New Found Royalty Part 1

Finally!! The secret is out, the cat has been let out of the bag, the cloud of mystery has disappeared and now all can be revealed about my newfound royalty here in the fatherland.

It all began when we Hermann and I went to the “Spargelhof” (asparagus headquarters) to buy some bread. We met the boss who was a friend of Hermann’s and they started chatting away in Deutsch. I stood there and zoned out like I normally do and then the boss asked me a question. I was like, huh? Wie bitter?. Then he babbled off something and I looked at Hermann for help and he shook his head to say no. So I said no and, it seemed, that was that. When we got home I asked Hermann what the guy had asked me and he told me that they were looking for this years Asparagus Queen and he had asked if I wanted to be considered for the position. Obviously the first reaction was “Heck no, that’s way to embarrassing” and we just kinda laughed about it. But then as we talked about it more and more I started thinking it could be fun and its just the kind of thing I would NEVER do in New Zealand which made it all the more enticing. In the end I thought “Ah, why the hell not?” and so we called Herr Ehlers and said that I was keen. I so didn’t think that I would get it and so for the next week I didn’t even think about it again. And then one day I got home after school and Hermann told me that I had been chosen (I was one of 2 who wanted it, big whoop) and a reporter wanted an interview with me!! I was like, “oh man, what the heck have I done!?”

“The Interview”

So Anke and I arrived at the spargelhof and went inside to look for the reporter. She was waiting in one of the seats and was talking to an older lady. We said hello and then sat down to wait for Herr Ehlers to arrive and show us where to go. Not a word was said about Konigin’s or Spargel and the conversation was kept very light. Then Herr Ehlers came in and, completely ignoring Anke and I, started talking with the older lady. She got up and went with him to the other end of the shop, leaving us behind. I thought that was really weird and a bit rude that he didn’t even acknowledge us but I waited to see what would happen next. We saw the older lady leave and Herr Ehlers came back towards us. That’s where it started getting a little surreal. He came straight to us and apologized in a whisper for not talking to us, saying that the lady we were sitting with was the biggest gossip in the town and had she of realized that I was the next Spargel Konigin then the whole town would have known within hours. That was where I began to realize that they were taking this whole secrecy really seriously!

So there we were huddled together and talking in hushed tones while taking suspicious glances over our shoulders to see if there were any coronation sabotages listening in. I was trying so hard not to laugh at the whole situation, it was so bizarre! So then Herr Ehlers ushered us out the door and into the storage house. Where they stored stuff. Like beer and other things that can be stored in storage houses. And mattresses. And, coincidently, the Konigin’s dress. We were locked in this little room (though admittedly we locked the door from our side) and I tried on the dress. The dress itself was actually a bit of a shock to the system at first sight, partly because it wasn’t even a dress but a skirt, top and cape and partly because it looked like the kind of thing I would dress up in when going to one of Amy’s dress up party’s. For those of you who don’t know Amy or her dress up party’s then all I can say is that you are yet to live and have been greatly deprived. Anyway, moving on…

So I got the dress and crown on and then the journalist took some photos, mostly crazy posing ones where I am trying to climb up the wall like spiderman. Didn’t work unfortunately, I ended up in a very awkward position on the floor with one leg curled around my head and the other….well yea, you get the idea. After the photos we wrapped the dress up in a big sheet we found (and consequently stole now that I think about it…its quite nice on my bed though…) and then, after checking to see if anyone was watching, took it out and hid it in the car.

Part 1 of mission complete. Casualties: 1 (old lady)

Then came the interview. Was a little difficult because the journalists English wasn’t that good and my Deutsch wasn’t that good but between the 3 of us I think we managed it ok. Actually, I am yet to see the article as it doesn’t come out until the 10th so who knows, we could have got our wires crossed and I’ll come out as a gothic who likes to play tennis. We’ll see.

So, that’s part one. Part 2 will include photos of the big coronation and of me getting friendly with the mayor of the town. Age: 65 (I told him I didn’t believe him. Good line, works every time)

Bis dann!!