Princess Jenna Who Always Said No

Princess Jenna said no to almost everything.

She said no to wearing the royal hat. (It was too pointy.)

She said no to eating the royal soup. (It was too cold.)

She said no to learning to dance. (It was too twirly.)

She said no to going to bed. (She would say no to that in a moment.)

"Jenna," said the King, "you must stop saying no to everything."

"No," said Jenna.

The King sighed.

One day, a dragon came to the gates of the castle.

The guards ran away. The knights ran away. The royal dogs hid under a very large chair.

Everyone was very frightened.

Everyone except Jenna.

"I will talk to the dragon," said Jenna.

"No no no!" said everyone.

"I'm the one who says no," said Jenna, "and I say yes."

She marched to the gates.

The dragon looked down at her.

Jenna looked up at the dragon.

"I need you to go," said Jenna. "You are frightening everyone."

The dragon blinked. Nobody had ever said that to it before. Most people just ran.

"Please," said Jenna. And then, because she was practising, she added: "Thank you."

The dragon thought about this for a long time.

Then it turned around and flew away.

Everyone in the castle cheered.

"Well," said the King, "perhaps saying no is not always a bad thing. It made you very brave."

"Yes," said Jenna.

Everyone stared. It was the first time she had said yes all day.

That night, she even said yes to bed.

Well — almost.