Helen had to stay in bed for an extra two weeks. In her haste to reach her father and Halsten, she tried to walk too soon on her foot and succeeded in injuring it further. Mike ordered her to stay in bed and when Mike ordered something, it was done without hesitation. Mike and Davy seemed to warm up to her. Micky, however, was another matter. Sometimes when the guys had finished a practice session, Helen would tell them tales of her life at school. Peter, Mike, and Davy would listen intently; Micky would constantly interrupt with questions. She told them of her adventures, but not about her flips through mid-air, swordsmanship, or hand-to hand- fighting abilities. That she would save for later. That she would save for Peter.
After breakfast one morning, Peter excused himself from the table. He went into the room he shared with Davy and returned the three folds of cloth.
“Here, Helen,” he smiled that dimpled smile and handed the cloth to her. “We can’t have you running around in boys’ clothes so we brought you some cloth to make maybe a couple of dresses. Besides, Davy wants his clothes back.”
“That is, if you don’t mind, luv,” Davy smiled.
Helen took the cloth an held up one of the folds.
“Thanks guys. And thank you Davy for letting me borrow your clothes,” Helen smiled.
Micky pulled the cloth from Helen’s hands.
“Ha! That I’d like to see! A princess who sews!” he laughed.
Helen grabbed the cloth back and looked Micky dead in the eyes and said,"You’d be surprised at what this Princess can do!”
“Micky! That’s enough!” Mike warned.
“Yeah, Micky. It’s all ‘armless” Davy added.
“Harmless? Is that what you think of me? You don’t know the half of it!” Helen coolly said. “Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I need some fresh air.” Helen, then with all the dignity she could muster, limped out of the Pad.
“Micky, now see what you’ve gone an’ done?” Mike asked.
“Why don’t you trust her?” Davy added.
“Must you always giver her a hard time? If she is really a princess, man, she’s got it hard enough,” Mike said.
“She is a princess guys. I don’t know why you find that so hard to believe!” Peter almost shouted.
“What makes you so sure she is a princess, man?” Micky asked Peter as he walked toward him.
“She said so. I mean, you just don’t say you’re something if you’re not,” Peter innocently answered.
“You’re so easy to believe, man,” Micky said flustered.
“And you’re too hard to believe!” Peter yelled at Micky as he ran to find Helen.
“Pete! I’m just concerned about------”
“Let him go. He’ll be alright,” Mike said holding Micky by the arm.
“Maybe you should lighten up on Helen. She’s just a girl with an overactive imagination. Who’s it gonna ‘urt?” Davy asked.
“Peter,” Micky answered. “I’m afraid, Peter.”
************
Helen had gone into the clearing in the woods that was the same clearing Peter used to meditate. She tested her right ankle and found it was as good as new. The bed rest did wonders, but she pretended to hobble about to buy time to completely work her plan. To begin, she turned an amazing flip in the air, landing sure and strong.
Then, she took the staff and began to go though the paces of jabs. She even managed a backward flip. She twirled the staff, drove it in the ground, walked to a stone, and sat down.
“Wow!” How’d you that??”
Helen quickly assumed a fighter’s stance and turned to see Peter staring with his mouth open. He had seen her little “exercise.”
“Oh, Peter,” she smiled. “Come here. I have something to tell you.”