Cinderella

Charles Perraulta

Once upon a time a girl named Cinderella lived with her stepmother and two stepsisters. Poor Cinderella had to work hard all day long so the others could rest. It was she who had to wake up each morning when it was still dark and cold to start the fire. It was she who cooked the meals. It was she who kept the fire going. The poor girl could not stay clean.

What a mess!” her two stepsisters laughed. And that is why they called her “Cinderella.”
One day, big news came to town. The King and Queen were going to have a ball! It was time for the Prince to find a bride. All of the young ladies in the land were invited to come. They were wild with joy! They would wear their most beautiful gown and fix their hair extra nice. Maybe the prince would like them!

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“Oh, dear!” said Cinderella. “When can I–“
The stepmother marched into the room. “When can you WHAT?”
“Well,” said the girl, “when will I have time to make my own dress for the ball?”
“You?” yelled the stepmother. “Who said YOU were going to the ball?”
“What a laugh!” said one step-sister.

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“You called?” said the fairy.
“Did I?” said Cinderella. “Who are you?”
“Why, your Fairy Godmother, of course! I know your wish. And I have come to grant it.”
“But…” said Cinderella, “my wish is impossible.”
“Excuse me!” said the Fairy Godmother in a huff. “Did I not just show up out of thin air?”
“Yes, you did,” said Cinderella.
“Then let me be the one to say what is possible or not!”

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“This is wonderful!” said Cinderella.
“Who said I was done?” said the Fairy Godmother. She tapped her wand again. At once, a beautiful carriage came to be, with a driver and four white horses.
“Am I dreaming?” said Cinderella, looking around her.
“It is as real, as real can be,” said the Fairy Godmother. “But there is one thing you must know.”
“What is that?”
“All of this lasts only to midnight. Tonight, at the stroke of midnight, it will all be over. Everything will go back to how it was before.”
“Then I must be sure to leave the ball before midnight!” said Cinderella.

Over at the ball, the Prince did not know what to think. “Why do you have that sad look on your face?” the Queen said to her son. “Look around you! You could not ask for finer maidens than these.”
“I know, Mother,” said the Prince. Yet he knew something was wrong. He had met many of the young women. Yet after he said “hello,” one by one, he could find nothing more to say.
"Look!" Someone pointed to the front door. “Who is that?”

The Prince felt a leap in his heart. He and Cinderella danced. When the song was over, they danced again. And then they danced again, and yet again. Soon the other maidens at the ball grew jealous. “Why is he dancing all the time with her?” they said. “How rude!”
But all the Prince could see was Cinderella. They laughed and talked, and they danced some more. In fact, they danced for so long that Cinderella did not see the clock.
“Dong!” said the clock.
Cinderella looked up. 

“Dong!” said the clock.
“I cannot hear you,” said the Prince. “The clock is too loud!”
“Dong!” rung the clock.
“Goodbye!” said Cinderella. Up, up the stairs she ran.
“Dong!” went the clock.
“Please, stop for a moment!” said the Prince.
“Oh, dear!” she said as one glass slipper fell off her foot on the stair. But Cinderella kept running up.

At last the Prince came to Cinderella’s house. 
“He is coming!” called one step-sister as she looked out the window.
“At the door!” screamed the other step-sister. 
“Quick!” yelled the stepmother. “Get ready! One of you must be the one to fit your foot in that slipper. No matter what!”
The Prince knocked. The stepmother flew open the door. “Come in!” she said. “I have two lovely daughters for you to see.”
The first step-sister tried to place her foot in the glass slipper. She tried hard, but it just would not fit. Then the second step-sister tried to fit her foot inside. She tried and tried with all her might, too. But no dice.