THE PRACTICAL PRINCESS and Other Liberating Fairy Tales (9 page)

as was necessary. Sir Philbert, will you reach in and get me a wasp?”

Sir Philbert swallowed hard. He had had more practice than anyone else, so to speak, but he didn’t much want to do it again. Then, suddenly, he had an idea. He grinned. He pulled on one of his iron gloves, reached into the box, and took out a wasp.

Victoria laughed. She said to her father, “He’s the only one of him there is, and I’m the only one of me there is, and he knows how to take care of both of us.”

“Quite right,” said the emperor. “I’d much rather have my daughter married to someone with sense enough to stay alive and take care of her than have her married to a pelican.”

So Philbert and Victoria were married and rode happily home to take care of each other.

is the author of seventy-six books of fiction
and non-fiction for adults and children. In addition to his
fairy tales for young readers, he is perhaps best known for
his popular science-fiction series, the Danny Dunn books;
and, under the pen-name Michael Delving, he has written a
number of crime novels for adults. Mr. Williams and his
wife alternate between living in a village in
Gloucestershire, England the scene of many of his
thrillers-and their home in Newport, Rhode Island. His
children’s books for Parents’ Magazine Press include The
Cookie Tree, The King With Six Friends, School for Sillies,
The Youngest Captain, A Bag Full of Nothing-and five of
the tales in this collection.