Marguerita's Secret Diary
by Tom Smith

Marguerita Michelle Two-Bear was raised in a tri-cultural home, and has written stories from each culture into her secret diary.

She tells the Appalachian story of Hearth Girl, a young woman abandoned by her father, yet longing for his return.

Hearth Girl meets a mysterious woman who moves in and rules the household with an iron first, yet does so for very secretive, and very honorable, reasons.

The second story, Javier and the Rabbits (Javier y el Conejos), is told in both Spanish and English.

Javier is a simple and gullible boy who is forced to work on a farm to pay off a debt to a wicked Townswoman.

One day, the rabbits that he is tending begin to talk.

They reveal a plan for Javier to free himself from his difficult life, and get back at the Townswoman at the same time.

The third story, Nayoo, the Burn-Face Girl, is based on a native American legend.

Nayoo's evil sisters, jealous of her beauty, burn her face in a fire, horribly disfiguring her.

Meanwhile, a Visitor Woman comes to town with her brother, N'Karna, who is invisible and must remain so until a woman can prove that she truly loves him, rather than the magical wish he can provide his wife.

Nayoo's sisters compete for N'Karna, but it is ultimately Nayoo who proves her love and earns the wish.

Marguerita explains that her stories have been told again and again and that some of the details have changed.

In fact, in some parts of the world, these stories are known as Cinderella.

The play ends reinforcing the importance of sharing stories and recording them for future generations.