Chapter One

It was Saturday, and Rapunzel and her husband, Prince Dynamo, were having breakfast at the palace. He was digging into his third bowl of royal cereal, but Rapunzel had barely touched her breakfast.

“Have you lost your appetite, my love?” said Prince Dynamo. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing much,” said Rapunzel. She sighed. “I just don’t like Saturdays, that’s all.”

“Really?” said Prince Dynamo, surprised. “What’s not to like? I love Saturdays. I can spend the whole day doing the things I enjoy. It’s golf this morning, tennis this afternoon, and a fencing match this evening.”

“In case you’ve forgotten,” said Rapunzel. “Saturday is the day that I wash my hair.”

They both looked at the shining river of golden hair that flowed from Rapunzel’s head, down her back, onto the floor, and around the table.

Twelve servants stood nearby to carry it, like the train of a dress.

Twelve more servants were needed to brush it, which usually took from breakfast until lunch.

And as for washing it, Rapunzel knew she’d be spending her Saturday in the royal bathroom.

Teams of servants would use enough water to float a ship and several huge barrels of shampoo.

Drying her hair would take until after midnight. The electric bills were enormous.

She hated the whole business, and so did the royal hairdresser.

He was always complaining that he never had anything interesting to do with her hair.