45. What’s Behind Door #1?
Deciding to once again put complete trust in the fisherman’s words, Rosella risked drowning and getting gobbled up by
a giant squid (or both!) and used the remaining strength she had to try and pry open the mysterious sea chest. Against
the panic of her burning lungs, pounding terrified heart, and weak little arms, Rosella stayed her ground, and gave one
last tug at the lid of the box. And that was all it took. A little determination, and a princess’s elbow grease! The chest
burst open in a small cloud of murky dirt and sand that had been idle inside the box for who knows how long. Rosella
waved at the cloud with her hands, unable to afford the luxury of time, desperately trying to clear the water so she might
see what was inside. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to wait. Rosella dashed her hands through the murky
cloud, searching the contents of the open treasure chest. She almost lurched her hands back through the cloud when
she felt something cold and squishy inside, but fought the fear as time she did not have to waste. Back and forth,
corner-to-corner, the only thing inside the chest was this cold squishy thing. Grabbing it up in one hand, Rosella
pushed off the side of the chest with her stocking clad toes, and made for the surface and some air.
Whether the giant squid had passed or was just not interested in a Rosella snack, the young princess crested the
surface with nary a problem. She tossed the “object” over the edge of the boat, and grabbed onto the sides with her
slender fingers, gasping at the air as if her very life depended on it. The fisherman was quick to her aid, grabbing at her
hands, and helping her back aboard the small vessel. “I thought we’d almost lost you, lass,” he said concerned.
Rosella wasn’t quite ready to speak yet, still taking in gulps of air heartily, but she nodded in acknowledgement that she
too had thought the very same thing down there. “Well, what did we find in the box?” he asked, moving the conversation
away from Rosella’s possible demise. Together they looked at the floor of the boat, and together shared the same
shocked expression. The “cold squishy” thing that Rosella had brought up from the sunken treasure chest was nothing
more than a dead fish! The princess slapped her sopping hands against her clammy red cheeks as the fisherman let
out a low whistle with raised eyebrows. Rosella was perplexed.
“Why would Lolotte seal a dead fish in a chest and drop it in the ocean?” exclaimed the young girl, unable to keep the
perplexed feeling inside any longer. The fisherman shook his head to acknowledge that he had no idea what her
reason might be.
“But surely she had a reason, young miss. That witch is evil if one thing is for certain. She does all things with reasons.
Evil ones.” While the mystery ate at her little head, Rosella couldn’t help but agree with the fisherman’s wisdom. The
answer would come to her sooner or later. In the meantime, she picked up a small sack that lay on the floor of the boat,
and placed the dead fish inside, slinging the sack over her shoulder. The fisherman, nodded, and began rowing them
back to shore where he looked forward to his wife’s well-cooked meal and the laughter and talk of their new fortune.
Rosella declined the invitation to join them, rather she took a few moments to dry off on the docks in the late afternoon
sun. It was the second time that day that she soaked her dress and hosiery, and was none too pleased with the clingy
feeling. She slipped her damp feet back into her heels, and thought about where it was she should go next, and what to
do with the newly acquired dead fish.
The Crypt
The Haunted Mansion
The Dwarves' Mine
The Ogre's House
The Witches' Cave
Lolotte's Castle