Once upon a time there lived a handsome, young Prince. Although he had everything a man could want, he didn't have a special someone to share it with. He had travelled around the world in search of a real Princess to marry. But alas, he had been unable to find her.

One dark and stormy night, there was a knock on the castle door. When the King opened the door, he found a beautiful young woman on the stoop. 

"Good evening, your Majesty," she said " I am a Princess from a neigbouring kingdom. I was caught in this terrible storm. May I stay here for the night?" The King and Queen agreed. 

After the Princess had changed into some dry clothes, she joined the family for dinner. She regaled them with stories and witty jokes.

The Prince was mesmerized. He had found the Princess of his dreams, she was beautiful, charming and intelligent.

But the Queen was not really sure if this girl was a real Princess. She decided to test her. In the guest bedroom, the Queen placed a single pea under twenty matresses. If this girl was in fact a real Princess, she would feel the pea through all the bedding. 

In the morning, before the King and Queen had woken up, the Prince asked the girl, " Did you sleep well last night?"

"I slept wonderfully. Thank you. " she replied

The Prince was heartbroken. 

The Princess glanced over her shoulder, then leaning in closer to him she whispered, "But, I found your hiding place."

"What hiding place?"

"Last night, as soon as I lay down on the mattress, I found it really uncomfortable. There was a lump. So I looked underneath the mattress and found a pea. I generally throw the vegetables I don't like out the window. You might want to try that the next time. Under the mattress is the first place people look."

The Prince started smiling. He had found his Princess....

THE END

;D