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Neyoka kept shouting orders, making sure Lulu had no time to rest.
“Wash those clothes again. They are not clean!” Neyoka yelled.
“Yes, Auntie,” Lulu said softly, working faster.
By evening, Lulu was very tired. Her hands hurt. Her feet hurt. But she did not complain. She thought about the dance, and her heart felt warm.
When she finished all her chores, Lulu stood up straight and whispered to herself, “I did it. Now nothing can stop me.”
Neyoka watched Lulu quietly from a dark corner. Her eyes were angry and cold.
“You think you are better than my daughter?” Neyoka whispered to herself. “I will show you what happens to girls who dream too big.”
Late at night, when the moon was bright, Lulu fell asleep quickly. She was so tired that she did not hear the door open quietly.
Neyoka stepped into Lulu’s room, holding something sharp in her hand.
Scissors.
Neyoka smiled an evil smile. She came close to Lulu’s bed and lifted Lulu’s beautiful braids.
Slowly and quietly, Neyoka started cutting Lulu’s hair.
Snip, snip, snip.
Lulu did not wake up.
Neyoka kept cutting until Lulu’s thick braids fell to the floor.
Lulu’s head was completely bald.
Neyoka laughed softly and whispered, “Now, let us see if the prince wants a bald crow like you.”
Morning came.
Lulu opened her eyes. She touched her head and screamed loudly.
“My hair! My hair is gone!”
She jumped out of bed and saw her hair on the floor. Tears filled her eyes.
Lulu fell to her knees, crying hard.
“Why?” she sobbed loudly. “Why would you do this to me?”
Neyoka stood at the door, smiling cruelly.
“You wanted to dance, did you not? Dance now, Lulu. Let everyone laugh at you.”
Lulu cried, holding her bald head. Her heart felt broken. Her hair was the last gift from her mother. Now it was gone.
But as Lulu sat crying, she remembered her mother’s words.
“Lulu, your beauty is your light, but your heart will always be your crown.”
Lulu wiped her tears. She felt pain, but she also felt courage.
“You can take my hair, Auntie Neyoka, but you cannot take my heart,” she whispered bravely.
She stood up, picked up a beautiful scarf, and carefully covered her bald head.
She walked out quickly, running through the village.
Everyone looked at Lulu, surprised.
She knocked on her best friend’s door.
“Amina, please open quickly.”
Amina opened the door and saw Lulu’s tears.
“Lulu, what happened?”
“My hair,” Lulu sobbed again. “Auntie Neyoka cut it off.”
Amina hugged Lulu tightly.
“Come inside quickly. We will fix this. Your hair was beautiful, Lulu, but your heart is stronger.”
Lulu smiled a little, feeling hopeful again.
She knew nothing could break her heart. Not even Neyoka’s cruelty.
Inside Amina’s small house, Lulu cried quietly. Amina held Lulu’s hand and hugged her tight.
“Do not cry, Lulu,” Amina said gently. “Hair grows back, but your heart is always beautiful.”
Lulu touched her bald head and whispered, “But everyone will laugh at me. How can I face the prince now?”
Amina smiled warmly.
“You will still go. We will show them what true beauty means.”
Amina quickly opened a big box. Inside was a beautiful royal blue dress.
Lulu’s eyes widened in surprise.
“It is for you,” said Amina softly. “I made it myself. You will look perfect.”
Lulu put on the dress. She felt like a princess.
Then Amina gave her a lovely scarf shining with many bright stones.
“Cover your head with this,” Amina said. “Everyone will see how strong you are.”
Lulu looked in the mirror and smiled again. She felt brave now.
Soon, they reached the royal dance.
The palace was bright with lights and music. Many beautiful girls stood around dressed in lovely clothes.
Lulu’s heart beat fast.
When Lulu stepped inside, everyone turned to look at her. They whispered quietly.
“Who is she?” one girl asked.
“She looks beautiful,” said another, amazed.
Lulu held her head high. Even though she was bald, she remembered her mother’s words.
“Your heart will always be your crown.”
Across the room, Prince Obasi stood tall and handsome. He looked at Lulu with warm, kind eyes.
Slowly, he walked toward her.
“Would you dance with me?” Prince Obasi asked gently, offering his hand.
Lulu nodded shyly.
“I would love to,” she whispered softly.
They danced slowly under glowing lanterns. Everyone watched silently. Lulu felt calm, safe, and special.
Prince Obasi smiled warmly.
“What is your name?”
“Lulu,” she said softly.