Topically Tropical

It was almost sunset, and the eight-year-old me was trailing behind my family and friends, on our way for dinner at the resort buffet. We walked along a bricked path, lined with an assortment of exotic trees and bushes. Vibrant bursts of colour jumped out at me from the lush green background, begging for my attention.

However, I only had eyes for the reeds littering the path. I was attempting to make a crown out of them; twisting and twining the long stems. I'm afraid I fancied myself as a sort tropical princess at that time. In my mind the entire Castaway Island was my kingdom, and when I sang, the birds sang along and monkeys braided my hair.

For some reason, I had got it into my head that I had left something back at the hut we were staying in. So I turned heel and left, with no regards to my parents. Still focused on my crown of reeds, I barely noticed the light starting to fade. By the time I had made it back to the hut, the closely growing palm trees were blocking out all the light.

The door wasn't locked; we felt safe on this island. Once I got inside, I realised I'd forgotten what I came back for. Undeterred, I placed my almost finished crown upon my royal head and did a twirl in front of the mirror. I was Princess of Castaway Island. I wanted to show it off to my family... but where were they? With a shock I realised it was almost completely dark and I was all alone.

As a frightened child does, I ran from the hut and back onto the path, sobbing. There were no lights, so I half walked, half skipped in the near darkness. I can still remember how intensely afraid I was!

But just as a royal princess deserves, a knight in shining armour came running down the path to save me, in the form of my father. He simply scooped me up in his big safe arms, and let me cry on his shoulder as we made our way to dinner. I received a kiss on the forehead from my mother and a scolding for wandering off, but other than that, my reception at the already seated dinner party was uneventful. I had learned perhaps the most important rule for travelling in a group: stay together.

I wore my crown the entire night.