HD   ▽ I'm supposed to ask for volunteers first, but... ▽

HD   ▽ If you're that excited, I guess I can bend the rules a little! :o) ▽

Someone from the crowd has made their way up to one the chairs on stage. They cross their legs and smile up at you.

??   hi clown girl

??   or is it boy today

HD   ▽ We're Girl Heidi, today! ▽

??   schweet

??   wassup then

??   wat kinda story u got revved up 4 us

HD   ▽ That depends on you. ▽

HD   ▽ Any requests? ▽

??   hmmmm

??   gimme somethin hot

HD   ▽ Ooh! Like, a summer story? ▽

??   o yea def

??   hiii all da families n kidz watchin us

HD   ▽ Okie-dokes! Let's see... something with - ▽

You think for a moment while looking at them, then you clasp your hands together.

HD   ▽ The beach princess. ▽

??   no way

??   think i hearda this one

HD   ▽ It's a classic! ▽

HD   ▽ But, before we begin... ▽

HD   ▽ What is your name, esteemed guest? ▽

??   wats da princess name

HD   ▽ Hoo-hoo! That'll depend on your name! ▽

??   u first

HD   ▽ Uh. ▽

HD   ▽ Okie-dokie! ▽

HD   ▽ Hmm... honk-honk-honk... ▽

HD   ▽ What about April? That's my birth month! ▽

HD   ▽ And I've always thought it would be a great name for a princess. ▽

HD   ▽ Does that sound good to you? ▽

AP   yea B:)

AP   gimme th deetz on april B)

You clear your throat and make wide movements around the stage. It helps put the story in your brain when you add some bounce to your step! And April seems happy enough watching you, since she claps along encouragingly with the audience.

HD   ▽ Now, this is the tale of April, the princess of the shores. ▽

HD   ▽ But this is no ordinary princess! ▽

HD   ▽ Though you could see her wandering along the coastline, just like any ol' wanderer... ▽

HD   ▽ She actually came from... the sea! ▽

You make a wide-eyed face of shock, and some of the parents ooh for effect.

AP   was she a fish or somethin

HD   ▽ Close! She was only part fish. ▽

AP   why not all fish

HD   ▽ Well, you gotta be sort of human to be a princess, silly! ▽

HD   ▽ And this April... even with her sea castle... ▽

HD   ▽ She wanted nothing more than to be princess of the human world! ▽

HD   ▽ Though she lived and breathed ocean water, she would walk along the sands and - ▽

One of the kids raises their hand and asks a question.

HD   ▽ Huh? I guess that's true. ▽

HD   ▽ Maybe she could breath water and air because... ▽

AP   she got gills n lungz B:)

HD   ▽ Yes! Exactly! ▽

HD   ▽ But she wanted a life without gills. Without scales and... and cool fins! ▽

HD   ▽ She wanted to be just like us. Human. ▽

AP   boo

HD   ▽ Aww, what's wrong with being human? ▽

AP   shoulda wanted 2 b a bird instead

HD   ▽ Hmm, a fish princess who wants to be a bird princess? ▽

HD   ▽ Now that's a story just waiting to be written! ▽

HD   ▽ But not today. ▽

HD   ▽ Today is all about April's human-y hopes and dreams. ▽

HD   ▽ Oh... what could April do? ▽

HD   ▽ How can she change so much of herself, her life? ▽

April raises her hand, then quickly retracts it.

HD   ▽ I saw a hand! ▽

AP   (aw shit)

HD   ▽ (Swear! :oO) ▽

AP   (i wuz just about 2 spoil da story lol)

AP   (also sorry for sayin shit lol)

HD   ▽ (That's okay!) ▽

HD   ▽ (But please! Tell us what happens next.) ▽

You stretch out your hand, and she takes it, standing up and joining you at the front of the stage.

AP   she made a deal 2 give up somethin important 2 her

AP   so she could join da humanz 4 good

You gasp and do a couple of somersaults for flavor.

HD   ▽ A deal! What an awful price to pay! ▽

HD   ▽ Please, what did she sacrifice? I can't handle the suspense! ▽

HD   ▽ Was it her swimming skills? Her gills? Her scaley frills? ▽

AP   her fish stuff

AP   on her body

HD   ▽ Oh! ▽

HD   ▽ That makes sense. How else would you be human? ▽

AP   yea lol

AP   unless u were onea thos shapeshifterz

AP   then u get some animal partz as a treat B)

HD   ▽ Focus, April! What about the sacrifice? ▽

HD   ▽ That must have taken quite a toll on her. ▽

HD   ▽ Remember when you all were little babies? And you could barely walk? ▽

HD   ▽ Imagine learning to do all that, after living a whole life! ▽

HD   ▽ What happened next? ▽

HD   ▽ Did she get everything she wanted? ▽

HD   ▽ Maybe... she found love with the people she loved? ▽

AP   ...

HD   ▽ Did something... happen to her? ▽

Even when you give April your best 'move on with the performance' eyebrow wiggle, she does is smile that placid smile. Maybe she doesn't know the rest of the story? You're too confused to react for a second, but with utmost professionalism, you roll with it.

HD   ▽ Wait... hold your carousel horses! ▽

HD   ▽ Could it be... have you been the April this whole time??? ▽

It takes a moment for the kids to catch on, but with enough energy, they start to excitedly murmur amongst themselves.

HD   ▽ What a twist! Our princess was in front of us, helping with her own story! ▽

HD   ▽ And as for what happens next... ▽

HD   ▽ I guess you'll have to find out for yourselves! ▽

HD   ▽ After all - we're all human, just like her. ▽

HD   ▽ And if you live with a smile in your heart, I'm sure she was able to live happily, too! ▽

HD   ▽ Everyone, please, give a round of applause to our special guest! ▽

As people start dispersing, you turn back to your assistant, who's had a faraway look in her face for a while now. But before you can ask her for her real name, she walks off the stage, disappearing into the sea of people.