Mary Crawford

Mindy runs to the DVD player and delicately places the disk in the holder and presses play. __ill you sit in this chair, please, Princess Mindy?_ I ask, bowing deeply at the waist. Mindy giggles as she replies, __ guess so._ After Mindy sits down, I take a wide-tooth comb and start gently combing out her tangles. Mindy starts vibrating with excitement as she blurts, __r. Jeff, you__e gonna fix my hair fancy, ain__ you?_ __e__l see if a certain Princess can hold still long enough for me to finish,_ I tease. Immediately, Mindy becomes as still as a stone statue. After a couple of minutes, I have to say, __indy, sweetheart, it__ okay to breathe. I just can__ have you bouncing, because I__ afraid it will cause me to pull your hair._ Mindy slumps down in her chair just slightly. __kay Mr. Jeff, I was ascared you was gonna stop,_ she whispers, her chin quivering. I adopt a very fake, very over-the-top French accent and say, __h no, Monsieur Jeff must complete Princess Mindy__ look to make the Kingdom happy. Mindy erupts with the first belly laugh I__e heard all day as she responds, __kay, I__l try to be still, but it__ hard __ause I have the wiggles real bad._ I pat her on the shoulder and chuckle as I say, __ust try your best, sweetheart. That__ all anyone can ask._ Kiera comes screeching around the corner in a blur, plunks her purse on the table, and says breathlessly, __eez-O-Pete, I can__ believe I__ late for the makeover. I love makeovers._ Kiera digs through her purse and produces two bottles of nail polish and nail kit. __t__ time for your mani/pedi ma__m. Would you prefer Pink Pearl or Frosted Creamsicle? Mindy raises her hand like a schoolchild and Kiera calls on her like a pupil, __ want Frosted Cream toes please,_ Mindy answers. __our wish is my command, my dear,_ Kiera responds with a grin. For the next few minutes, Mindy gets the spa treatment of her life as I carefully French braid her hair into pigtails. As a special treat, I purchased some ribbons from the gift shop and I__ weaving them into her hair. I tuck a yellow rose behind her ear. I don my French accent as I declare, __onsieur Jeffery pronounces Princess Mindy finished and fit to rule the kingdom._ Kiera hands Mindy a new tube of grape ChapStick from her purse, __old on, a true princess never reigns with chapped lips,_ she says. Mindy giggles as she responds, __ou__e silly, Miss Kiera. Nobody in my kingdom is going to care if my lips are shiny._ Kiera__ laugh sounds like wind chimes as she covers her face with her hands as she confesses, __kay, you busted me. I just like to use it because it tastes yummy._ __kay, I want some, please,_ Mindy decides. Kiera is putting the last minute touches on her as Mindy is scrambling to stand on Kiera__ thighs so she can get a better look in the mirror. When I reach out to steady her, she grabs my hand in a death grip. I glance down at her. Her eyes are wide and her mouth is opening and closing like a fish. I shoot Kiera a worried glance, but she merely shrugs. __oly Sh _ !_ Mindy stops short when she sees Kiera__ expression. __r. Jeff is an angel for reals because he turned me into one. Look at my hair Miss Kiera, there are magic ribbons in it! I__ perfect. I can be anything I want to be._ Spontaneously, we all join together in a group hug. I kiss the top of her head as I agree, __es, Mindy, you are amazing and the sky is the limit for you.