Samantha and Prudence waited in the bushes for Wendell to wash himself. He insisted he didn't need any girls to escort him back to the village, but after everything that had happened, Samantha wasn't taking any chances. She helped Prudence onto a rock, where her friend's cheeks reddened. "I'm sorry," she said.
"For what?"
"I've been jealous. You found out about your parents and your best friend and you found your uncle. I still don't have anyone."
"You have me."
"Thank you, but this is different." Prudence's shoulders heaved as she sighed. "I know my real parents are dead. By now any siblings I had are dead too. I might still have some great-great-great-great-great-nieces or nephews out there, but how could I ever explain things to them? I'm never going to have a family again."
"Don't be silly. When you get old enough, you can get married and have your own family. I know you'll be a great mommy and an even better grandma."
Prudence blushed even deeper. "I don't think anyone will want to marry me. I'm ugly."
"Would you stop that already? I'm sure when you get older you'll be a beautiful woman, as beautiful outside as inside."
"I doubt it."
"Let me tell you a story-"
"But it's not bedtime."
"So? I can tell you stories whenever I want. This one is about a duckling that all the other ducks thought was really ugly because she didn't look like any of them. While they were all pretty and yellow, she was gray and fat."
"Like me."
"That's right. All the other ducks made fun of the poor duckling and made her feel terrible."
"I don't like this story," Prudence said, sounding for a moment like Annie.
"But months later, something miraculous happened. The duckling grew up. Not into a boring little duck like the others, but a big, beautiful swan. You see, the 'duckling' was a baby swan all along. She only had to get older to realize her true beauty."
"So you're saying I need to just wait until I get older? Then I'll be pretty?"
"Well, maybe not as pretty as Helena, but pretty in your own way."
"Maybe." Prudence ran a hand through her snarled red hair. "Thank you."
They hugged loosely so Prudence wouldn't get Samantha's clothes too dirty. Then they heard Wendell clear his throat. "Are you girls done bawling?"
"We weren't bawling," Prudence said. "We were hugging."
"Same thing."
"Is not."
"Is too."
"Come on, let's go home." Samantha helped Prudence up so they could limp the rest of the way home. Wendell led the way, his stick still at the ready. Once they got in sight of the ruins of the town, he took off running.