"I'm sorry," the boy said quickly.
"I didn't mean to upset you.
Your hair is really pretty!"
Rapunzel looked at the boy.
He had a nice smile.
He was very friendly.
She tried to smile back. "Thank you."
The witch stomped over to them.
"Go away, boy! We're busy!"
Rapunzel blushed.
The witch was so rude sometimes!
Just then a woman hurried over.
"Do you have a beauty potion?" she asked.
"Of course," the witch said.
She began showing potions to the woman.
The boy stepped closer to Rapunzel.
He grinned. "I wish I worked for a witch.
You must learn so much magic!
I love learning new things."
"So do I," Rapunzel said.
Then she sighed. "But I don't learn much magic.
And living with a mean witch is lonely."
Just then several farmers walked by.
Rapunzel blinked in surprise.
"My parents are with them!" she thought.
"What's the matter?" the boy asked.
"I'll be right back," Rapunzel whispered.
"Can you keep the witch busy?"
The boy glanced at the witch. "I'll try."
Rapunzel hurried off.
She slipped through the market.
Then . . . oof!
She tripped over her braid.
Rapunzel got up and dusted off her hands.
She stared at her parents.
She had not seen them for years.
"Will they still know me?" she thought.
Mama and Papa moved away through the crowd.
Rapunzel started after them again.
"This is my chance," she thought.
"Finally I can talk to them!"
"Stop!" a voice growled.
A hand gripped her arm.
Rapunzel spun around.
It was the witch!
The witch stared at the farmers.
Her face turned dark.
Her nails dug into Rapunzel's arm.
"You were running away from me!"