[Sandel]

The Most Sensitive Woman

Italy

The parents of a prince wanted him to marry, but he said, "I will marry only such a woman about whom I can say with good conscience that she is the most sensitive woman in the world."

His parents answered, "Then go and find her!"

He went forth and came to a woman whose head was all bandaged up and who appeared to be suffering. "What is the matter with you?" he asked.

"Oh," she said, "this morning my maid was combing my hair, and she pulled one out, which is causing me great pain."

But the prince thought to himself, "She isn't the right one. I will seek further."

He went on his way and found another woman. Her entire body was wrapped with the finest linen, and she looked very sad. "What is the matter with you?" he asked.

"Oh," she said, "last night while I was in bed there was a little wrinkle in the sheet I was lying on, and it has made me sick."

But the prince thought, "She is not the most sensitive one either. There must be a better one."

He continued on his way and came to a third woman. She was sitting in an easy chair and had a bandaged foot. She was crying bright tears and was distorting her pretty face until one had to feel sorry for her. "What is the matter with you?" asked the prince.

"Oh," she groaned, "this morning while I was strolling in the garden a little breeze came up and blew the petal of a jasmine blossom onto my foot."

The prince thought about this a little while, and then said, "You are the right one, for there cannot be a more sensitive woman than you!" And he married her.

Did he do the right thing? Unfortunately the storyteller does not know, for she has run out of yarn.

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Well what think you?

[kicker]

He'll be sorry. What if she had real pain? She'd be a real pain.