Hi, I am Thalia, I live in Athens, Greece with my dog Tawny, this is my story of how I went from painting masks in a shop to painting the mural of Athena in the King's castle.

Tawny

Thalia

On April 1st, 375 BC in Athens, Greece.

 Thalia was walking in the central market. She saw in the distance a poster that said:

 "painting competition!

 Whoever wins will paint the mural of Athena in the king's castle. 

The winner will also receive 1500 drachmas. 

If you would like to compete go to the King's castle between April 2-4 to sign up. 

May the best win"

When Thalia saw the poster, she felt happy, surprised, and full of ideas of what to paint.

She grabbed the poster and went straight home. 

The next day, she went to the castle to sign up for the competition. when she arrived she saw guards, and a lot civilians standing in a line waiting for their turn to speak to the king.

Thalia noticed that most of the people waiting were male.

Finally it  was Thalia's turn to speak to the king.

"Hello." said Thalia.

"Are you looking for someone?" asked the king, Epaphrus.

"no, I am here to sign up to the painting  competition."

"Well, girl, sorry to tell you but just men can sign up to the competition." the King sneered.

"that's so unfair!" Thalia protested.

King Epaphras

<---

Thalia walked furiously home.

She sat on her couch and started thinking.

"why won't the king allow me to enter the competition."

when suddenly...

She had a great idea.

"what if... I disguise myself as a boy? so I can sign up and participate!"

She decided she was gonna cut her hair, use different clothes, all so she could sign up. 

The next morning, Thalia went to the castle dressed up as a boy.

She saw the king again, "hey, boy, what's your name?"

"Hello, I am Thali- Thales, my name is Thales Ariti" Thalia strained her voice as deep as it could go.

"okay, Thales Ariti are you here to sign up for the competition?" King Epaphrus asked.

"Yes" Thalia nodded.

"Ok did you bring any art pieces to show me your work?"

"yeah, here it is" 

Thalia took out of a bag a beautiful bright orange tiger masks made out of stiffened and painted linen.

"I love your work! You're entered. Come back here tomorrow at 10:00 AM"

Thalia came the next morning to the castle yard, some time later she met the other two contestants.

They were Thanos and Dorian, even though they were brothers they really did not like each other at all.

Thalia with cut hair - Thales

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