I don’t know why but I had a feeling that day was going to be special. The day started off like any other- I got up, went to work with my six roommates, then hi-hoed my way home. But something in the air that evening made me feel like something exciting was going to happen soon.
It didn’t take long to discover just how right I was. Imagine my shock, and to be quite honest, absolute joy, when the seven of us found ourselves in a clean cottage. The dishes were washed, floors swept, every surface dusted and gleaming and, the best part, whatever was on the fire smelled delightful.
Of course we were all very cautious; I mean, someone had been in our home, touching our things. At some point someone mentioned that the unknown cleaner might still be in the cottage. Well that certainly brought us back to reality. We seven stayed close as we inspected. Soon, all that was left was the bedroom.
Doc took the lead because Doc always takes the lead. As always I was back toward the end, followed only by poor Dopey. We were scared and we must have been a sight creeping around with our knees knocking.
Imagine my surprise, all of us for that matter, when we found a little girl draped across our beds. Oh, and she was a beauty, let me tell you. Shiny, jet black hair fell softly against her milky white skin.
We scared the poor thing, the seven of us old short, hairy men standing over her when she awoke. After she realized we weren’t going to hurt her we decided to let her stay. I would have let her stay forever, no strings attached, but Doc, Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy and Happy all wanted something from the poor dear. ‘You can stay if you do the wash’, ‘If you make our meals’, ‘Sweep the floors’. I would have been happy to just look at her everyday- the child none of us would ever have. And I think Dopey was on board with me. But she accepted with no fuss. In fact she ran right downstairs to finish our dinner.
Soon we found a routine. She did a wonderful job and we were always happy to come home. Dinner was always wonderful and she loved to hear about our days in the mine. I even brought home jewels for her, but I was never brave enough to give them to her.
But one day there was no smoke coming from the chimney when we got home. We rushed inside to find our beautiful girl splayed across the floor, unable to  breath. None of us really knew what was wrong but Dopey, wonder that he is, pointed excitedly at the bright red ribbons on her corset. They had been black ribbons when we left that morning. Doc and I quickly unstrung the ribbons and she was able to breathe again. That evening Grumpy had a long talk with hr about strangers and how she is not to speak to anyone that comes through this forest as they are up to no good.
But soon it happened again. This time she had a strange red comb in her hair and as soon as it was removed she was revived. Again Grumpy fussed at her, again she promised not to speak with anyone in the forest.
Well, she didn’t listen. When we came home tonight she was again on the floor. Next to her was a piece of apple, bitten. We’ve tried everything and we can’t get her back. I’m going to miss my little Snow White.