The Cinder Bullies (24)

"I think that maybe having a lift put on his shoe might help the prince to walk more comfortably," thought Nadia to herself. She was quite concerned about his obvious pain. Having spent time with a cobbler and his wife, she knew that it might actually work. She wondered if Xaviar would still remember the happy times they had spent living and working together with them. He may also have learned some things from the cobbler that she did not, or could not recall.

"I will have to speak with him about this."

Just then, Xaviar walked through the door. He was concerned about his mother, as well as Cindy and Dancer.

Nadia explained what had happened with them in the rose garden. He was not really surprised, but wondered if Cindy and Dancer should spend time any with the prince.

"We will have to see how that pans out, but there is something else that I want to talk to you about, Xaviar." Nadia said. "Do you recall talking to the cobbler about making shoe lifts for crippled people?"

"I remember helping him to make one," replied Xaviar. "Why do you ask?"

Nadia explained the prince's predicament.

"He might be more comfortable and less inclined to imbibe, if he did not have so much pain."

"Mother, I don't know why I did not think of that first. You must be an angel, as you are always helping someone!"

"Could you build a shoe lift for him?"

"I could try."

"There are a lot of other things you could probably teach the prince, if you were willing to spend time with him. I wonder if he knows how to read and write properly? Maybe he would like to learn how to play the flute, too."

"Who knows? I can hardly say no to you about the shoe lift, Mother, but I may need your expertise on that kind of a project!"

And so, Xaviar was introduced to his prospective teaching role with respect to Phillip.

When he talked to Cindy about it, she replied, "Your mother is probably right, as Phillip does appear to be in pain. Do you mind if I teach him about the rose garden?"

She smiled, as right away, Xaviar showed signs of being just a little bit jealous.

"I would only be teaching him gardening, and it might help him to get his mind off his pain. The outdoor fresh air and exercise would be great for him, as he is very pale and sickly looking now. By the way, Dancer does not like him, at all!"

"No wonder!" replied Xaviar. "Besides that, he is our dancing dog!"

"And always will be."

"And you are my young lady!"

Cindy smiled, as she knew that she had found her prince, long before Phillip arrived on the estate.

Nadia was listening to them from a distance, and decided to let the two of them work things out together, instead of interfering. Both of them were becoming responsible young adults and she was proud of them.

"What about the prince's attendant?" wondered Xaviar. "Where does he fit into the picture now?"

He did not realize that Bessie had already solved that problem for him, as now having a prince's attendant was no longer necessary. He would be Bessie's full time helper, instead. If he was on his best behavior, then he would be allowed to spend time with the young folks. If not, he would lose that privilege, or be asked to leave.

"He just might become a responsible young man yet," said Bentley, when Bessies told him about it. "That is an excellent idea."

"I do need a helper," she said, seriously,

"Me too," said Bentley. "Between us, we will keep him busy and out of mischief."

"Keep people so busy that they don't keep you busy, is what you always said," she whispered to Bentley. "But, he will learn how to be our helper, not our scullery maid."