Each of us has our favourite time of year. And in one kingdom there lived a princess who loved all seasons except spring. It all came down to one unpleasant incident that happened to the girl when she was still very small.
The princess was not yet a year old when she learned to walk. It was spring outside, the snow was melting, and the first grass was appearing. But it was very muddy: streams were flowing and there were enormous puddles. And so, when the girl went for a walk with her mother, she slipped and fell right into a big puddle. The children and adults who were playing in the garden started laughing at her. From that moment on, the girl didn't play with other children; she was ashamed of what had happened. And she hadn't liked spring since then either.
As soon as spring arrived, the girl wouldn't go outside at all. And when she grew up into a beautiful young woman, she turned to her father with a request.
Tell me, Father, you are a king, aren't you?
She asked him one day.
That's right, my daughter, I am a true king!
You have the right to issue decrees that everyone must obey, don't you?
Yes, my decrees are followed without question!
Then forbid spring.
What are you saying? Yes, I am a king. But I have no right to interfere with the laws of nature. And why don't you like spring so much?
The king was surprised.
Simply because it's the most awful time of year.
I don't think so. I like spring very much. Nature comes alive. The trees are all in bloom. It's beautiful…
How can you love spring? It was this very season that brought shame upon your daughter!
The princess cried out and ran away in tears.
The king and queen had tried more than once to find out why the princess disliked spring so much, but they never succeeded. And the queen herself had long forgotten the incident with the puddle—after all, nearly 16 years had passed. And no one in the kingdom remembered it anymore. But the princess thought differently.
For all these 16 years, she hadn't played with children in the garden, because she was convinced they would laugh at her. She preferred to read books, sitting in a remote corner of the garden where there was never anyone around.
One frosty morning, the girl was sitting on a bench as usual, reading another book. She loved stories about love very much. And in a single day she could read an entire book without even stopping to eat.
Suddenly a young man sat down on the bench next to her. He was very handsome and the girl fell in love with him at first sight.
Hello, my name is Mark. And why are you sitting here alone?
The young man asked.
I prefer solitude.
Sorry, I didn't know. Then I'd better go.
You can stay.
The princess answered shyly.
Better yet, come with me. It's so much fun there. And you're sad here alone.
I can't. They'll laugh at me.
Why do you think that?
You see, when I was little, I was shamed by this awful spring.
The princess confided in him.
What!? I'm sure no one remembers that anymore.
He grabbed the princess by the hand and dragged her over to the others.
The girls and boys welcomed her gladly, and they all played snowball games together and went sledding. The princess had so much fun. And in fact, she saw that no one was laughing at her. It turned out that all these years she had needlessly avoided her peers. And then the girl thought:
