Story
Word Count: About 1300
Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa
“Before I am crowned,” she thought, “I should see what the world is all about.” So she stepped out of the palace and went about to meet the people of the kingdom. First, she met a man who was walking very fast. She stood as tall as she could and announced with a strong voice “I am Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa the Grand Perkameany Pokachaba Balease Kanova of the Third Court of the Highest Order of the House of Tanda RRRReeno, and soon I will be queen of all the land. How are you this fine day?” “If you want to talk to me,” the man quipped, “you will have to keep up with me.” “No problem,” she said, “ I can easily accommodate.” With that, she matched his stride step for step. “Madam,” said the man, “your name is very hard for me to say. You see, I can't roll my R’s and the RRRReeno part is difficult for me.” “No problem,” she answered. “From now on I shall be “Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa the Grand Perkameany Pokachaba Balease Kanova of the Third Court of the Highest Order of the House of Tanda.” “Thank you Madam. I do appreciate it.” “My pleasure Sir,” she said giving him her best curtsy. “I’m more than happy to do it.” Then she noticed another citizen, a woman trying to reach an apple in a tree. Again the girl stood straight and tall and announced, “Hello, I am Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa the Grand Perkameany Pokachaba Balease Kanova of the Third Court of the Highest Order of the House of Tanda, and soon I will be queen of all the land” “If you want to talk to me,” said the woman, “you must let me climb upon your shoulders. The apple I want is very high.” “No problem,” she said. “I can easily accommodate.” So, she let the woman climb upon her shoulders. “There is no such thing as the House of Tanda,” said the woman. “I know, but I had to stop saying Tanda RRRReeno because it is hard for some people to roll their R’s.” “Well,” said the woman, “you can’t just go about claiming you come from a house that doesn’t exist. You should drop Tanda from your title.” “No problem,” she answered. “From now on I shall be Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa the Grand Perkameany Pokachaba Balease Kanova of the Third Court of the Highest Order.” “Much better,” said the woman. “Now you don’t sound so silly.” “My pleasure Madam,” she said, offering her biggest curtsy once again. “I’m more than happy to do it.” Again, she began to walk through the kingdom and spied a boy with a dog. “Hello boy,” she called. “I am Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa the Grand Perkameany Pokachaba Balease Kanova of the Third Court of the Highest Order and soon I will be queen of all the land.” “If you want to talk to me,” said the boy, “you will have to clean up after my dog.” “No problem. I can easily accommodate,” she said, as she cleaned up the dog’s mess. “You must really think you’re somebody,” the boy scorned. “What do you mean?” “I mean, when you say, ‘of the highest order,’ you sound so vain.” “It is my title, but if it bothers you, I can accommodate. From now on I shall be Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa the Grand Perkameany Pokachaba Balease Kanova of the Third Court.” “Well, it’s about time,” said the boy as he lifted his chin to the air and walked off with his dog. Another citizen pointed out that she needn’t mention “The Third Court” since it was no longer connected to a particular house. So of course, she accommodated. Citizen after citizen had one thing or another to say about her title. For these citizens, she became “Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa the Grand Perkameany Pokachaba Balease” and then “Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa the Grand Perkameany Pokachaba” and then “Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa the Grand Perkameany” and then just “Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa.” She carried a man’s umbrella, watched a couple’s children, held a log in place until the mortar dried, cleared the ashes from a chimney and scrubbed a basement floor. She always said she didn’t mind, but her curtsey was not as big as it used to be. In a short while, she was “Betsy Banini Banosky” then “Betsy Banini” then “Betsy” then “Bet” and then just “B.” She couldn’t remember the last time she had said, “And soon I will be queen of all the land.” Along the way, she met another citizen, a man pushing a wheelbarrow. “Hello” she said. “I am B.” “Indeed,” said the man. “Well, if you want to talk to me you must first lay your body across that mud puddle so I may push my wheelbarrow over you and not get stuck.” “No problem,” she sighed. “I can accommodate.” Then she laid her body upon the mud and allowed the wheelbarrow to pass over her. The man laughed. “You should not be B. You should just be bha, just the beginning of the sound of B, but not a full B.” “No problem Sir. From now on I shall be bha.” With that, the man went away, but the girl continued to sit in the mud for a while. Then she remembered it was time for her official coronation and headed back to the palace. Upon her arrival, the palace guards stopped her. “Young lady” they exhorted, “you are far too dirty to enter the palace. This is coronation day and you are not a fit citizen for this important occasion!” “But Sirs, I am bha.” “Bha?” “Yes, bha.” “Bha, bha, bha, bha, bha,” they mocked. She sat down in the dirt and began to sob. “Why can’t they see who I am? Why do they mock me? I fear I shall never be queen.” Then she heard a pit and a pat. Pit pat, it was beginning to rain. Pit pat, pit pat, pit pat. “Betsy, Betsy, Betsy”, she whispered under her breath. Pit pit pitter pat, pit pit pitter pat. It was raining harder. “Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa, Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa,” she echoed. Pit pit pit; patter patter patter; pit pit pit; pit patter. “The Grand Perkameany Pokachaba Balease Kanova,” the rain seemed to be saying. Pit pat, pit pat, pit pat; pit pit pit; patter patter patter; pit pit pit; pit patter. She leapt to her feet, threw her fists high into the air and shouted in a loud voice, “I am Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa the Grand Perkameany Pokachaba Balease Kanova of the Third Court of the Highest Order of the House of Tanda RRRReeno, and soon I will be queen of all the land.” With that, the guards recognized their soon to be queen. The rain had washed away the mud that hid her face and its rhythm reminded her of her name, her title, her rightful heritage. She wasn’t sure how she had lost it. It seemed to happen slowly. Somehow, she had given it away, or allowed it to be taken while she hardly noticed — until she became bha. Today however, was coronation day. Today she would be Betsy Banini Banosky Balupa the Grand Perkameany Pokachaba Balease Kanova of the Third Court of the Highest Order of the House of Tanda RRRReeno, queen of all the land!
© 2003 Therese Greenberg |
