The New Year's Ball

It was almost New Year's, five year old,  McKayla Pine,  her older sister, Alyssa and their parents were sitting around the breakfast table. Alyssa and their parents were deep in discussion about New Years, but, McKayla was extremely bored and was barely listening to the conversation going on around her.

Suddenly, McKayla thought she heard something about a New Year's Ball so she sat up and paid attention. She was crazy about princesses. She had every princess doll and every princess  costume. She had seen every princess movie dozens of times. She would love to go to a New Year's Ball or any other fancy ball for that matter just like a real princess. "There's a New Year's Ball?" she asked excitedly.

"Yeah." replied Alyssa. "It's in New York City."

"Oh," said McKayla sadly. "Do you think we can get invited?" she asked hopefully. They lived in Colorado and New York City was kind of far. McKayla had never been there. She wondered if they would be able to fly there for New Years. She had always wanted to go on an airplane.

Alyssa burst out laughing. "You don't have to get invited anyone can go." she informed her sister snidely. Mom gave Alyssa an angry look.

"I would love to see a New Year's Ball." sighed McKayla. She didn't want to come right out and ask because she was sure her parents would say they couldn't go. She thought maybe if she hinted at enough  and they knew how much it meant to her, they would give in and take her.

"Well, then you shall." replied Daddy.

"Oh, really Daddy!" exclaimed McKayla. She had not expected it to be that she easy. She ran up to Daddy hugged him excitedly.

McKayla spend the next several days planning for the trip. She picked out her favorite princess dress to wear and her favoriteprincess tiara, the one with all the colored jewels. She practiced dancing and curtsying. She even planned out what she would say when she met a real life prince and princess. She was so busy getting ready herself that she didn't even notice that noone else in the family seemed to be getting ready for the trip.

When New Year's had almost arrived, McKayla loaded up her little princess suitcase with everything she wanted to take on the trip and lugged it in to Mommy and Daddy's room. "I'm ready to go." she said.

Mommy and Daddy exchanged puzzled looks. "Ready to go where?"  They asked staring at her confusedly.

"To the New Year's Ball!" McKayla reminded them forcefully. How could they forget something so important to her like that? "Aren't we going to New York to the New Year's ball?" she asked worriedly.

"Oh." said Mommy  as realization dawned. She frowned sadly at McKayla. "I'm sorry. It's a little too expensive to go to New York right now, and Daddy can't take off so much time from work."

"But, Daddy promised me I want to be at the New Year's ball!" she cried glaring at her father and just about bursting into tears.

"And you can." replied Daddy calmly. "Through the magic of televison."

McKayla had no idea what he was talking about, but she liked the idea of magic and princesses. She Suddenly she was excited all over again.  She couldn't wait for New Year's eve.

On New Year's Eve, the whole family sat around the television. McKayla was a little nervous. She was wasn't sure exactly how this was going to work. Would all they be sucked into the TV or something? She hoped it didn't hurt.

She waited and waited. It was almost midnight and still nothing had happened.

Finally, Alyssa shouted. "It's time for the countdown."

McKayla stared at the TV and waited nervously.

"There it is!" said Alyssa.

All McKayla saw was a brightly colored ball sliding down a pole. "There is what?" she asked.

"That's the New Year's ball." Alyssa told her as if she was speaking to an idiot.

Mommy glared at Alyssa. "Isn't it pretty?" she asked McKayla.

McKayla burst into tears. "I don't want to see a stupid colored ball." she cried. "I want to go to a ball like a princess." She ran upstairs crying.

The next day, McKayla stayed in her room all day. She wouldn't come down no matter how much Mommy and Daddy begged. Finally, at night Daddy carried McKayla out of her room.  "Daddy!" she screamed. "Put me down. I just want to be sad."

"But we have a surprise for you!" said Alyssa who was standing outside McKayla's door.

McKayla was surprised to see that Alyssa was wearing a paper crown. She was torn between wanting to run back in her room and a desire to see what was going on.. She decided to find out what was going on and started to follow Alyssa downstairs, but Daddy stopped her and took her arm. "Your highness." he said and smiled at her. He escorted her down the stairs.

When they got downstairs, McKayla couldn't believe her eyes. A whole feast was laid out on the table and they were even using the good dishes. They whole room was decorated too.

"I made the decorations." Alyssa told her proudly.

"Welcome to McKayla's ball." declared Mommy and Daddy and Alyssa cheerfully.

"A ball just for me?" asked McKayla excitedly. She didn't even care that there wasn't going to be a real prince or princess there. Then, she remembered something. "I'll be right back." she told everyone as she quickly headed for the stairs.

"Where are you going?" they asked curiously,

"To put back on my princess gown and my tiara." she said.