By Grace Nakimura

The little Princess sets on her bed, in the palace. How she wished she
could go outside in the real world and not always behind the Palace
walls. She was sick of the same things, the same places the same talk.  How
she wished for some excitement.  Some adventure!  Something real Life!  She
was sick of Libraries and lecture halls.  She went over to her window
looking down at the Empty Market place.  She sighed, if only she could
see, not from a window everything out there looked so beautiful.
    "Jasmine dearest?" She heard her father call.
    She turned to face him.
    "Jasmine, you should be in bed, by now your only 7 you need your rest." her
father said.
    "Yes daddy." She nodded and laid down in her bed.  He father straighten
the blankets on her bed and kissed her cheek.
    "Goodnight my little Princess." and with that he left the room.
   How Jasmine hated when he called her 'Little Princess.' she loved her
father with all her heart but sometimes he just did not understand her
need for the outside world.  She thought about going out of the Palace one
night, something she had been thinking about for the past month. And
tonight she thought that maybe, that maybe this was the night she could
get out of the palace walls and see the Market Place.  Of course at night
time it is mostly empty, so she would have the hole Market to look at for
herself, with out having to worry about getting caught, and brought back
to the palace. She got changed out of her nightdress and into a simple
brown dress.

     It was not hard getting outside, into the yard but it was getting to the
market that would be hard.  The guards always guard the doors out into
the palace.  Jasmine began to think that this was not the very best idea
she had.  When it looked like she would have to give up she noticed a tall
tree that went over the Palace walls. She could easily climb it and get
over the other side.  She started up the tall climb, to her dream to see
the outside world.  With one last look at the palace she went over the
wall.

     The streets was dark and empty.  Her stomach was nervous, and flip floppy.
Maybe she should head back home.  But there was so many places she hadn't
saw yet.  She continued to walked threw the streets.  She paused when she
heard something growling behind her.  She turned and saw to eyes glaring
at her.  She screamed and started to run.  Her toe hit a  stone and she hit
her head hard on the ground.  She was beginning to feel dizzy.  The last
thing she saw before she lost consciousness was the form of a young boy
leaning over her.

    "Bad dog Max!"  He scolded the dog.  The dog would the slugged behind the
boy.  He bent down near the Jasmine.
    "Geez she looks like she really hurt." He said out loud.
"I think I should take her home.  Maybe mom will be able to help her." He
said and lifted her up off the ground.

     Jasmine awoke with a headache.  She looked around the room.  It did not look
like her room at the Palace.  It had wooden walls, and it was very small.
Still yet it was cozy and a wonderful smell came from the kitchen.
"Hi.  I'm sorry that my dog scared you ."A little boy around the age of 8
appeared at the door way.  Jasmine looked at him.  He was dressed very
poorly, torn clothes which were dusty and miss matched.  A small furry
pup was at his side.  It's tong hanging out and it's tail wagging.
    "It's ok.  But it sure gave me a dant.  I can't believe I was scared of such
a cute little thing."  Jasmine told him looking at the dog.
    "So...Um I haven't seen you around in the Market Place before.  You new
hear?"  The little boy asked.
    "Yes kind-of."  Jasmine was shy.  She never ever had talked to a poor person
before.  Or a boy about her own age for that matter!
    "My names Aladdin.  What's yours?"  He asked.
    "Jasmine."  She spoke shyly.
    "After the Princess.  I really like your name it's nice.  "Aladdin told her.
    "Thank you."
    "Aladdin is she up yet?"  A voice came from the kitchen.  A woman who only
looked to be 25 walked in.  She was very pretty.  She wore her hair in one
thick braid and her face really looked like her sons.
    "Hello dear.  Why you gave us a fright .We did not think you'd ever wake
up!"  She smiled.  "My names Zena dear.  Now what was you doing outside
alone?  Are you an orphan?"  She asked.
    Jasmine shook her head.  ''No I'm  ''She paused.  Should she tell them she was
the Princess?  She just knew they would bow to her and bring her back to
the palace and her father would scold her.  So she lied.  "I'm lost."
    "Oh I'm so sorry to hear that little one.  Why not you join us for
breakfast and we'll go out and try to fine your parents.  ''Zena offered.
    Jasmine nodded her head.  "Thank you."  She said.
    "Don't mention it dear."  Zena walked out of the small room.
    'Don't worry Jasmine.  We'll fine your parents.  Momma always finds
everything.  "The boy seemed to remember something.  He smiled at Jasmine
and went to help his mother with the Breakfast.

    Jasmine felt so guilty.  She felt guilty for lying, leaving her home, and
now making a poor woman and her son take care of her.  She also thought
about how her father must be worrying about her.  She did not want to tell
Zena and her son who she was though.  She knew they would hate her
afterward.  She left the small room and went into the kitchen.
 

     The kitchen was just a little bit bigger than the bed room.  Zena
served Her son and Jasmine some porridge.  It really tasted good.  Better
than the Palace's pan cakes.
    "So how ya feeling."  Aladdin asked trying to make talk.
    "Besides a splitting headache I'm fine."  Jasmine told him.
    "Yeah you did fall hard, it must have hurt you were unconscious for three
day!"  He exclaimed.
    "Three days!"  Jasmine gasped.  He father must be taking a fit!
    "Yeah."  Aladdin nodded his head.  "I'm so glad you woke up."
    "Thanks for caring so much."
    "It was nothing.  I like helping people.  Someday I would like to be a
doctor."  He told her.
    "I'm sure you'll be able to complete your dream.  You sure did take care
of me well."  Jasmine told him.
    "My momma helped....a little."  He grinned.
    Jasmine laughed, shortly.
     The dog Max who was getting jealous jumped up and licked Jasmine on
the cheek.
    "Hi!"  She told the dog giggling.  She petted it's head.
    "His names Max."  Aladdin told her.
    Zena looked over at them and laughed.  "It looks like your friends
already.  "She smiled.
      Friends.  How in her whole life had Jasmine wanted a friend.  It was like
a dream come true.  But without her father she felt even more alone than
ever.  She wanted to go back home but she did not want to lose her only
friend.
 

     Zena took the kids around the Market Place.  Zena had looked for people
who she thought could be Jasmine's parents.  Jasmine looked at the
Palace.  She wanted to see her fathers face again, she really did.  But how
was she pose to tell Aladdin and his mother who she was?  She felt Aladdin
tap her shoulder.
    "Look.'  He said pointing to a poster.  Jasmine gasped.  It had her picture on
it and it said missing.  Her father offered a reward of fifty gold pieces
for anyone who could find her and bring her in.
    "Are you the princess."  Aladdin asked in awe.
    Jasmine nodded her head.  She had to stop lying.  She had to accept who she
was and what she was not.  And if being princess was what she was she had
to be it.
    "I don't believe it!"  Zena gasped over hearing there conversation.
She bent down to face Jasmine's face.
    "Why did you leave the Palace?"  Zena asked.
    "I..I.."  Jasmine tried to hold in her tears.  But she could not and burst
out into tears.  "Oh It Was Everything!  All I Ever Wanted Was A Normal
Life!  To have friends!  To See The Outside World!"  She sobbed.  Zena held her
close.
    "I know how you feel little one.  To be a prisoner  Not being able to live
your own life the way you like.  But are world is not perfect it's filled
with ups and downs, sadness and hope.  We all maybe different class but were
all the same inside.  We all need love and friendship."  Zena wiped tears
away from Jasmine's face."  And only you father can offer you that love
you need."  Zena smiled in thought."  And I've got an idea on how you can
have a friend that can stay with you in the palace.  Shut your eyes and
you'll get a surprise.  "Zena lead her down the the streets.  Aladdin held
Jasmine's hand leading her after his mother.  She felt Zena place
something furry in her hand.  "Open your eyes now.  "Zena told her.  Jasmine
opened them and a small baby tiger licked her nose.
    "Thank you!"  Jasmine said in surprise.
    "Your welcome dear.''  Zena smiled the warm caring smile of hers.
 Jasmine studied Zena's and the little boy's faces.  They did not seem
angry.  They seemed caring and thoughtful.
    "Now lets get you home now."  Zena told them as she walked towards the
Palace.
 

    "Now you go on."  Zena told her smiling.
    "Yeah your home is just a few feet away.''  Aladdin cheered her on.
    "Are you sure you don't want to claim your reward?"  Jasmine asked
astounded that Zena refused to take the money.
    'Yes dear I'm sure.  Now you and Rajah get going, it's mid-affternoon."
    "Thank you.  I'll remember everything you done for me."  Jasmine thanked
Zena before running off back to the place were she belonged.

     "Daddy!"  She cried as she saw her father who had been standing worriedly
in the gardens.
    "Jasmine!"  He cried in happiness and hugged his daughter.
Jasmine cried with tears of Joy.  Rajah purred at the happy seen.
    "Oh daddy.  I missed you so much!"

     Jasmine knew she was back were she belonged.  She still wished she was
part of the outside world, but she was needed hear in the inside
world, where she belonged.  But someday, just someday she would fine away to
give all the poor people in Agrabah the three things they needed.
Love, Caring, and friendship.

                       THE END