"Thanks for your help, Josef," said Annie.
"Yeah, thanks a lot," said Jack.
"You're very welcome," said Josef. "I hope you willenjoy yourselves at the party.""We will," said Annie. "Bye."As the coachman climbed back into his carriage,Annie turned to Jack. "This is so cool!" she said.
Not really, thought Jack. He didn't know how hewas supposed to act with Her Imperial Majestywhatever-the-rest-of-her-name-was! His hands felt25clammy. "What do we do when we meet her? Whatdo we say?" he asked.
"We just watch what other people do," said Annie,"and we copy them. Come on."Jack and Annie walked over to the sweepingstairway. They started up the steps, following theother party guests. The women all wore glitteringjewels and gowns with giant hoopskirts. The menwore wigs with white curls flowing down over thecollars of their long coats. All the clothes were madeof silk and satin and velvet in rich colors and patterns.
"Oh, brother," said Jack.
"What?" said Annie.
"There's that kid who yelled at me," Jack said.
The small boy from the blue coach was standing atthe top of the stairs. He wore a lilac-colored coat withgold braid. A tiny sword hung from his side.
"A sword?" said Jack. "That's ridiculous. He can't bemore than four or five years old."26The boy turned and caught sight of Jack and Annie.
A big smile crossed his round face. He waved at them.
"He's cute," said Annie. She waved back.
"Not really," said Jack.
A man grabbed the boy's hand and pulled him intothe palace.
"And he thought I looked funny," said Jack. "How'smy wig now?"Annie giggled. "It's crooked again," she said. "Andyour ears are poking out. Hold on."Jack and Annie stopped on the stairs. Anniegrabbed both sides of Jack's wig and gave it a goodyank.
"Move along, children. You're holding up the line!"a woman behind them said.
Annie picked up her hoopskirt, and she and Jackhurried up the stairs. At the top, Jack pulled theirinvitation out of his pocket again. He led Annie intothe palace and showed the invitation to a guard in ared uniform.
27"Follow the line through the lantern room and intothe Great Rosa Room," the guard said.
Jack saw a line of party guests walking slowlythrough a candlelit room. He and Annie quicklyjoined the line. The room was filled with sounds ofwhispering and the rustling of silk.
A young girl in a white dress with red roses wasstanding near Jack and Annie. When the line moved,Jack waited for the girl to go ahead.
The girl smiled. "I'm not in line," she said in a softvoice. "I'm waiting for my brother."Jack nodded, and he and Annie stepped forward.
Jack craned his neck to get a better view inside theGreat Rosa Room. He couldn't see Her ImperialMajesty yet, but he could see part of the fancy roomwith its red velvet chairs and gold-trimmed, glossywhite walls.
Another guest entered the Great Rosa Room, andJack and Annie took a step closer to the door. NowJack could see Her Imperial Majesty. She was a tall,plump woman dressed in a blue silk28gown with ruffles. To Jack's surprise, the little kidwith the sword was sitting on her lap! A long row ofolder children stood behind her.
Jack turned to Annie. "Who do you think those kidsare?" he asked.
Annie shrugged.
"They are the children of Her Imperial Majesty,"said the girl who had spoken to Jack earlier. "Theimperial children.""Thanks," said Annie.
"The imperial children look pretty unfriendly," Jackwhispered to Annie. The little boy with the swordwas the only one smiling.
"Well, it must be really hard to just stand therewearing stiff clothes and wigs while people are beingreceived," Annie whispered back.
"Prepare yourselves. You are next," a servant at thedoor said to Jack and Annie.
Oh, no!thought Jack. He'd been too busy looking atthe imperial children to watch the guests in front ofhim. "What do we do when we meet29Her Imperial Majesty?" he asked Annie frantically.
"I don't know! I forgot to watch!" she said. Annieturned to the girl in the white dress. "Um-- excuseme? Can you tell us what to do when we meet HerImperial Majesty?" she asked.
The girl leaned close to Annie and whispered,"Enter the room and announce your names. Thenwalk to the middle of the room. You must curtsy; hemust bow. Next go directly up to Her ImperialMajesty and do the same.""Got it," said Annie.
"Oh, and remember--" the girl said to Jack, "do notrise from the second bow until Her Imperial Majestytells you to. Do not even look up. Rise only when shesays 'rise.' Then step backward out of the room.""Backward?" said Jack.
"Yes. You must never turn your back on HerImperial Majesty," said the girl. "It would beconsidered very bad manners.""Thanks!" said Jack. He was grateful to the30girl for giving them such important information.
The servant at the door turned and nodded to Jackand Annie. The two of them stepped into the GreatRosa Room.
"Annie of Frog Creek!" Annie said loudly.
"Jack, also of Frog Creek!" said Jack.
Jack and Annie walked slowly to the center of theroom; Her Imperial Majesty and the imperial childrenwatched them closely. The little boy with the swordwaved at them. Annie curtsied and Jack gave a lowbow.
Then Jack and Annie walked closer to Her ImperialMajesty. She had a double chin, a high forehead, andlots of teeny blond curls. Jack smiled at her, but herpale face stayed very serious.
Annie curtsied again, and Jack gave a second bow.
As he bowed, he remembered that it was badmanners to rise or look up before Her ImperialMajesty told him to.
Jack stared at the shiny buckles on his shoes,waiting to hear Her Imperial Majesty say "rise."31Maybe I'm not bowing low enough, Jack thought.
He bent over a few inches more. To his horror, thesilver flute slipped out of his coat pocket! It clatteredto the floor. As Jack grabbed it, his hat fell off.
The imperial children snickered.
Clutching the flute, Jack reached for his hat withhis other hand. But when he grabbed his hat, his wigfell off! Jack reached for his wig, but powder got inhis nose, and he sneezed. As he sneezed, he slipped onthe polished floor and fell to his knees. Gripping hiswig, his hat, and his flute, Jack scrambled back up tohis bowing position. But he still hadn't heard HerImperial Majesty tell him to rise!
The imperial children laughed loudly. Jack evenheard Her Imperial Majesty laughing! She probablycan't speak because she's laughing so hard, thoughtJack. He didn't know what to do. His face wasburning hot. You've got to get out of here! he toldhimself.
32Still bowing, Jack began backing up with littlesteps--until he bumped into a wall.
33As the imperial children howled with laughter, Jackturned his head and saw Annie peeking out from adoorway, giggling. He backed over to her.
34Annie grabbed his coattails and pulled him out ofthe Great Rosa Room.
The imperial children clapped and cheered. Jackheard one of the girls say between gulps of laughter,"Who was that fool?""That was Jack of Frog Creek!" answered the smallboy in his high voice. And they all laughed loudlyagain. |