Well, Burst My Bubble

This summer, we all participated in our library's summer reading program. The girls read through the required reading time pretty quickly, and were entered into drawings for several prizes as a result. A lot of the drawings were ongoing throughout the summer, but the big ones at the end were what our princesses really had their eyes on. MP3 players, $25 gift cards, personal CD players, and a laptop were the desired prizes--the big ones.

The program ended last week, and after giving the slowpokes a few days to turn in their completed forms, the library held their drawings. Cinderella got a call yesterday afternoon to inform her that her name had been drawn for a prize and she had until Tuesday to come pick it up.

"What prize did you win?" I asked.

"I don't know. I didn't ask. I wanted to be surprised! I hope it's the laptop, but probably not. If it's not the laptop, I hope it's the MP3 player. I can't wait!"

"Well, all those ending prizes are pretty great. How exciting!"

"Can we go get it tonight?" she wanted to know.

Well, of course we were getting it tonight. I had visions of using a laptop dancing in my head. At the very least visions of Cinderella listening to her MP3 player in the van instead of arguing with her sisters. After dinner, we all loaded up to make the 20 minute drive to the main library branch. Where, upon entering, Cinderella was presented with the coveted prize of....

...a movie theater size box of Starbursts!!! Wahoo!!!

To say this was a letdown is an understatement. Cinderella smiled and accepted her prize, promptly telling her sisters that there was no way they would be getting a piece of her lousy prize. King grumbled that buying Cinderella Starbursts would have been cheaper than using the gas to drive to the library. I, always the positive one, said, "Well, that's pretty fun! Aren't you glad you recorded all those hours of reading?"

"Uh-huh," she responded, with the enthusiasm of a slug. We can't wait to sign up next summer!