The Feather Dress

 

The Feather Dress

Once upon a time, there was a man and a woman living in a small village. However, God had not blessed them with any children. The woman longed deeply to become a mother, and though she was in pain every day because of this, she never lost hope. She constantly prayed to God to grant her a daughter, even if she were a chicken!

One day, while gazing sadly at the sky, she said: "O Lord, bless me with a daughter, even if she’s a chicken!"

After some time, she found a large egg in front of her house. Surprised, she took it inside. A few days later, the egg hatched, and out came a beautiful chicken. But this chicken was no ordinary bird—when no one was watching, she would turn into a stunningly beautiful girl.

The woman was overjoyed and loved her daughter dearly. To her, this chicken was not just a bird, but a miracle from God in response to her prayers.

The Girl Hides Her Secret
The girl lived like a normal chicken among the flock, but whenever she was alone, she would remove her feathers and become a beautiful girl. At night, when no one could see her, she would wander under the moonlight, enjoying her freedom. Then, she would put her feathers back on and return to being a chicken.

One day, the prince of the village passed by the house and saw the reflection of the beautiful girl in the well’s water. He was amazed—he had no idea such a lovely girl lived there. But when he looked directly, he saw only an ordinary chicken among the others.

Confused and curious, the prince decided to uncover the truth.

The Prince Discovers Her Secret
In the nights that followed, the prince began watching the house until he finally saw the girl removing her feathers and transforming into a breathtakingly beautiful young woman. He fell in love with her at first sight and decided to marry her.

The next morning, he went to the woman and said: "I want to marry your daughter!"

The woman was stunned and replied: "But my daughter is a chicken—how can you marry a chicken?"

The prince smiled and said: "I know her secret, and I love her just as she is!"

The mother was delighted, and the girl was overjoyed. She agreed to marry him, but on one condition: "No one must know my secret, and no one must take my feather dress!"

The prince agreed and took her with him to the palace, where they lived happily.

Jealousy and the Secret Revealed
Not everyone in the palace welcomed the girl. Some of the maids grew jealous and began to whisper rumors about her origin.

One day, while the girl was asleep, someone sneaked into her room and stole the feather dress she had carefully hidden. When she awoke, she couldn’t return to her chicken form and remained a normal girl, unable to hide herself again.

When the prince found out, he laughed and said: "I never needed your secret—I love you as you are, whether you’re a girl or a chicken!"

The girl realized that the prince’s love was true—not because of her magic or her uniqueness.

The Happy Ending
The girl lived happily in the palace and became a symbol of inner beauty and true love. She no longer needed her feather dress, for she had found her true place among people who loved her for who she was, not for her looks or her magic.

Raghad R./ Alwada Secondary School for Girls