Story Kitchen

The Princess and the Outlaw		story & illustration © 2001 Bruce Van Patter
The princess had never been so afraid. She was lost in Sherwood Forest. Huge trees towered over her, throwing shadows that were getting blacker as the sunlight faded. Somewhere above her an owl gave a deep, trembling hoot. Or was it an owl? She had heard about how the outlaws sometimes talked by bird sounds. She stopped, leaned in close to a tree, and listened.
Instead of an owl, there was a strange creaking above her, as if a branch was beginning to break. She looked up.A man, dressed in green, leaped out on the limb above her. "Fear not, dear maiden!" the man cried. Then, SNAP! CRACK! The man and the branch came tumbling down. The princess ducked. "Are you, perhaps..." the princess asked after he had risen, "...Robin Hood?" "Ah, not really," the man replied, dusting off his striped, floopy hat. "I'm his cousin Ralph." "Ralph Hood?" "Well, actually, Ralph Stupid Hat." He showed her the hat. "Yes, very nice," she said. "Tell me, where's your cousin? I need his help." Ralph began to answer, but a shout interrupted him. More shouts followed. Someone was crashing through the forest towards them "Oh no!" the princess gasped. "They've found me! You must help me, Ralph!" I just told my father that we should give more money to the workers in the palace, they seem so need it, and the king just exploded. I have never seen my father like that before, his eyes went big and his face red. He told - "how can I think about that, what it would be left for your kids, you want nothing for them" he shout. So as rebellion I decided to sneak out of palace last night. I just wanted the king to realize what is going on with the people of the country he rules, that is why I need your cousin help he may persuade the King. -"do you think you could help me to find him" the princess said. Ralph acceded as matter of fact, Robin hood was near, so they run and tell the whole story to him. Robin came up with an idea, he wanted to trick the king so they did. In the woods they simulate that were a stolen band, so when the king and his people got there were very scared, Robin, Ralph and Andrea (the princess) showed themselves. Robin Hood convinced the King telling the good stuffs he could get for his country if he could be more giving to them. If that happens in a few days you'll notice enormous changes and then you can have your daughter back - Robin said So as a worried father the king decided to do it and saw huge advances of his country and he liked it , then Robin Hood return princess Andrea to the kingdom and all live "happy ever after"