Deanna The Mystical Ballerina.

What follows in an excerpt from Diana Olson's book, Nighttime, Bedtime: Stories for Children (1stBooks, 2002). I am defying the book's warning, "No part of this book may be reproduced, restored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written consent from the author." As a fellow writer, I feel that Diana's work deserves to be "out there" for a wider audience to enjoy. Her stories are most entertaining when read aloud in the spirit of dramatic recitation. Just a couple of points to make before we begin. First, please assume that all--oh what shall we call them--"errors" perhaps, are [sic] unless otherwise specified. Also, I have provided [bracketed] commentary when warranted.

Deanna The Mystical Ballerina.


[I will double-space her page breaks so as not to lose the overall flow of the story.]

There once lived a mystical ballerina, named Deanna.
["Mystical ballerina?" You mean, like a "stripper?"]

She lived in two worlds, A part of her world was a kingdom.

The other part of her world was mystical!
[Apparently her "kingdom" was more reality-based.]

There were people called nobles, They lived in the blackhills.
[They lived in western South Dakota.]

They had escaped from King Richards of the kingdom of the greens, because they were in non-payment of there taxes.
[They thought they were in Montana.]

They were trying to take over King Richards thrown but when they threaten to fight King Richards and his honored people of the kingdom of the greens.

Something very mystical would happen Deanna the ballerina!

She would turn into a black cougar and scare them away.
[She did her goth number and nobody tipped.]

Deanna was defiantly special!
[Deanna was defiantly special!]

When King Richards would have celebrations, King Richards would always send for Deanna the mystical ballerina in a carriage.
[When King Richards threw parties, he sent a limo to pick up the stripper.]

Deanna even seemed to light shinny stars!
[So shinny!]

She would make them a little bit brighter.
[Her costume really caught the strobe.]

When she danced for King Richards and the Kingdom of the greens.

King Richards was unwedded and looking for a bride.
[King Richards was no stranger to VIP.]

Oh how the ballerina longed for him.
[Oh how she longed for him.]

One rain storm day King Richards called, For his carriage, and his horsemen to take him to the valley of the sun's arising!

Where he loved to fish!
[What?!]

The ballerina Deanna happen to be there.
[No way!]

They took glances at each other, They fell in-love.

Suddenly Deanna leaves in a storm.
[It either began to rain or he said something that pissed her off.]

Then King Richards is captured by the nobles of the black hills.

King Richards was gone for days days became weeks!

Deanna became worried so!
[She was worried so!]

The people of the Kingdom of the greens worried and talked where could King Richards be?
[He suffers from pleurisy and needs his medication.]

Then shinny stars shined over Deanna.

She had rememberd about the nobles fighting with King Richards.
[Aha!]

Deanna used her mystical powers and turned into a black cougar.

She jumped valleys, she jumped mountains.
[Ain't no river wide enough, etc.]

Until she found King Richards tied around a tree!
[Not tied to a tree, mind you. He actually formed his own knot. Exclamation!]

She pulled the horsemen to King Richards to save King Richards!
[She...huh?]

King Richards was dazed!
[Deanna was defiantly special!]

King Richards and the Kingdom of the greens arrested the nobles of the blackhills!

They put them in a cell!
[Apparently, according to the illustration, in a building marked Cell, which was no doubt quite crowded, chock full of nobles and all.]

Then King Richards called for a celebration and sent for Deanna the mystical ballerina.
[1-866-Mys-tcal]

She then came into the ballroom in pink and white.
[For her oft-requested "Barbie Girl" number.]

The stars were then brighter.
[There were many sequins.]

Once again she danced with King Richards.
[$20]

He asked for her hand in marriage.

She said yes!
[Yes!]

They lived happily in the Kingdom of the greens forever!

The end.
[Another time, perhaps, we'll read Sammy, the Chinese Clock...]

*Diana Olson works as a Dietetic Assistant in a hospital and has two sons. She is also the author of a western novel, Sundance in the Eve, which for whatever reason is available both online and at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide.