Royals and Cousins

It all started the day my dad said he couldn’t pick me up after school. He said I had to walk home because he was out of town. It was all fine with me. I loved walking and listening to music, and that’s exactly what I was planning to do, from the second I walked out the school doors. I forgot to mention, it was the last day before the Christmas break. So I plugged in my earphones, turned on my music, and started the twenty minute walk home. I had just walked on to the main sidewalk when I noticed something white that didn’t really look like snow. Curiously, I walked up to it, only to notice that the white little bundle had two eyes, a mouth, and a nose. Curiosity got the best of me, so I kept approaching. Walking even closer, I came to the conclusion that the little bundle was actually a little girl. Her blonde hair was messy and full of snow, her skin was so pale it looked almost blue. Her eyes were half closed, the opened part showing only white. The little girl was very still, I couldn’t even tell if she was breathing. I started panicking. She didn’t even have a jacket on. Just a little white sweater. I needed to do something. It was more than cruel to leave a freezing child ignored. Picking her up to try to warm her up a little, I could feel a very light movement coming from her chest. Thank God she wasn't dead. Yet. If I didn't do something, she will be very soon. I looked around. There had to be someone who could help me. There! My friend Nathan was walking in my direction.

“Nate, over here! I need help,” I yelled when he got close enough to hear me. When he realized I was calling him,, he started towards me.

“Nate, you need to call 911 immediately. He had seen the girl so he didn’t ask any questions. I looked back at her. As seconds sped by, so was her life.

Seconds after Nate dialed 911, the dispatcher answered. Nate put the call on speakerphone. 

“911, what’s your emergency?”

Nate answered for me since I was too terrified to speak. “There’s a little girl alone in the snow. She is barely breathing and doesn't look awake. My friend is holding her, trying to warm her up a little.

“Names, ages, and address please.”

“Nate Carter and Marie Alexander, we are both 14 years old, 2721 Main Street.”

“Thank you. Please stay on the phone while we send an ambulance and the police.”

“Nate, we need to do something to warm her up,” I said, almost in tears. “Here, hold her for a bit.” After he took her from my arms, I stood up and took off my winter jacket.

“Marie, you’ll freeze too.”

“Yeah, in just ten minutes,” I replied sarcastically. “We need to wrap her up in something to try to give her a little warmth.” I spread my jacket on the snow.” Place her here and I will zip it up.” the jacket was as big as her which was perfect because all her body would be warm now. 

“Mine will help too,” Nate said as he handed me his jacket. I wrapped it around her and hoped it was helping. 

In about ten minutes after Nate’s phone call, the ambulance and cops arrived. The EMT took the little girl into the ambulance while the cops were asking me and Nate questions. I had started feeling better ever since the ambulance arrived, which meant I could speak. The police asked us if we wanted a ride to the hospital to stay with the girl. He said it might help her when she wakes up. If the incident had included adults, seeing a kid first thing after waking up could help her with her emotions. I quickly agreed and so did Nate. the cop, Mr. Eric, drove us to the hospital.

When we got to the hospital, a nurse led us to a waiting room near the emergency unit, where the girl was. 

“Nate, I’m going to call my parents and tell them what happened and where I am. They will get worried if I don’t.”

“Sure. I’ll also need to but you call first.”

I nodded then made my call. It was my mom who answered.

“Hi Mom.”

“Hey Marie. Is everything all right?” she asked.

“Well I’m fine but someone else isn’t,” I started explaining. “I found a little girl in the snow. Nate called the ambulance and they asked us to come with them. To help the girl when she wakes up.I don’t know when she will wake up but I would like to be with her when she does. I might need to stay overnight here, if it’s alright with you and dad.”

“I’ll call your dad and talk to him and give you an answer as quickly as possible.

“K mom, love you. Bye.”

“Bye dear.”

Nate made his call right after I hung up and had a similar conversation. 

“My dad said I can stay overnight if needed. What about you?”

“I don’t really know yet. Probably, though.”

After about five minutes, my mom called me back. 

“Your dad said he’s fine with it and so am I. We’ll be waiting for you to call us tomorrow.”

I sighed in relief. “Thanks mom. Bye.”

We waited all day. Passing the time was a struggle, but we managed. Talking did most of the magic. And we watched a movie on one of our phones to conserve battery at least on one of our phones. Night came and the little girl still hadn’t woken. I fell asleep on the only couch in the room. The next morning I woke up early and found Nate sleeping on the floor, in the corner nearest to the only heater in the room. Moments later, the doctor who was assigned to the child came bursting into the room, waking Nate up. The look on his startled face made me smile.

“Quick! She's stirring and that’s a sign that she is waking up, I think you guys should be there.” Right after he finished, Nate and I were in a race to the girl’s room. 

“Don’t go bursting in like madmen!” Dr. Pierce yelled after us. He said that just in time because we realized how thoughtless are actions were right before we almost barged in. Stopping at the door, we slowly opened it and entered silently. When we got to the bed, the little girl’s eyes were fluttering open. She had tubes connected to her arms with needles,

“Poor girl,” I whispered to Nate. He nodded.

“W...where’s mummy?” asked the little girl in a very weak voice. I looked at Nate, a question mark etched on my face. He shrugged.

“Your mommy will be here soon,” was all I could say.

“Where am I?” she whispered.

“At the hospital.” 

“What city?” I was surprised by the question. She looked to be about four and was so young for the question she had asked.

“Well, you’re in Saskatoon...in Canada.”

“But I live in England.”

“What is your name?”

“Charlotte.” That was all she could say before her eyes closed. Luckily, Dr. Pierce was right behind us. “It’s alright,” he answered before asked. “She just fell asleep.”

“Doc! Princess Charlotte of England has been kidnapped! Her brother noticed her missing on Wednesday,” Dr. Pierce’s assistant skim read off his phone.

“Wait,” I said. “If Princess Charlotte has been missing since Wednesday, we found a girl named Charlotte in the snow two days later. We might have found the Princess!”

“Calm down Marie,” Nate smiled. “Not everyone here knows of your detective obsession.”

“Well now they know, mister.” We all laughed.

“We will contact her parents. Their majesties will know if she is their daughter,” suggested calm Dr. Pierce, the total opposite of me.

“We have to do that now.” I said agitated.

And somehow, in two days, I found myself on a first class plane to London, England with Princess Charlotte and Nate. When we arrived, there was a whole two hours of fussing over clothes, hair, and makeup. I ended up wearing a red dress that looked just like Cinderella’s ball gown. Nate was looking very formal in an expensive looking tuxedo. We were going to meet the King and Queen of England, Princess Charlotte’s parents.

Nate and I bowed and curtsied until our bodies felt as numb as they could get. We were given the titles of Duke and Duchess and presented with lots of medals, trophies, and other awards. Finally the banquet started. After a fine dinner, there was a ball. For obvious reasons, Nate and I had to dance together. It was pretty fun, and we didn’t have our classmates sneering behind our backs like they usually do, so it was actually cool. After the ball ended, their majesties King William and Queen Kate asked to see us in private.They asked us if their were any famous people we would like to meet. I instantly shouted, “Yes!” forgetting who I was speaking to.

“I apologize your majesties.” I looked at the ground, my face turning red. But Queen Kate only smiled. “It’s alright, it’s not wrong to get really excited about something. So, who would you like to meet?”

“Nate, you go first,” I offered.

“No it’s alright, you can go.”

“I would really like to meet Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell, and William Moseley, if it’s possible your majesties.” 

“Oh, the Narnia cast,” the King smiled. “Perfect decision.”

“Thank you your majesty.”

“Now who would you like to meet,” the Queen addressed Nate.

“The same people, your majesty,” he quickly replied. Typical Nate, Shyness 101.

“Well, looks like you guys have to get ready for some pictures with the Narnia cast in a few days,” said King William.

“Thank you very much, your majesties,” Nate and I said together.

“You’re very welcome. It’s the least we can do to thank you for saving our daughter. And now, you look very tired. A maid is waiting outside the room, ready to escort you to your chambers. Have a good night, both of you.”

“Good night, your majesties,” we said, before giving a curtsy and a bow.

The maid, Emma, led us to our rooms. “You both have a warm bath drawn, an evening snack, pajamas, and slippers waiting for you. If you need anything, just ring the bell you will find on your nightstand.

“Thank you very much,” I said.

“Thank you, Nate followed.

“Well then, good night,” I said, entering my room.

“Good night,” shouted Nate, who was already in his room.

I took a warm bath, put on the marvelous pajamas I found, had my cookies and milk, and settled in bed. Taking out my phone, I saw that my mom had texted me earlier in the evening. “You remember the DNA test you took last month,” the message said, “Well, the results just arrived today. I sent you pictures of them. P.S. how was your day.”

I opened the first picture and the first thing that drew my attention was the “Famous people you are related to” section. The first one was Charles Darwin. I dropped my phone in shock. Picking it up, I continued reading. It said he was my great-great-great grandfather. That’s just impossible, I thought. This meant I’m cousins with Skandar Keynes. And I am going to meet him in only a few days. And those few days will lead right up to Christmas. I quickly texted my mom that the day was fun and put it away.

The next morning, I got dressed in the clothes I found on my nightstand. A yellow shirt and white pants. I found a note by the door. ‘Breakfast starts at 10:00 a.m.’ I looked at the clock in my room. 9:55 a.m. I opened the door and started running down the hall, bumping into Nate.

“Sorry, breakfast…”

“Yeah I know, same here.”

Luckily, we arrived on time. Everything went well after. We got to meet the two royal children and former Queen Elizabeth. When we met her, she gave us two beautiful crowns.

“I know how much you too love The Chronicles of Narnia, so here is a present from me,” she said, handing us the crowns.

“Thank you,” we whispered, staring at the crowns in awe. Nate’s was a golden crown that had oak and apple leaves. Mine was a silver crown with laurel leaves and yarrow flowers. Just like the crowns of King Peter the Magnificent and Queen Lucy the Valiant. 

The rest of the time, Nate and I explored the palace and just talked. I had told him that I was related to Skandar Keynes and he just stared. I know...

The day finally arrived when we got to meet the Narnia cast. We had a wonderful time, taking pictures, chatting, getting autographs on Narnia books, posters, and anything else you could write on. It was amazing. Then, I made my move. I asked if I could speak to Skandar alone. 

“OK, so I just found out we are related,” I said, showing him the DNA test results. “We’re basically cousins.”

“Woah! This is so cool. I know I’m twenty eight and I am acting like a kid but this is worth it! I love meeting new relatives and more.” I was so amazed at his reaction, I mentally nominated him as my favorite cousin.” So, what’s your number?” he continued. “We need to stay in touch.”

I gave him my number and he gave me his. “Selfie?” he asked,

“Yes!”

We took many selfies together and then went and spilled the beans to the others. 

Years have passed. Skandar and I have been talking almost every day. Even though we were separated by the Atlantic Ocean, we were as close as a brother and sister (not forgetting the occasional fights we have). And all this because my dad had been out of town and couldn’t pick me up after school...