1. A Tale of Three Princesses
By: Jason Cantrell

2. Once upon a time, there was a kingdom filled with great artists, musicians, and inventors. It was ruled by a kind King and Queen. The King and Queen had three daughters: identical triplets named Candy, Sandy, and Andi.

3. Candy was a very proper princess
Candy was a very proper princess. She always wore pretty dresses and spent a lot of time making her hair look nice.
She liked flowers, dresses, jewelry, and tea parties.
She always believed that princesses had to act a certain way, and that no other way was right.

4. Candy always went to fancy dinners where she could meet nice young men
Candy always went to fancy dinners where she could meet nice young men. They would dance and dine and share stories from other kingdoms.
What she dreamed about most was meeting a handsome prince that she would fall in love with.

5. Sandy didn’t like being a princess at all. She liked to build things
Sandy didn’t like being a princess at all. She liked to build things. She had a lot of tools that she used to make all kinds of cool machines.
Sandy didn’t like to wear dresses because they weren’t good to work in. Her skirts would get tangled and ripped. She usually wore working clothes, and she didn’t care if they got oily or dirty.

6. When Candy was at fancy dinners, Sandy was usually working hard
When Candy was at fancy dinners, Sandy was usually working hard. She built big machines and she was a very good inventor.
When Candy tried to tell Sandy she wasn’t acting the way a princess should act, it made Sandy mad.

7. Andi was the most fun and carefree of the three princesses
Andi was the most fun and carefree of the three princesses. She liked to play music and she loved running and hiking in the forest.
She was a great music player, and she played concerts for all the people in the kingdom to watch.

8. Andi didn’t like boys the way Candy did. She liked girls instead
Andi didn’t like boys the way Candy did. She liked girls instead. There was a girl named Samantha who she liked very much.
Candy tried to tell Andi that she should go to balls and dinners to meet boys, the same way Candy did. But Andi didn’t care. She had feelings for Sam, and she didn’t want her sister telling her who to love.

9. One day, the king realized he needed to decide who would rule the kingdom after him. Normally, the oldest child took the crown when the king stepped down, but the three princesses were the same age. He decided he would hold a ball to decide which princess would become queen.
“What will I wear?” asked Candy.
“But I have an invention to finish!” said Sandy.
“I’d rather practice singing,” said Andi.

10. When the day of the ball came, Candy had a brand new dress
When the day of the ball came, Candy had a brand new dress. She spent all day working on her hair and makeup, and made sure everything was perfect.
“I’m going to be the most beautiful girl at the ball,” she said.

11. Sandy didn’t bother to dress up for the ball
Sandy didn’t bother to dress up for the ball. She spent the day using her tools and working on finishing her newest invention. “I’ve got better things to do than dance,” she said.

12. Andi didn’t know what to do. She didn’t like the life of a princess
Andi didn’t know what to do. She didn’t like the life of a princess. She wanted to be free to go where she pleased.
She asked Sam what she should do.
“You should do what makes you happy,” Sam said.
“You’re right,” Andi said. She decided not to go to the ball at all.

13. Candy had a great time dancing at the ball
Candy had a great time dancing at the ball. She met a handsome prince and fell in love. She wanted nothing more than to marry him and live together in the palace.
But she was mad at her sisters when she found out they didn’t come to the ball. “Where are Sandy and Andi?” she asked. “Why can’t they come dance like they’re supposed to?”

14. The next time she saw her sisters, Candy was really, really mad
The next time she saw her sisters, Candy was really, really mad. “You both need to learn how to behave!” she told them. “You’re supposed to act like a proper princess, just like me!

15. “I don’t have to be like you,” Sandy said.
“You shouldn’t always worry about being pretty and being perfect! It’s wrong for you to act like that. You should go out and get a job.”

16. The sisters argued for a long time. Candy didn’t think Sandy was right
The sisters argued for a long time. Candy didn’t think Sandy was right. She liked having fun at balls and wearing pretty clothes. She was happy that she’d met a handsome prince to marry.
And Sandy didn’t think Candy was right. She liked working with her tools and making her inventions. She didn’t ever want to get married because she wanted to live her own life.

17. Andi was very upset that her sisters were fighting
Andi was very upset that her sisters were fighting. She didn’t know what to do.
She asked Sam what she thought, since Sam always gave her good advice.
“I still think you should do what makes you happy,” Sam said. “But different things make different people happy…”

18. That suddenly gave Andi a really good idea. “You’re right
That suddenly gave Andi a really good idea. “You’re right!” she told Sam.

19. “You should stop fighting. ” she told her sisters
“You should stop fighting!” she told her sisters. “How about Candy does what makes her happy, Sandy does what makes her happy, and I do what makes me happy.
That way, everyone is happy and can be themselves!”
“So I can still get married?” Candy asked.
“And I can still build things?” Sandy asked.

20. So Candy married the prince, and together they became King and Queen, and got to rule the kingdom.
Candy had the life she wanted, and so she was able to live happily.

21. Sandy never got married
Sandy never got married. She kept making new inventions and built a lot of really cool and useful things. And she was happy because it was what she wanted.

22. And Andi married Sam, and became a traveling musician
And Andi married Sam, and became a traveling musician. She was able to leave the castle and see the world just like she had always wanted. Her life was different than her sisters’, but it was the life she wanted, and she was happy.

23. THE END