Recall the story of the princess and the pea.
An unsuspecting girl is challenged to prove her elite status by identifying an almost insignificant object through dozens of feet of down, cloth, and upholstery.
Consider the stupidity of the test. A young and most likely naive girl-child is pleasantly told “good night” and left to stare at the mountain of bed that is before her and must now conceive of a way to climb to the top to sleep? Once this idea is thoroughly dissected, ask yourself this: why would a small and inexperienced woman, who probably had never climbed more than a stair at a time in her life, why would she even think to tackle this monstrosity? Besides for the almost certain fall followed by death should she move just the slightest bit too far as she sighs in her sleep…and the high likelihood that she could slip on the way up, and break her fall (quite literally) on her leg or arm or snap her neck.
What a charming story to tell our children.
Smart girl that she is, this princess, she spends the night in a stiff chair by the window rather than climb up, to avoid probable injury and possible death. Sensible thing to do, no? Daylight comes and she is awakened by the delighted cries of the royal court for having passed the test. Certainly she must have felt the tiny pea through the dozen thick mattresses, and now through her proven delicacy she must be a princess! How lovely, for now she can marry the prince. Poor girl is sore from sleeping in a chair for a few hours and most likely wants nothing to do with this prince and his tall, acrobatic beds.
It’s a wonder people even got married in those days.
Write Then & There 
what a twisted take on children’s tale. Consider this however: in order to hear what the other person is saying, it is often necessary to make your mind quiet and sharpen your senses. The test is not that stupid after all. Not so sure where the pile of mattresses is coming from (one too many picture books?). Potential princess is simply well acquainted with dangers of sleeping in a place far removed from home, on an unfamiliar surface – a mattress (instead of straw). Wide awake, expecting murderers (or at least vampires) to visit, she senses the pea through increased awareness, while clutching a knife in her hand – and in this semi-psychotic state she is meeting the dawn. That is almost begging for the image of Marie Antoinette.
Hmmm…. losing head much ?
Dude. It’s called Satire! If you don’t like it, then either offer constructive criticism or go be a jerk someplace else! Sheesh.
Your penguin boob bleeds blood.
Sir, where on earth did the knife come from?! I’d appreciate it if you did not embellish my story. Graci.
gender-guessing?, the poop thinks i have boobs. Sigh
Peasant girl, traveling in the rain totally defenseless ? Okay, fine, maybe a knife would be a luxury. Sharpen bed stake? to fend off vampires?
Vampires have no place in her story. Just obnoxious, over-fed, snobbish, assuming royals who need a girl for their most likely bored and pampered prince with no redeeming qualities but his wealth. Which isn’t even a redeeming quality. I rest my case.
ummm now there is a real agenda. Royalty – bad, do you hear the people sing?