Michele Jakubowski - Rapunzel: An Interactive Fairy Tale Adventure

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You feel isolated, miserable, and cut off from the world around you. You see no way out and no way down. That is until a stranger offers you a chance to change your life forever.

In this fairy tale, you control your fate. Let your hair down and make choices to determine what happens next.

Chapter One sets the scene. Then you choose which path to read. Follow the links at the bottom of each page as you read the stories. The decisions you make will change your outcome. After you finish one path, go back and read the others for new perspectives and more adventures. Use your device's back buttons or page navigation to jump back to your last choice.

Life can feel pretty lonely sometimes. Even when you are doing the things you love singing, playing games, maybe even a little gardening you are all alone. Its as if you are looking out a window high atop a tower. You can see the world below you, but you cant seem to find your place in it.

The people in your life arent making things any easier. They say they want whats best for you, but you arent convinced thats true. Sometimes they make you feel downright awful. You dream of a life full of friends and adventure. Its time to spread your wings and leave this dreadful tower. But how?

How was school today, Rapunzel? your grandmother asks. She is the only person who calls you by your full name. You prefer Zel.

Fine, Grandmother Gothel, you say with a sigh. But it wasnt really fine at all it was lonely. You dont have a single friend in school.

You and your grandmother live in her penthouse apartment atop a building called the Ivory Tower. It is the tallest building in all of New York City.

You understand why your parents sent you here from their farm in the country. The schools are much better. But you dont fit in with any of the kids at school. They dress in dark clothes and let their short, jet-black hair fall over their eyes. You stand out like a sore thumb with your long, blond locks.

To make matters worse, Grandmother wont let you do anything. She insists that you come straight home from school. Youve asked her time and time again to let you venture out into the city, but she always says the same thing: This place has everything you need, Rapunzel. Theres no need to leave the tower.

You worry the kids at school think youre a snob because you never hang out with them. You wonder how youll ever get them to like you.

Then one day things start to look up. After gym class you see a sign taped to the girls locker room door:

Auditions tonight for this years school musical.
Open to all students!

A musical, you think. If I get a part, Im sure to make some friends. You love to sing, and youre good at it. Even Grandmother thinks so. Surely shed let you sing in a school musical. You scribble your name on the sign-up sheet. You have a spring in your step for the rest of the day.

Back at home you head up to your room and open your window wide. As the breeze blows in, you look out at the beautiful skyline. You begin to sing as loud as you can. You feel like the whole city is your audience.

There is a knock on your door, and Grandmother walks in. Oh, Rapunzel! Your voice is so beautiful, she says.

Thank you, Grandmother, you reply. I hope its good enough for me to get a part in the school musical.

Grandmother frowns. Whats this? she asks. You start to tell her about the musical, but she starts shaking her head before you can finish.

No, no, no, Grandmother says. You are to go to school and come directly home. Those are the rules. You will not be auditioning for any musical!

You feel yourself getting angry, and you ball your hands into fists. Why cant I try out? you ask. Its at school. Im still allowed to go to school, right?

Grandmother smiles. Maybe there is hope after all. Im sorry, dear, she begins, but school is for learning. A musical is not a good idea.

Why not? you protest. You can hear yourself whining, but you dont care. This isnt fair!

The smile leaves Grandmothers face. You know what shes going to say. You have everything you need right here, Rapunzel.

I have everything I need except for a life, you scream. Grandmothers face turns a scary shade of red. You know you have pushed her too far.

Rapunzel, apologize right now! Grandmother demands.

You clamp your mouth shut. You will not apologize. Why should you?

Well? Grandmother asks, looking at you with an arched eyebrow. Is it just you, or did the room get darker? And why does Grandmother suddenly look like an evil witch?

A shiver runs down your spine, but you stand firm. You cross your arms over your chest and stare back. No!

Ungrateful child! Grandmother shouts. Here I am all alone up in this tower while you are away at school. I have given you everything, and this is how you repay me? Grandmother lets out a heavy sigh. I see now that sending you to that school was a bad idea, but I have a solution that will solve everything. Im going to hire a private tutor to come here instead. Then Ill never be lonely again.

As she walks away, angry tears fill your eyes. Now youll never leave the Ivory Tower.

THE END

You can tell that Grandmother wont budge. There is no use fighting her. You mumble something about having homework and head to your room. As you sit on your bed, you realize there is only one way to go to the audition. You are going to have to sneak out.

You crack open your bedroom door and hear your grandmother watching TV in the den. She keeps the TV at top volume, so you arent afraid that shell hear you. But to get to the front door, youll have to walk right by her.

Too risky, you think. There is a door in the kitchen that leads to the stairwell. You are a long way up, and thats a lot of stairs. But what other choice do you have?

You make it into the stairwell and walk quickly down the first few floors. With each step you get more excited about your escape.

When youre sure Grandmother wont hear, you begin to sing. You are almost to the bottom when a door bursts open. Out walks a group of kids from your school.

Its you! says Prince, the cutest boy in your grade.

Um, it is? you ask, feeling your cheeks warm.

Youre the mystery singer! Prince exclaims. Every night I hear singing when I open my window. I could never figure out where it was coming from. Was that you singing just now?

You nod. Im Zel.

Hi, Zel. Im Prince, he smiles.

A girl you recognize from math class steps toward you. Hi, Im Carly. Youve got a great voice, Zel!