Mrs Isabella made her way to the church in a hurry with little Joanna. Little Joanna was dressed in the silk which Mrs Isabella made for her on her 5th birthday. The silk dress was Joanna's pride and she wore it on special occasions. The holy mass, for that was what Mrs Isabella and her adopted child was about to attend, was a very special celebration in England during the Stuart period. But The fine line between the rich and the poor in great England was very apparent and it even extended to the churches, so when Mrs Isabella and Joanna arrived, they were asked by the warders to stay outside with the rest of the commoners who attended the mass too because the church was for the first class citizens. Queen Agnes of England and her family attended the mass. Her very playful but lonely little daughter called Princess Catherine was eager to have fun and since her mother considered her too special to make friends, she diverted her playfulness to her fave body guard called Oliver and tried to play hide and seek with him in the church-that was crazy. While the mass was in progress, she whispered to Oliver who sat next to her, "Catch me if you can." and she suddenly ran out. Queen Agnes gave Oliver a stern look and he followed Catherine at once to bring her back, thus kicking off a short hide and seek game with the lonely princess. Catherine ran outside and hid behind Joanna who appeared to be her age mate,
"Please hide me!"She whispered.
"His coming! hide your head or he will see it." Joanna whispered in response. Oliver knew Catherine's hiding spot, but he purposely bypassed it because he wanted to surprise and amuse her.
"He is gone." Joanna whispered and Catherine looked up to see the fellow kid who provided her the perfect hiding spot. She tapped Joanna on the shoulder in lovely smiles and whispered,
"I am princess Catherine."
"Yes i know." Joanna whispered in smiles too for she was honored. She tried to show some respect to Catherine by bowing down to her but Catherine interrupted her at once for she needed to know more about Joanna and she had no much time to do so.
"What can i call you young lady?" Catherine asked.
"Joanna, call me Joan." Joanna responded.
"You can call me Cathy." Catherine whispered.
"Oh I love your silk dress." Catherine continued in admire, "its perfectly tailored, but the silk is low class."
"Princess that's what my mum could afford." Joanna responded pitifully.
"Where is your mum? is she as cute as you are? does she let you play around? does she let you go out on a date? does she let you do your school assignments?" Catherine asked immediately, she was a curious, observant and loquacious little creature.
"She's right here." Joanna responded and pointed at Mrs Isabella who stood next to her and who was so dedicated to the holy Mass that she wasn't aware that a princess of England was with Joanna. When she turned to know why Joanna was pointing at her, she was very shocked to see princess Catherine gazing at her.
"Princess Catherine!" She whispered to Joanna.
"Every body knows" Joanna responded.
"Joan introduce me." Catherine came in.
"Mum her name is Catherine, she is fun, she said i can call her Cathy." Joanna responded excitedly.
"It's Princess Catherine, show some respect daughter." Mrs Isabella corrected Joanna.
"Princess, my name is Isabella, and i don't think you should be out here all alone." Mrs Isabella continued, diverting her attention to Catherine, "You should return to her majesty now."
"Please Mam allow me to stay with Joan, i need people to talk to." Catherine replied sadly. Then Oliver emerged from the crowd and walked straight to Catherine.
"got you!" He whispered to her and she burst out laughing.
"Oliver you should see the look in your face when you were searching around." she whispered playfully.
"Hmm, who's the pretty lady?" Oliver asked curiously.
"Shes my new friend, her name is Joanna. She's not like me; she is allowed to play around, go out on a date, make friends and do her school assignments. Unlike me, she is a free spirit." Catherine replied excitedly.
"Alright princess, hide and seek is over, lets go." Oliver said.
"She's coming with me." Catherine replied and held Joanna.
"No princess, Your mum will be really upset." sounded both Oliver's and Mrs Isabella's worried voices and in response, Catherine hugged Joanna and refused to let go.
"She is my friend, I am not loosing a friend again." She said and held tight. She was upset, and Oliver knew she will burst out crying soon for she was desperate to befriend Joanna. Oliver knew how to calm his little mistress when she was upset, he held her gently and whispered to her.
"Princess you have always made out time to tell me how lonely you are and i will try as much as I can to help you out Okay? I will give you more time to chat with your new friend."
"Thanks Oliver." Catherine replied and kissed his chick excitedly.
"Now let me lay down the first rule of friendship. Rule number one, you gotta know each other pretty well." Oliver advised and Catherine continued his face to face conversation with Joanna delightedly.
"What's your hobby? Mine is singing."
"Mine is painting and I love singing too." Joanna responded.
"I will love to sing you some of the songs i composed, may be when you come to my mum's castle to see me." Catherine said.
"Cathy i don't think the queen will be so pleased to meet me." Joanna responded.
"My little mistress aren't you forgetting something? ask her if she wants to be your friend, you need to hear from the horses mouth and be fast about that because time is no longer on our side." Oliver whispered to Catherine.
"Will you be my friend?" Catherine asked Joanna immediately.
"Yes Princess." Joanna replied and Catherine untied the ribbon on her long beautiful hair and tied Joanna's tattered hair together. "I am making a covenant with you. This ribbon is the sign of my covenant. May our friendship last forever and may we become inseparable."
"Alright princess, be my bestie." Joanna responded in smiles and they hugged each other, this appeared so lovely that Oliver who stood by the side and who was focused on what was going on was forced to speak up,
"Kids a long and lasting friendship takes place when both partners are sincere and truthful to each other." He crouched in front of Catherine, held her little cute face and spoke directly to it with a calm voice,
"Little mistress you actually met a friend today but the challenge is you being able to meet her again."
"Oliver I want her to come with me." Catherine said in a little shaky tune for she was worried.
"Nah little mistress, her Majesty will be upset. But I think I have a plan; she will not come with you, rather you will go to her. I will send my little bother Antonio to locate her home and when ever we have the opportunity, I will personally take you to her home, I promise."
"Thanks Oliver!" Catherine responded very delightfully and hugged Oliver. Then Oliver turned to Mrs Isabella and requested,
"My little mistress believes your daughter is phenomenon and she wants to befriend her. Please can you lay down your address so that I will bring her to see Joanna."
"Alright, the princess's wish is my command." Mrs Isabella replied and laid down her address.
"Now its time to conclude the conversation with your new friend, her Majesty will be worried about your absence now." Oliver said to Catherine and in response, Catherine hugged Mrs Isabella and Joanna good bye and quietly followed Oliver back into the church.