘court me’?” Lucette asked her mother.

    â€œI told him you’re still too young.” Her mother shook her head. “You’ve got three years before you’re sixteen. There’s still time.”
    â€œStill time for what?” Her stomach clenched. Surely her mother didn’t mean she should marry before turning sixteen. Lucette didn’t even want to date .
    Her father put his hand on her shoulder. “Come, Lucette. One of these boys is bound to be your true love.”
    â€œWhat?” She tensed and stared at her father. This had to be a joke.
    He leaned down toward her and his strong, dark brows drew together. “It’s time you started meeting eligible young men, Lucette. It’s important you find true love, and there’s no time like the present.”
    â€œBut—”
    Her father raised his hand to silence her protests and then stepped over to the line of teenaged boys.
    â€œMom, do I have to do this?” Lucette asked. “I don’t want to. And I feel so stupid in this dress.” Terror grabbed hold of her. Would these boys want to kiss her? Yuck.
    She tried to back up, but her mother slipped an arm around her waist. “I know this is ridiculous.” Her voice was tense. “Just say hello and let them kiss your glove. I couldn’t stop your father from doing this, but I’ll help you get through it, I promise.”
    Her parents were already divided on this, so if she made a fuss and ran, it would give them something else to fight about. Lucette drew a long breath and resolved to grin and bear it. Staring down at the line of boys—most of them shorter than her, which made her even more self-conscious—Lucette twisted her toe on the floor and hunched her shoulders. Her knees trembled as she studied the line of suitors.
    Her father beamed as he greeted each of the boys standing in the
line, shaking their hands and asking polite questions. He turned a few away, but she wished he’d be more discerning. From the looks of these boys, it seemed as if her father would deem anyone suitable as long as he had a pulse.
    Her father led a pudgy, pimply boy up the two stairs to the platform. On display at the top, Lucette squirmed in humiliation.

    Two hours later, Lucette stomped out of the reception, keeping her head down to hide the scowl on her face. Her mother had stayed behind to talk to her father.
    Great. Another fight.
    Even if it was her fault, so be it. She was done trying to keep the peace in this family. Done with being a pawn in their games. Letting those boys ogle her had been beyond horrible, and both of her parents were responsible for tonight’s humiliations. It would never happen again. Not if she could find a way to stop it.
    After a guard led her back to her bedroom and Jenny helped her out of her hideous dress, Lucette stared at the offending garment, wanting to stomp on it, or better yet, shred it.
    Her scissors! She’d smuggled a pair out of the library a few months ago. She pulled a book off her shelf and opened it to reveal the scissors hidden in a cavity. After removing the scissors, she grabbed the dress off her rack and narrowed her eyes. She’d make sure she never had to wear this ugly thing again.
    Sitting cross-legged on the carpet in front of a huge mirror, she pulled the dress onto her lap, but as she was about to make the first
cut, she glanced up at her reflection and then wiped the back of her gloved hand across her still-rouged cheek. What was the point of destroying the gown? It would just be replaced, perhaps with another one even more hideous.
    Rebellious thoughts flooding through her, she pulled a chunk of her long, thick hair from the fussy updo Jenny had fashioned and held it to the side. Then using the dull scissors, she chopped and sawed close to her scalp.
    Holding the nearly three-foot-long tail of