Written by:

Mariam Nematalla

Once upon a time in a distant and vast empire there lived a young damsel in the small city of Bayonne. Everyday this beautiful maiden christened Melania would gleefully attend the educational institution of Bayonne High School in hopes of acquiring a good education. Although books and study encompassed most of her time, she could never call them hobbies nor interests. Melania much preferred poetry, dancing, and entertaining the other members of her closely knit band of giggling girls to researching the Roecchelon method to solving matrices. She did well in school but did not limit her life solely to it and sought happiness before she did knowledge.

Melania had everything she wanted, yet there was something missing. As much as she tried, she could not put a finger on the exact void. Her father was nobility and provided her with any material entity she desired. She had enough carriages and horses to pack the stables of Bayonne High School. All the latest fashions from the castles of Normandy were brought to her doorstep and out of the kindest and sincerity of her heart, her friends were countless; yet there was something missing.

It was not until her meeting, as fate would have it, with Prince Gregory, did her void have a reason- and a purpose. It was love at first sight, so inconceivable and so incontrollable. On a cloudy and dreary morning, Melania sped to school on her brilliant white horse, Thumper, to avoid being tardy. As the horse galloped with full speed it was unable to stop in time when another horse emerged from a nearby street. The collision was painful. After falling and bumping her head, she heard an unfamiliar voice of a man call her name. "Melania!" he called. "Melania!" he said again. "Melania!" She opened her eyes and found a very handsome man leaning over her and holding her hand. "Oh thank heavens! Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine." said she, regaining her consciousness. "How do you know my name sir?"

"Tis was on your school ID." he replied and proceeded to give her the retrieved belongings. He was astounded at her beauty. Even a great fall such as this was unable to render her an inkling less attractive. Her long dark hair flowed in the wind as she stood up, and her bright green eyes sparkled like emeralds.

"I'm so sorry!" said she observing the incident. "Are you okay sir?"

"You need not apologize. Tis alright. You are on your way to school, I see, as am I. I will ride with you there lest you should lose control. I've never before seen you at the school..." And so they continued their journey from what was the pathway before Hudson County Park to the school in earnest conversation until finally and reluctantly they parted to get to their classes.

Melania and the young prince were considered virtually inseparable from this moment on. The entire community seemed to have rejoiced in the match. They believed there were no personality worthier of Prince Gregory than the character of Melania and none deserving of such beauty and kindness other than the compassionate Prince. Frequently they could be spotted in cafes like Chez Marie or enjoying a dinner at Cafe Bello. Habitually, they embarked on long leisurely strolls through the length of the city's 1st Street Park and often visited the shops and stores aligned across Bayonne's Broadway.

Not everyone was thrilled about Prince Gregory and Melania, however. Deep beneath the the pretentious smiles and approval, there was embedded an envy like none other in the heart of one, Hagatha. Hagatha had tried to pursue the Prince for years but her coldness and ostentatious attitude were not pleasing to him as he saw straight through her insincerity. Her attitude toward Melania was now livid and incredibly malicious. After a series of unsuccessful attempts to part the pair by telling each lies of the other, Hagatha was now to resort to drastic measures. After obtaining a hair of Melania's head, she was now ready to spend the three hours of her culinary arts class, brewing a potion that would cause Melania to fall into an enchanted sleep, only to be broken by a kiss of her true love. She used the resources in the class to fill the rest of the required ingredients and carefully uttered the incantations and stirred seven times as she dropped in Melania's hair. After slipping the poisonous drought into the drink of an unperceiving Melania, Hagatha hid her body where no man would dare to approach - the In Vogue classroom. Certainly the school was fairly vacant at the time of the incident as it was well after school hours; a noble custodian observed the incident and informed the Prince at once.

Terrified, Prince Gregory rushed immediately to the school and held his breath and plugged his nose as he entered that frightfully pink and flowery classroom. The noxious smell of alcoholic fumes surpassed any barrier with which he attempted to cover his nose and mouth. They burned. At long last, he was able to spot his precious Melania concealed under a blanket of doilies, perfumed hearts, and paper flowers. He took her hands; they were icily cold and her face, pale. As bent down and kissed his beloved Melania, he saw sparks fill the room. The spell was broken and she opened her eyes once more.

Hagatha was exiled from the city of Bayonne over which Prince Gregory held dominion. Graduation time from Bayonne High School came and went and the royal wedding date of the young prince and his bride was approaching ever closer each day.

Every resident of the fair city, great and small, peasant and noble, attended the grand wedding of the happy couple. It was a joyous affair for the entire community and all watched and waited for little majesties and princesses to roam around and radiate the city of Bayonne. Melania reflected on her life and saw that now, she truly had everything she wanted and they all lived happily ever after.