Hello darling, my name is "Hunger"!

Anabella took the train to Long Island using the few dollars she had left in her purse. Everything was different since she left her castle, she felt lonely for the first time even though the train was full of people. She missed her family and friends and definitely missed the good life she had left behind; somehow it seemed as if it was necessary to experience the lack of it all in order to appreciate what she once had. Right that moment, inside that train she realized she was no longer a princess. Anabella started to realize how she was just like everyone else!

The train finally arrived in Roselyn, Long Island - was Duda going to be there? The passengers started pushing and forcing their way out, no, this time she did not leave first, in fact, she was so afraid that she was the last one to leave that train. That was when she saw that lady, it had to be her… Duda was very lean and little, dark short hair with very fine features. She wasn’t scary as an ogre, Anabella thought relieved.

Hello, are you Miss Duda? - Anabella asked.

Yes, I am, I am glad to finally meet you in person Anabella, welcome! Now, let’s go home, you must be exhausted and hungry.

The little princess was indeed hungry; she had not eaten anything since she arrived in New York City. Anabella was afraid she could run out of the little change she had left so she didn’t buy anything to eat... She really was embarrassed to acknowledge she felt so hungry since she never felt that way before… Once again she remembered the homeless…

It appears that, for the very first time, she understood the suffering from the people that lived in the surroundings of her castle when they complained they had nothing to eat for days... Anabella never understood that, how could someone not have something to eat? Well, I can assure you that now she knew.

Duda and Anabella finally left the train station heading to Duda's home. What would happen next? The princess didn't want to think, she was too tired and hungry to plan or prepare herself for what tomorrow would bring her. Anabella just had the longest day of her life!

The first lesson: the true value of "things"!

Duda was very helpful and explained over the phone in a very clear Portuguese what the little princess had to do to in order to meet with her. Take the train "bla", get off on the station "ble", and so on... She also mentioned that Sonia, the friend back in Brazil had indeed mentioned her and she already had a job lined up for her.

Here is what I have, she said. I know a family in Manhasset and they need someone to watch over their 4 kids, help out with some cleaning here and there and help with some light cooking when needed. You will love them, don't worry - she said.

Anabella thanked the lady felling a little drowsy... She missed her family and for the first time she realized she was indeed, alone...

Anabella always had a wonderful life back in the castle, full of treats and people all over her. Now she was all alone, there was absolutely no one to take care of her, no one to carry her bags, no one to open the doors, no one to run the red carpet for her...

For the first time, the little princess started to realize what she had back in her castle and without being able to hold them anymore, a few tears started running through her face... Anabella felt small, insignificant, lonely, needy...

That is when something magical happened, almost like a miracle... Anabella saw this homeless coming towards her, looking at her with the deepest eye expression ever, full of love and compassion. The little princess stared at him for a moment while the man only smiled at her. He was dirty, had a very strong smell which led her to believe he probably didn't take a shower for a few months and yet, she could only see that angel in front of her.

"Don't you worry dear; Jesus loves you, everything is going to be okay, you don't have to cry" - he said.

While the homeless man walked away carrying his little belongings, the little princess then really started to cry, this time of pure embarrassment. This poor man probably didn't have many if any chances in his life while she had them all... This man, who apparently had nothing, was able to carry lots of hope, love and compassion with him while Anabella, the princess that always had it all was complaining of how miserable she felt.

Listen little spoiled princess; she thought with herself, if you feel you cannot handle something that you are doing by choice, wrap it all up and go back to your castle. Don't you feel embarrassed of yourself?

That is when she dried her tears and boarded on that train, facing a life journey that would change EVERYTHING!

Farewell Brazil, I am going to New York City!

After a long and exhaustive trip and after passing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Board, the princess was finally welcomed to New York City.

Anabella left her castle carrying nothing but a small suitcase and a small piece of paper with a hand written phone number. She didn’t know the person she was about to call, would she be nice to her? Maybe she would be like the ogres that used to eat little kids alive outside of her kingdom, she thought... The little princess was very scared of the unknown…

Anabella finally called the mysterious number: Hello? I am sorry to bother and you don't know me. My name is Anabella and I just arrived from Brazil. A friend of mine gave me your number and said I should give you a call upon my arrival, she said you would be able to help me... Her name is Sonia and she said she is a very good friend of yours, do you know her? I just arrived in New York City and don’t speak the language, can you please help me?

Duda was a sweet lady; she seemed very practical and intelligent! The conversation was brief, straight to the point and yet, very friendly. Anabella felt lucky to find Duda and felt secure and safe for the first time since she landed in New York City. Oddly enough, it was the first time the princess had to ask for something instead of telling someone what to do. For the first time in her entire life, the little princess had to ask for someone’s help.

The coins kept dropping fast on the payphone. It was the first time the princess used a public phone in her life! Anabella was feeling a weird mix of emotions blending unexplainable excitement with dreadful fears. Her little heart was beating fast and the adrenaline level going higher... Anabella had never felt those stomach butterflies before, and neither the lack of breath they were causing. The feeling was quite distressing.

The little princess had very little money on her… Even though she was a wealthy princess, she left without notice and was determined to achieve her goal. If she would ever have to ask for help from anyone from her kingdom, it would be to buy her ticket back home. She was determined and she was going to succeed, she was sure she could do it; after all, she was a princess and nothing could go wrong!

Once upon a time...

In a very distant world, almost a different planet, princess Anabella lived happily in her castle. Yes, Anabella was once a princess, a little stubborn princess that never listened to anyone.

One day, this little rebel princess decided to run away and prove to her family, friends and subordinates that she could make it on her own. Anabella wanted to prove that she could survive the frightening life outside of her castle and in order to do that, she would have to give up all the royal pampering and all the help she always had during her entire life.

Anabella was tired of being the daughter of the queen and king and the sister of two handsome princes. She was tired of being every ones 'something', and she wanted to be known and recognized as herself: I am Anabella - she thought!

That was when Anabella left her castle and entered a never ending life of adventures! Outside of her castle, she was just a regular girl, living in a foreign world and carrying no royalty labels. Welcome to the little world of this courageous and very stubborn little princess, I hope you enjoy her adventures!