Chapter Three

By Monday morning, Rapunzel had her plan. She waited until the prince left the palace for a game of tennis. Then she summoned the royal hairdresser.

“How may I serve you today, Your Majesty?” he said, sounding bored already. “Some advice on shampoo? A change of hairbrush, perhaps?”

“Actually, I was thinking of asking you to do something creative,” said Rapunzel.

The Royal Hairdresser raised an eyebrow. So Rapunzel took a deep breath and told him her plan.

“Well, what do you think?” she said when she’d finished. “Are you up for it?”

“You can definitely count me in,” he said, grinning. He pulled out his cell phone.“I have some friends who’ll be useful too.”

And so began the transformation of Rapunzel.

First, the royal hairdresser cut off her long hair.

“Are you absolutely sure?” he asked.

“Do it,” said Rapunzel.

“It’s cool, it’s modern, it’s just so you,” said the royal hairdresser when he finished cutting.

Next, he and his team made a wig from the leftover hair.

“It’s a creative triumph,” murmured the royal hairdresser, “if I do say so myself!”

And finally, the royal hairdressing team made her a very special costume.

But Rapunzel wasn’t ready for the last part of her plan yet. She did lots of secret training first. She worked out at the gym.

She practiced all the prince’s favorite sports. Nobody recognized her with her new hairstyle, of course.

She always made sure she was back at the palace and wearing the wig before the prince came home.

And soon she was ready. The moment had come at last.