"THE BEAUTIES VERSUS THE (HANDSOME BUT CLOSETED) BEASTS" in "WRITER@WORK: Stories From A Lone, Urban Girl"

Have I ever told you that the beasts aren’t always ugly? Sometimes they are very, very handsome. They look more like charming princes than monsters. When they talk, they sound so convincing that they look harmless, almost like human. They’re not like fire-breathing dragons, or giant ogres with their big, clumsy steps, or that hybrid wild animal who growls in his lonely, snowy castle – staring at the fallen petals of that magical red rose.

Even some girls’ overly-protective and cautious parents might be fooled. Believe me, these monsters are that good.

Isn’t it bloody frustrating? Since you were a little girl, you’ve been told about different kinds of monsters – alias the typical descriptions of them in most children’s fairytale books. You saw the pictures and quickly associated them with something evil: the claws, the fangs, the fiery red eyes, the grotesque appearance, and their endless hunger for blood and death.

Those who looked so normal, so handsome, and very human – just like every prince charming or knight in shining armour in the book – were the ones you should love. That was how you could be a princess.

Princess? What makes anybody think all girls would like to grow up and be princesses? What if they have different dreams, goals, or aspirations instead?

What if some girls prefer being warriors too, instead of some damsels-in-distress – waiting for some prince charming to come to the rescue? What if they’d rather be their own knights in shining armour?

“Why?” I know some may ask in utter disappointment. “What for? What’s so bloody wrong with being a princess?”

Well, the truth is, not all girls are meant to be princesses. Some have to watch their own backs and save themselves. They must all be aware of this potential danger. They must learn to take care of themselves better.

“Why not wait for the Prince Charming?”

Prince Charming? What Prince Charming?? Are you kidding me??? Didn’t I just tell you that those who looked like one might actually be the Monsters themselves? This is how reality works! Stop poisoning your daughters’ brains with such outdated and dead-century-old ideas! This is how reality works.

Anyone can tell you that they really love you, want to spend the rest of their lives with you, and look after you. Hey, look! Even these monsters steal those sweet lines too.

What are you going to do?

R.