A playdate with the Princess

A play date with the Princess.

I'm walking with my daughter, my little, pony tailed princess, into a magical room, one that is filled with all the essentials of a young girls life. In one corner I see a plastic kitchen that is filled to the brim with little plastic dishes and fake fruits and vegetables. My princess walks over and picks up a frying pan, then grabs a plastic egg. Using the same technique as her mother, she pretend-cracks the egg with one hand and, to my surprise, the pan begins to sizzle. I can smell the delectable breakfast that awaits me. With one hand she flips the egg in the frying pan, her technique lets me see her in the future; a busy kitchen bustling with all the sounds you'd hear in a kitchen-clanking metal, orders being yelled out above the noise and the inevitable waitress dropping her tray. Through all the confusion my princess maintains order, she directs the others as to what to do, the large white cap demands the others respect and the result is a five star dinner.

My princess decides to leave the eggs to burn away on the plastic stove, its just as well seeing that her doll Kelly has caught a really bad case of the Cooties. She throws on her white lab coat, grabs her stethoscope, and throws open her medical bag. My princess is methodical in her approach; a sure sign of a future doctor. First, she listens to Kelly's heartbeat, it must be okay because she nods her head in approval. Then my princess checks her eyes(cooties are an ocular disease you know). Next comes the difficult part; her shots. I'm instructed to hold the patients hand, I can almost feel Kelly squeeze my hand. The vaccine given, we move on to more pressing issues; the unfinished painting that hangs upon her easel.

Awkward shapes and lines adorn the canvas, I don't know much about art but, this is revolutionary work brought forth by only the most talented painter. My princess is quite the artist as is evidenced by her technique; bold strokes here, a graceful arch there, and a dot is added to accentuate the playful geometry. Truly, world class work is being done here in my princess's room, and I, the lucky observer, am hear to bear witness to her greatness.

The desire to create world-class art quickly fades and she walks over to a cash register that sits upon her dresser. Daddy has to buy something she tells me, so I begin to shop around the room. I pick up the burning eggs, the various canned goods that span the floor, and, of course, the loaf of bread that has found its way onto to the top bunk. When I finish shopping I bring all of my stuff to the register. One by one she scans everything into her register, charges me, and places all of my goods into the basket. Great customer service is essential to any successful business. I can already see it; The Princess Supermarket's, America's largest chain.

She's all done, she begins to yawn in that cute fashion only children possess. She walks over to me and hugs me. I scoop her up into my arms and head over to the couch. By the time I make it she's asleep. As I lay her down for her nap I can already see it, she'll be somebody important and busy someday, but for now…for now she's not busy, she's just mine. She's my princess.