Bad Hair Day by Sarah Mlynowski

Author:Sarah Mlynowski [Mlynowski, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2014-04-29T07:00:00+00:00

We drive up rocky mountain roads and down rocky mountain roads.

I try to sleep a bit, but driving on rocks is pretty bumpy, so as soon as my eyes close, they slam back open. Rapunzel is wide awake, too, but silent as she gazes out the window in wonder. Jonah and Prince must be exhausted, though, because they are both fast asleep, Prince is snoring away in Jonah’s lap.

Finally, the haxi driver starts carefully maneuvering her way up a hill.

We pass rows of horses and carriages that seem to be empty and stopped. Like they’re parked. At the end of the road, there’s a high stone wall. A beautiful sunset of red and orange shimmers against the gray stone ground. In the distance, I see more glittery haze. This kingdom is really pretty.

“We’re here!” the driver calls. Jonah and Prince both wake with a start. “No haxis or carriages are allowed inside. You have to knock on the door and be let in.” She points to the stone wall.

“Thanks so much!” I tell her. Prince leaps out first and runs straight to the wall. The rest of us slowly stretch and pile out of the haxi. “Enjoy the watch,” I say. I feel a tightening in my stomach. I hope giving away the watch wasn’t a big mistake.

“Oh, I will,” she says before turning her haxi around and riding away.

The stone wall is about two stories high, with a knocker at eye level. I can see the top of the palace rising up behind the wall. The roof glistens. It’s bright. Shiny. And very, very colorful.

Oh, wow. Could it be?

“Is the palace made of jewels?” I ask in awe.

“I think so,” Rapunzel says.

There are rubies. Diamonds. Emeralds. All in pretty patterns, like a mosaic.

“Do all the people in this kingdom have a lot of jewels?” I ask Rapunzel.

“I don’t,” she says. “I’ve never seen a jewel in my life until now.”

I bang the knocker.

“May I help you?” asks a man, opening the door. He looks like the guards I’ve seen in pictures of Buckingham Palace in England. Except his uniform is covered in glitter.

“Yes,” I say. “You can. We’re here to see Pick — I mean, the prince.”

“Ruff, ruff!”

“Go ahead,” the guard says, motioning us inside.

We go in. And gasp.

It really is a PALACE OF JEWELS.

Surrounding the palace are smaller stone buildings made of sapphires, rubies, and emeralds, and smaller stone passageways, all similarly colorful and sparkling. I can’t stop gawking. I wish I had a camera. Although who could I show the pictures to back home?

There is a line of people snaking around the buildings all the way to the ruby castle door. They have sleeping bags with them. And chairs.

“People are camping out,” Jonah says. “It’s like they’re trying to buy tickets to something. Maybe there’s a concert at the palace?”

“What’s a concert?” Rapunzel asks.

“You know, when people pay money to go see a singer?” Jonah says, scooping up Prince under his arm.

Rapunzel’s eyes widen. “People pay money to see a singer?”

I nod.

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