Chapter 4: Chapter 4

"I love corn on the cob," Annuetta said. "I'll be careful."

Hoeing the corn wasn't too bad in the cool morning. Sally and Annuetta hummed like bees. Sally worked much faster than the princess, but told her not to rush.

"It is better to do a good job than a fast one," she said.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, the day grew warmer. Sweat ran off Annuetta's face. Her arms, which had stopped hurting for a while, started aching again. But she kept going - one stalk of corn at a time, until she reached the end of the row. She stretched until her joints popped, then picked up the hoe and started on the next row.

***

When the sun stood straight above them, a girl from the kitchen brought out a tray with a pitcher of water and some bread and cheese.

"Oh," she said when she recognized the princess; almost dropping the tray as she tried to curtsy. "I'll bring you something nicer to eat."