I wandered around the corner and found myself staring at a vision of utter beauty. I stopped, stunned. I'd seen some beautiful people during the day, but this girl really took my breath away.
She wore a pink, floor length ball gown and looked every bit the princess, for she was indeed a princess. She was Sleeping Beauty and how I wished that I could be the prince that would wake her with a kiss. Well actually I'd have liked to do that and then a whole lot more, but I'll get to that in time.
I was in California on a work trip and had taken a bit of time to go to Disneyland, a visit which had been a childhood dream. I'd done all the rides and seen almost all there was to see, but I hadn't wandered too far into the areas that catered to children. But with time to spare, I thought that I should try and see the entire park and this had led me to Fantasy Land.
I looked around to see if there was anyway in which I could get closer, but she was surrounded by kids. Then I saw where there was a line up for people that wanted to go in and have their picture taken with each of three of the Disney princesses. What the hell I thought, it's not everyday you get the chance to meet a princess, real or fictional.
The line was quite long and I stood patiently, aware of the looks that I received; a single bloke in line to see the Disney princesses. I think every other person in the line had kids with them except me. I think they probably thought that I was holding the place in line for a child who was on a ride somewhere or something. I certainly said nothing and gave them no reason to think otherwise, happy that I would get there.
When I reached the front of the line, there was a gorgeous young blonde dressed as a court attendant and I was almost tempted to try my charms on her and forget the princess behind the veil. After a brief discussion of where I was from (one of those things that the Aussie accent will get you) she asked me if I was waiting for any children to show up. She laughed when I told her no; this was especially for me, and then she admitted me to meet the princesses.
The first princess that was there to be met was Belle, from Beauty and the Beast (not that I knew at the time, my finer princess education came later). She smiled at me and asked if I was there alone. I replied that I was and stepped in close to her. We both turned to the camera and had our photo taken. She smiled at me again and released me to move to the next step of the chain, where I could see Cinderella waving good bye to the young girl in front of me who'd just had her photo taken.
The process was repeated, though Cinderella turned out to be a little friendlier than Belle and we chatted for a few moments until it became clear that the third princess was waiting and the little girl behind me, waiting for her chance of a photo with Cinderella was becoming impatient.
The third princess that I was presented to was Sleeping Beauty. This was my reason for being there. Up close, she was no less devastatingly beautiful than I'd seen with my first glance. Her skin was flawless and her figure divine. She held herself as if she really were royalty and it was with some nerves that I stepped up to have my photo taken with her. When she smiled at me, I nearly lost my step.
"Hello, alone today are we?" she asked me, a knowing glint in her eye.
"Yes, I am, unless I manage to sweep you off your feet," I said, cringing as I heard it roll of my tongue. I waited for the change in her countenance but she tittered delightfully and I assumed that she must be a consummate professional; one who's heard just about every line that there is to hear.
The photographer snapped our picture together and Sleeping Beauty asked about my accent. I informed her that I was from Australia and she delightedly told me how much she wanted to go there. I of course told her that if she was ever going to go, then I would be more than happy to show her around.
At that point, another princess came up and Sleeping Beauty informed me that it was time for them to change over. She asked if I'd like my photo with the new princess as well, but I declined, telling her that she was the only one that I was there for.
Again she smiled and I bathed in the light of her eyes, wishing for so much more.
I think it was at that point that I made the inane comment, "I must be on the end of a long list of boys who want to be your Prince Charming, but if there's any chance that I could buy you dinner, I'd truly love it." I expected a negative reply to that of course but to my utter and unending delight, she replied, "I can't say it's the first time that I've heard a line referencing Prince Charming, but I would be happy for you to buy me dinner."
At that point, I desperately tried to come up with something to say that wouldn't be a clanger of a cliché as well as not trip over my own feet in surprise.
"Where do I meet you?" I asked, "because I assume that you won't be dining in costume?"
Sleeping Beauty smiled at me again and gave me a time and location to meet her at. I asked her what she had on for the rest of the day and she told me that she had a break for now, but that she then had to get back into costume for a Royal Court appearance and then a parade followed by yet another session of photographs.
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I looked at my watch and realized that it would be hours before I got to have dinner with her. She suggested that I continue to walk the park. We chatted for a few minutes more, but then she had to go to prepare for her next appearance. Rather than walk the park, I took a seat in the court and waited for the show to begin.
She eventually appeared along with the other performers and she still took my breath away. It was delightful to see her interact with the children and she was obviously very good at her job. She certainly came across as pure and innocent, just like one would imagine a Disney Princess to be.
I had reached the point of clock watching, waiting desperately for the time when I would get to be alone with my very own princess, and the minutes seemed to be ticking by at in inordinately slow rate. Surely someone was manipulating time just to make me suffer?
But inevitably, time did move forward and the appointed hour arrived. I waited outside the gate that was clearly marked for employees only and watched, waiting to see when she would arrive.
If it wasn't for her twinkling blue eyes and the smile that lit up her face as she came through the gate, I possibly wouldn't have recognized her. Her hair was a nice auburn colour rather than the blonde she had worn in costume and it was considerably shorter. Rather than the princess dress that she'd worn, she was now in a pastel blue summer frock with white strappy sandals. Every inch of her was a delight to see.
"Howdy," she said, smiling at me.
"G'day, I almost didn't recognize you," I replied.
"I hope you're not disappointed by the real me," She said, that gorgeous smile still splitting her face.
"Are you kidding? How could I possibly be disappointed by this vision?" She blushed in response. "What I would like to know though, is your real name, I don't think I should call you Sleeping Beauty the whole time."
She laughed and held out her hand," I'm Lauren".
I took her hand and on impulse, bowed over her hand and kissed it rather than shook it, saying, "A true pleasure Lauren, I'm Dave. And the next thing that I need to know is where you would like to have dinner?" I asked.
