Cinderella

Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful and kind girl named Ella. Ella lived happily with her father who loved her deeply.  They spent their days in the garden, exploring the fields, reading books and making each other laugh.

One day, her father came home with some news.  He had met a woman named Madame Tremaine, who had two daughters around Ella’s age, Anastasia and Drizella.  Her father thought it would be good for Ella to have sisters and someone to help with the house, as life had become a little lonely after Ella’s mother had passed away.

Ella was open to the idea of a bigger family, though something about Madame Tremaine made her feel uneasy. Still, she trusted her father’s decision. After all, how bad could it be?

When Madame Tremaine and her daughters moved in, Ella quickly realized that they weren’t as kind or friendly as she had hoped. Anastasia and Drizella were spoiled, always arguing about who was prettier or who deserved nicer things. Madame Tremaine, on the other hand, had a coldness to her that made Ella uncomfortable.

Not long after the family moved in together, tragedy struck. Ella’s father fell ill and passed away, leaving her heartbroken and alone. Her new stepmother didn’t comfort her; instead, she took control of the house and made it clear that Ella was no longer part of the family in the same way. She was treated like a servant, forced to do all the chores, while her stepsisters did nothing but demand more luxuries and ordered her around.

“Ella, fetch my shawl!” Anastasia demanded one morning while lounging on a couch.

“Ella, where’s my breakfast?” Drizella added, not even looking up.

“Clean my room,” Anastasia barked.

Their mother, Madame Tremaine, just watched with a cold smile. “Yes, Ella, you must be useful. It’s good that you are now our servant, though you don’t seem busy enough, when you finish your chores this evening, wash the clothes, clean the windows and scrub the floors.”

Ella tried not to cry and refused to let them crush her spirit. Her once-happy home now felt cold and unfriendly. She did all her chores without complaining, even though her heart ached.

“I must be strong and kind,” Ella whispered to herself as she scrubbed the floors.

Because of all the chores, Ella was always dirty from cleaning and cooking. Every night, she sat by the fireplace to warm herself after a long day, and the ashes from the fire clung to her clothes and skin, but despite this, she was still beautiful. Soon, her stepsisters began calling her a new name.

“Look at her!” Drizella laughed one evening. “She’s always covered in cinders!”

“Cinder-Ella!” Anastasia added, snickering. “What a fitting name for someone who sleeps in the ashes.”

From that moment on, they no longer called her Ella. Instead, they called her Cinderella.

Cinderella spent her evenings alone by the fireplace, her clothes dirty from cleaning all day. She knew she couldn’t change her stepfamily, but she could stay hopeful and kind.

One morning, a royal messenger arrived at their door, carrying a shiny golden envelope. Excitedly, Anastasia and Drizella snatched it from the messenger’s hand and squealed when they realized it was an invitation to a royal ball. The prince was looking for a bride, and all the young women in the kingdom were invited.

“A royal ball!” Drizella squealed as she  whirled around the room. “The prince will definitely fall in love with me!”

“No, me!” Anastasia interrupted, pushing her sister aside.

Their mother, Madame Tremaine, watched with an amused smile. “Yes, girls, you must look your best, for this is your chance to marry into royalty.”

Cinderella watched from the side, quietly doing her chores, but a spark of excitement lit up in her eyes.   As the sisters imagined themselves dancing with the prince, Cinderella excitedly asked, “May I go to the ball, too?”

Her stepmother raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “You? Go to the ball? Cinderella, a prince would never look at you dressed in those rags.”  She laughed cruelly, and her daughters joined in.

But Ella wasn’t about to let her stepmother’s cruelty bring her down. “The invitation says all maidens are invited,” Cinderella pointed out quietly.

Madame Tremaine gave a fake smile.  “Well, if you finish all your chores and find something suitable to wear, then you may go.” But her tone was mocking, as if she didn’t believe Cinderella had a chance.

Cinderella’s heart fluttered with hope. “Thank you, Stepmother!” she said, rushing to start her work.

The day of the ball arrived, and Cinderella worked harder than ever. She cleaned every room, polished every floor, and helped her stepsisters get ready for the evening.

“Cinderella, make sure my gown is perfect!” Anastasia demanded, spinning in front of the mirror.

“Cinderella, fix my hair!” Drizella whined, tapping her foot impatiently.

Cinderella did everything they asked, she wanted to go to the ball more than anything, but by the time she was done with her chores, it was almost evening.

When the house was finally quiet, Cinderella ran to her attic room and pulled out an old dress that had belonged to her mother. It wasn’t fancy, but it was special. With a few adjustments, some sewing, a few ribbons and a dash of creativity, she transformed the simple dress into something beautiful. As smiled as she twirled in front of her small mirror. “I’m ready,” she said, her eyes sparkling.

But as soon as she stepped downstairs, her stepmother and stepsisters noticed her. Madame Tremaine’s eyes narrowed, and her stepsisters gasped.

“What’s this?” Madame Tremaine asked, her eyes narrowing even more.

Before Cinderella could answer, Anastasia and Drizella rushed toward her.

“Is that my ribbon?” Anastasia screeched.

“Those are my pearls!” Drizella cried.

In their jealousy, they tore at Cinderella’s dress, ripping it to pieces.

Madame Tremaine looked on, smiling coolly. “There, now you won’t be embarrassed at the ball.” With that, she and her daughters left, leaving Cinderella alone.

Cinderella stood there, stunned, her dress in shreds. “It’s no use. I’ll never go to the ball,” she whispered.

As Cinderella sat crying in the garden, a soft light began to glow. Wiping her tears, she looked up and saw an old woman holding a wand and smiling kindly at her.

“Who are you?” Cinderella asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

“I am your Fairy Godmother,” the woman said, her eyes twinkling. “And I’m here to help you.”

“My Fairy Godmother?” Cinderella repeated, surprised.

The Fairy Godmother nodded. “Yes, dear. Cinderella, you shall go to the ball.”

“Now, let’s get you there,” the Fairy Godmother said, looking around the garden. She pointed her wand at a pumpkin.

Swish Swoosh went the wand and the pumpkin transformed into a gleaming golden carriage.

The Fairy Godmother spotted two mice scurrying nearby.

Swish Swoosh went the wand and the mice turned into magnificent white horses.

Swish Swoosh went the wand and a lizard turned into a fine coachman.

Cinderella’s mouth dropped open. “It’s so… so magical!”

“But my dress…” Cinderella began, glancing down at the torn rags.

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” the Fairy Godmother said,

Swish Swoosh went the wand.  With a flash of light, Cinderella’s torn dress transformed into a sparkling gown, more beautiful than anything she had ever seen. On her feet were tiny glass slippers that shone like stars.

Her Fairy Godmother smiled warmly. “But remember, the magic will only last until midnight. At the last chime of the clock, everything will return to normal.”

“I understand,” Cinderella said, her heart pounding with excitement.

“Now go,” her Fairy Godmother said, waving her wand one last time. The carriage rolled forward, and Cinderella was on her way to the ball.

The grand ballroom was filled with music and laughter. Every young woman in the kingdom was there, hoping the prince would choose her.

When Cinderella entered the ballroom, everyone turned to look at her. She was so graceful and beautiful that the entire room seemed to light up.  Even the prince, who had been bored all evening, was suddenly captivated.

“Who is she?” he whispered to one of his advisors.

“No one knows, Your Highness,” the advisor replied.

Without waiting, the prince walked across the room to Cinderella. He bowed low and held out his hand. “May I have this dance?” he asked.

Cinderella smiled. “Yes, Your Highness, I’d be honored.”

As they danced, the prince couldn’t stop smiling. “You’re the most wonderful person I’ve ever met,” he said.

Cinderella blushed. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

The two danced the night away, talking and laughing as if no one else was in the room. For a while, Cinderella forgot all her worries. She felt like she was in a dream.

But as they twirled around the dance floor and as the evening reached its peak, the clock began to chime.

Cinderella gasped as the first chime of the clock echoed through the ballroom.

“It’s midnight!” she whispered.

“What’s wrong?” the prince asked, frowning.

“I have to go!” Cinderella cried, pulling away from him.

“But wait—what’s your name?” the prince called after her as she ran toward the doors.

Cinderella didn’t stop. As she raced down the palace steps, her beautiful gown was already beginning to fade. In her hurry, one of her glass slippers slipped off her foot, but she didn’t have time to turn back.

By the time she reached her house, she was once again dressed in her rags, her heart racing from the magical night.

As she curled up by the fireplace, she smiled, holding onto the one glass slipper she had left. “At least I have this to remind me of the night.”

The next morning the entire kingdom was talking about the mysterious girl who had captured the prince’s heart. The prince was searching for her, but he had only one clue to find her—the glass slipper she had left behind.

“I will marry the girl who fits this slipper,” he declared, sending his servants to every house in the kingdom.

When the royal servant arrived at Madame Tremaine’s house, Anastasia and Drizella were thrilled.

“That slipper is mine!” Anastasia boasted.

“No, it’s mine!” Drizella argued.

The royal servant presented the glass slipper, and each stepsister tried to squeeze her foot into it, but no matter how hard they tried, it wouldn’t fit.  The slipper was too small for both of them.

Finally, Cinderella stepped forward.

“May I try?” she asked softly.

Her stepmother’s eyes flashed with anger. “You? Don’t be ridiculous.”

But the royal messenger insisted. “All young women in the household must try.”

Cinderella slipped her foot into the glass slipper, and it fit perfectly. Everyone in the room stared in shock.

“It was you!” Drizella cried.

Cinderella smiled and pulled the matching slipper from her pocket. “Yes, it was me.”

Soon after, the prince arrived at Cinderella’s house. When he saw her, his eyes lit up.

“It’s you,” he said with a smile.

“Yes,” Cinderella said shyly, her heart fluttering.

The prince knelt before her. “Will you marry me?”

Cinderella’s eyes sparkled with joy. “Yes, I will.”

And so, Cinderella and the prince were married in a grand celebration, and she became the beloved princess of the kingdom. She never forgot her past and always remained kind and caring.

As for her stepmother and stepsisters, they had to live with the consequences of their jealousy. But Cinderella forgave them, for she knew that kindness was the greatest power of all.

And so, Cinderella and her prince lived happily ever after.