The Tale of Lawnderee - The Answers

It's been a few weeks since I posted The Tale of Lawnderee. Now it's time to post the answers. I think you've waited long enough. The answers are in violet plum color.

The Tale of Lawnderee
by Sharon Kaufman

Once upon a time, on the Planet Earth, in a bygone Era, there lived Lucy, a fair young maiden. She was All alone in her small stone cottage that was situated by the seaside. The only company she had was her enormous, pink ox (what a Tub she was), whom she called Oxy.

One day, Oxy got spattered with blue paint while she was redoing her room in the barn. So Lucy took her outside into the full Sun where it was warm, intending to simply Spray 'n Wash her down with the hose. But instead, she decided on a bath. With her fleecy Woolite sponge in hand, Lucy tied Oxy to the fencepost and proceeded.

This was quite an undertaking since the ox hated water. But, undaunted and with a Bounce in her step, Lucy Cheer-fully resolved to see OxiClean . However, as Lucy started to fill the gigantic tub, the sea’s rolling Tide began to come in.

Now Oxy, hating water as she did, looked up and saw the Sudsy Surf approaching and refused to cooperate. Hard-Pressed to know what to do, Lucy soundly scolded her, “You know, you’re really beginning to Agitate me. Why, Oxy, I’m just about ready to send you to the Cleaners!”

Just then the prince from the neighboring kingdom approached the fair maiden. He was quite smitten with her. He had seen her on several occasions, and knew that she had no idea that he even existed. He wondered why she did not know of him since Prince Gerald’s family had been on the throne of the Kingdom of Lawnderee from the Seventh Generation back. And the royal family crest, with its Arm & Hammer motif was present in the nearby village, which she visited often.

It was for this very reason that Prince Gerald was prepared to ask Lucy for her hand in marriage that very day. She had won his heart. It was refreshing to him that Lucy, not at all Starched and pompous, like so many of the other maidens in the village, had never attempted to impress him in order to become the queen of Lawnderee. With Lucy he knew he had nothing to loose and everything to Gain. To him she was perfect - absolutely Faultless.

As the prince drew near, he was awed by her beauty. Her hair, a Vivid shade of lavender, glistened in the bright Sunlight. Her teeth, as white as Ivory, dazzled him. He planned to pop the question as soon as her eyes met his – a Bold Method of proposal indeed.

But when he saw the predicament Lucy was in with Oxy he just had to help. He gave a Shout to the ox, calling her by name. The big pink ox turned to see the prince and was immediately charmed and calmed by his authoritative voice. It impressed Lucy that this stranger knew her ox by name and had such a command of her pet. She wondered who he was.

Then something strange and wonderful happened. Oxy willingly did everything the prince commanded. She let Lucy bathe her and then hang her out to dry. “How wonderful!” Lucy thought. Anyone who could love her ox so and get her to cooperate in such a fashion had to be a great guy.

So as Oxy swayed gently in the Breeze on the Clothesline , Prince Gerald proposed. (Obviously, he had to strike while the Iron was hot.) And, of course, Lucy accepted.

After Oxy was completely dry and well- fluffed, and as the sun went Downy they rode off (on Oxy). As they journeyed toward Lawnderee, the sunset sweetly lighting their path with its pink and purple streams, Lucy dreamily mused, “What a Fab day! Oxy is clean, I am no longer lonely, and the prince has his true love next to him (me). Today we have all had a Fresh Start !” The End!