Teensy the troll steps out of her cave to go to school. Like every other morning, she’s greeted by the sight of fairy godmothers turning little girls into beautiful princesses. Teensy wants a fairy godmother more than ever, but they won’t even look at her. Sad as always, she heads to school, wearing her plain dress and her plain shoes.
One day she comes home from school with her face covered in tears. “What happened?” her dad asks.
“I’m the only troll in school and I get made fun of every day! I want a fairy godmother to turn me into a princess too!” she replies between sobs.
Her dad wipes her away tears. Looking into her eyes, he says, “Since you can’t be a princess, let’s talk about who you are. So… who are you, Teensy?”.
“I’m a troll… just a plain little troll,” Teensy replies with a sigh.
“But you’re not just a troll. Who are you, really?” he asks again.
“I’m… your daughter.” Teensy replies with hesitation.
“But you’re not just my daughter. Who are you, really?” he asks again.
“I’m… an intelligent student… a kind friend… a hard worker. And I’m… a pretty good troll,” she replies, no longer crying.
“But are you good enough?” he asks.
“Good enough for who?” she replies.
“Good enough for yourself,” he responds.
“I don’t know,” she says, confused by his question.
“Then close your eyes, Teensy. Take a deep breath and tell yourself that you are good just the way you are. Tell yourself until you believe it, even if it takes all night,” he says, before tucking her gently into her bed.
Teensy falls into a deep peaceful sleep. Her dad’s words comfort her through the night. The next morning, before she steps out of the cave, her dad gives her a kind smile and asks, “Do you still need a fairy godmother, Teensy?”.
“No, I don’t. I am good just the way I am,” she replies with twinkling eyes. And for once, she really believes what she is saying.
As always, when Teensy steps out of her cave, she is greeted by the sight of fairy godmothers turning little girls into princesses. They still don’t look at her. She is still wearing her plain dress and her plain shoes. Nothing has changed, yet she is no longer sad… because she is more than good enough for herself.
Tasneem Dairywala 