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"Oh, suds and bubbles,
Toils and troubles.
The laundry never ends!
Just when I think that it is done
I find I've only just begun!
How I hate this never ending chore!

Suds and bubbles
Toils and troubles
The soapy water flies!
Splashing all across my small toes!
When the pile ends God only knows!
How I dread every single Monday!" I paused in my laundry song to wipe my brow. Then I continued with gusto.

"Suds and bubbles
Toils and troubles
There's only one good part!
I hang the clean upon the line," I sang as I placed a pin on one end of a snow white sheet and moved to the other end.

"And know that is--" I stopped. I had never gotten this far before without being yelled at for complaining.

"Oh darn," I muttered, placing a pin on the sheet to secure it. "I can't think of a rhyme for line."

"You could try 'align,'" a male voice sang.

"Or perhaps 'dine'
Or 'rhyme.'" The smith's son Alton pushed through the sheets to join me.

"They don't make sense," I answered, rolling my eyes.

"Then say they are 'washed so fine!'"

"I hang the clean upon the line
And know that it is washed so fine!
I'm done with the task until next week!" I finished the song with a triumphant smirk.

"Thanks," I said, granting Alton a smile.

"Do you want some help?" he asked, and I glanced at his dancing green eyes. Could I trust him today? Or was he building up to some elaborate prank? He had helped me with the song, so I took a chance.

"With the song or the laundry?" I replied teasingly as I reached down to remove a sheet from the basket.

"The laundry, Rose," he answered, shaking his head, which caused his russet hair to flash in the sunlight.

"I'd appreciate the help," I admitted as I shook the sheet out with a snap. He grabbed one end, and we stretched it out in silence.

"You aren't going to sing?" he asked as he jabbed his pin into place. "I thought you were like those birds you're always talking to. You never shut up even if people tell you to stop."

"I don't," I retorted in song.
"Tell me, daisies,
Did you ever know a man
So... contrary?
First he wants me to sing
Then he hates when I do.
Tell me what is a girl to think?"

"I don't recall telling you
I hated to hear you sing.
You're our town's own songbird,
A musical angel come down
Among men!" he sang as I gathered my empty basket and began to move away.

"An angel, am I?" I glanced back at his handsome, clean-cut face. Then I continued toward my aunts and the wash buckets.

"Despite all your thorns," he began to sing as he caught up with me.
"You are an angel of music.
Found in the woods,
Left by heaven,
Singing as you entered this world!
It is plain, you,
The foundling child,
Were meant as a gift from above!"

"Or perhaps my parents did not want such a strange girl as I," I replied bitterly.

"What do you mean strange?" Alton asked as he stopped dead in shock.

I sighed, rolled my eyes, and faced him.

"Have you ever heard of a girl like me?
A girl who can sing the birds
Right out of the sky?
Then after she's called them down
Hold a conversation with them
And all the other creatures around her?" I questioned, singing with all the pain in my heart.

"A girl who can effortlessly
Be a lady with no training?" I continued.

"Who can charm everyone she meets?" he sang, approaching me.
"Like a rose, caught in perfect bloom,
You shine no matter where you are."

"Thank you," I said after a minute. "That was really sweet."

"I can't believe you fell for that!" he laughed before tugging on one of my long golden braids.

"Ow!" I cried as I reached to clutch my head. "Get back here!"

"Not a chance, fairy girl!" he shouted as he sprinted away. And of course, I chased after him. Because despite all his teasing, he was my best friend.