ONCE UPON A TIME, in the land of Prairieville, an aging princess (in name only) arrived at the country estate of her middle brother just days before Christmas.
Unbeknownst to the princess, her middle sister, who is nothing like Cinderella’s wicked stepsisters and who also had journeyed from a yonder land, planned for the princess the most splendid surprise.
The princess had just shrugged off her pea coat and greeted her family when Sir Stephen stepped forward to present a present to the stunned princess. Thinking perhaps that her fun-loving nephew was about to play a prank upon her, as family members are sometimes wont to do, the princess accepted the gift with trepidation.
The first gift package, from Nixie, Fairy of Water.
She pulled a dainty tissue-wrapped package from a gift envelope, allowing the tiny package to fall onto the floor for fear of what she may discover inside. With great care, she soon retrieved and unwrapped the gift. A lovely ring fell into her palm.
Before the princess could even slip the jewel onto her finger, another family member stepped forward with a present, followed by nine more packages into which child-size rings had been tucked.
By that time, the princess had determined that her kind-hearted sister, Lanae, had hatched the entire marvelous scheme to write a happily-ever-after ending to a story which began decades earlier on a Prairieville farm.
Many years ago, when the princess was much younger, she lost an emerald ring (not a “real” emerald, of course) gifted to her by her godmother. Despite a frantic search of the family farm, the precious jewel was never found. The princess was overcome with inconsolable sadness and never forgot that lost ring.
A sampling of the rings gifted to me by 11 fairies. These will be passed along to some sweet little girls I know.
Because all fairy tales should end happily, the princess’s loving sister, Lanae, gathered, from various fairies of the world, a collection of fine jewels. Nixie, Fairy of Water; the White, Frost, Tooth, Sugar Plum, Woodland, Snowflake and Ice fairies; the Queen of the Fairies; The Little Fairy Fayette; and Tinkerbell all contributed gems to the cause.
The final ring, an “emerald,” to replace the one I lost nearly 50 years ago.
After the princess had unwrapped 11 packages of child-sized rings, a final box was presented to her from the Fairy Godmother. Inside, the princess found a sparkling imitation emerald, even more beautiful than the one she had lost on her childhood farm nearly 50 years earlier.
The aging princess was overcome with joy as she slipped the emerald ring onto her finger and raced to embrace her sister whose kind heart overflows with goodness and love.
THE END
THANK YOU, LANAE, for blessing me with this wonderful gift. I appreciate the thought, time and effort you put into pulling off this royal surprise. You made me feel like a real princess and I shall always cherish this gift of the heart from you to me.
TO READ my first posting about the lost ring of my youth, click here.
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Oh I am so happy for you, Princess Audrey!!! What a great sister you have!!!
Lanae is a wonderful sister. She has the biggest heart. Love her so much.
Beautiful & WISHES DO COME TRUE!!! Have a Great One:)
Oh, yes, they do.
I, too, have lost precious jewellery and had some stolen and it’s never been replaced. It’s a terrible memory and something you never forget easily. How thoughtful of your sister, Audrey, that is a beautiful story xx
The ring that was lost so many decades ago was a cheap, adjustable ring, like the kind you would get from a bubblegum machine. But to me it could have been a real emerald. The only birthday gifts I received as a child were from my godmother, so losing this ring, which came in a birthday card from her, was devastating.
That my sister would honor that memory, and how she replaced that ring, touched me deeply.
That is about the sweetest thing ever!
You are absolutely correct on that. Even though the dozen or so rings, and even the “emerald,” my sister gave me did not cost her a lot of money, it was the thoughtfulness of her gift, the time she took to pull it together and the surprise that just filled my heart with happiness.
I just love stories like this….when someone unexpectedly gives a gift that has so much meaning. Big or small, it doesn’t matter. People can be so thoughtful, and alot of times it happens just when we need it most.
You are so right about unexpected gifts of love and kindness. I had no clue my sister had hatched this surprise for me.
And she lived happily ever after;-D………..
Yes, she did.
Beautiful … loved this story ….
Thank you, Carol. Readers, be sure to check out Carol’s website. She’s written a wonderful collection of poetry that is down-to-earth understandable.
How fabulous that they did that for you! Love it.
My sister Lanae is the best, the best. So thoughtful and kind and loving. This past weekend I parceled out those kiddie rings to a giddy group of little girls. They were so thrilled to slide those jewels onto their fingers.
I hope you kept the green one!!
Oh, yes, I kept the “emerald” as it is not an adjustable kid’s ring but rather a lovely ring purchased from a Big Box retailer. My sister chose exactly the perfect “emerald.” I love it.
🙂