TITLE: No One Named Tim
GENRE: Contemporary Fantasy
Joan divulges her boyfriend problems to her classmate Tim, so he writes the following story about Princess Joan’s developing friendship with Tim, the King’s librarian.
The next day Tim gave Joan a gift, a newly bound book.
“What’s this?” she asked, pleased.
“It’s for you. I’m hoping it will make you feel better.”
Joan opened the book to find it filled with stories.
“Are these…” she began uncertainly, but paused.
“They’re my stories.”
Joan was speechless. Before she knew what she was doing, she wrapped a hug around Tim.
“Thank you,” she said.
Tim surprised her when he kissed her lightly on the ear. Joan stepped back, shocked, with her hand cupped over her the side of her face.
“I know I’m not a prince,” Tim said awkwardly. “But my father is a Lord,” he added hopefully.
“I’m…” started Joan. “I mean…”
Unable to think clearly, she turned and walked away. The closer she got to the door the faster her steps whisked across the stone floor. She was almost running as she left the library.
Joan felt tortured for the rest of the day.
“How could he?” she asked herself. “He’s just a friend.”
“So his father is a lord,” she reasoned. “He doesn’t look like a prince should.”
The next day Joan arrived in the library with Tim’s book of stories. Tim was carrying a stack of loosely bound pages to his room to catalogue when Joan interrupted him.
“We need to talk,” she said. Tim put down his pile of paper.
“We can’t be together,” said Joan.
Tim nodded silently.
“I have to give this back.” Joan handed the book to Tim. “I shouldn’t read them.”