Erika (ON HOLD)

Chapter Two

After the announcement in the towns square, we all returned to school and continued our classes. Although it was hard to concentrate, considering the fact that everyone was staring at me. People would turn to their friends while whispering and pointing at me. I know that they are talking about how I am eligible to go to the ball.

"She could end up marrying the prince!" I heard someone say. "Call me crazy, but I kind of wish I were beautiful." another said.

I let out a sigh. It's sad that being considered ugly is a good thing. In my history class, we talked about how beauty was once valued. We talked about what people did to achieve beauty and class. Some people would use a lot of makeup to make their face more appealing, while others would starve themselves to be thinner.

It all seemed so stupid to me. Why try and make yourself look uglier or prettier? Why can't we just all look the way we were made?

*ding ding ding*

The bell rang, signaling that class was over. I have never been more relieved to hear that bell. I began my walk home, excited for what was waiting.

Every year on my birthday, my mom invited over all of our family. We ate a nice dinner, had cake, and opened presents. When I finally got home, I opened the door and saw my parents putting up decorations.

"Happy birthday Erika!" my mom said when she saw me walk through the door. My mother, like me, was forced to wear a mask when she was little. However, she didn't wear one now. She took the aging pills so that she would fit in with society. If you looked past all her wrinkles and moles, you could tell what she would look like without them. Without them, she would have to wear a mask.

"Yes, happy birthday Erika." my dad said. Unlike me and my mother, he was never forced to wear a mask, but he almost had to. If it weren't for his big nose, he would have been considered to good looking.

I walked up the stairs to my bedroom. I needed to get ready for tonight. First I would change my clothes, wash my face, and help my mother cook.

Once in my room, I locked the door and pulled the mirror out from under my bed. I took off my mask, and looked in the mirror.

Staring back at me was a reflection I was not used to seeing. I was so used to looking at myself with a mask on, that I forget what I look like without one on.

My blonde hair falls a little below my shoulders in perfect waves. I have big green eyes, and a heart shaped face. My nose and lips are the perfect size for my face, and I have pretty well defined cheek bones.

I go to my bathroom, and grab a wash cloth and some soap. Wearing a mask all day makes my face dirty, so I have to wash it. If I don't, it gets oily, which causes me to get pimples. Even though it's considered a good thing to have pimples, I hate them. They look gross and revolting to me. I don't know how anyone could live with them.

Just as I finished washing my face and putting my mask back on, I heard a knock at the door. I unlocked the door, and there stood my mom. "Everyone is on their way. I already have dinner made, so there's no need for you to help." she said. "Okay" I replied, expecting her to leave, but she just stood in the door frame. "What?" I asked, looking at her confused.

She walked in, closing the door behind her. "I was asked to give this to you." she said, handing me an envelope. Assuming it was a birthday card from a relative that wasn't able to make it this year, I opened it, and began to read it.

You have been formally invited to attend Prince Christian Jacob Van Der Hugh the Fourth's royal birthday ball in celebration of his twenty second birthday. We do hope that you will attend.

"What is it?" My mom asked. "It's an invitation for the Princes birthday ball." I replied. Suddenly, her face lit up. Knowing what she was going to say next, I said something before she could.

"Before you say anything, I'm not going." the look on her face changed from excited, to upset. "Why not?" she asked.

"Why would I go to a royal event when the royals are the reason I have to wear this stupid mask?"

"Sweetheart, you're missing the point. The royals think that you are pretty enough to be one of them. They think you could be a suitable wife for the prince."

"Maybe I don't want to be royalty."

"Just think what you could do with that power. If you marry the prince, you would become queen. You could make and enforce your own laws, and get rid of old laws. You could end the rule about wearing masks. Then, maybe one day, we can all share our gift of beauty again."

She had a point. If I became queen (which I doubt would happen, considering the fact there would be hundreds of beautiful maidens at the ball) I could get rid of this mask thing once and for all. People would no longer have to feel scared to be beautiful. I might as well give it a try.

"Alright, I will go." I told her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was 8:00pm. We just had cake, and are now opening presents. Everyone gathered around the dining room table while I opened the gifts.

The first gift was from my aunt and uncle. I unwrapped it, and there was a box. Inside the box was tissue paper. I moved the tissue paper, and took the items out of the box.

It was two masks. One went around my eyes, and the over covered one half of my face. Trying to hide my disappointment, I gave them hugs and told them thank you.

That's all I seemed to get as a gift. Masks. It's like they think I don't have enough already. True, I needed to get a new mask Every once in a while, but I would like something a little more special for my birthday. Something that didn't remind me about how different I was from everyone else.

I opened everyone else's gifts. I got three more masks, a necklace, and a pair of new shoes for school. It was now time for the gift from my parents.

My parents always got me the best presents. They know I hate getting masks, so they get me something different. Last year they got me a jewelry box. I grabbed their present and opened it. Inside was a dress.

It was a dress my mother had made. My mother was a seamstress, and she was always making me clothes. I could tell it was made by her because of the tag that said "Expert Tailors". That was the name of my mothers business.

"I made this dress a while back. I thought you could wear it for a special occasion. I thought that maybe you could wear it to the ball this Saturday." she said, a huge grin on her face.

I nodded, and gave her a hug and a kiss. The gift wasn't what I expected, but at least it wasn't a mask. She looked at me, the grin still on her face.

There was no way she was going to let me get out of going to that ball.