Cinderella (Modern)

ONCE UPON A TIME there was a girl named Cinderella who lived with her stepmother and two stepsisters.  Maybe it was because she was the youngest – or who knows why – but Cinderella was the one who had to do all the hard work around the cottage.  In the dark of early morning, who got up to get the fire going? Cinderella. Who was the one who tended to the chickens and the goats? Cinderella. Who cooked each meal, and who cleaned up after?  Cinderella, Cinderella, Cinderella.

Ashes fell in Cinderella’s hair and dirt smudged her apron.  Her stepmother and stepsisters laughed at her.  In sharp, mean voices they would laugh, “What a mess you are!”  It was hard for Cinderella. She thought, “They may talk mean to me, but that doesn't mean I have to think the same way they do."  Deep inside she would think, "I may look like a mess but I am not a mess, not really.  And someday, somehow, I will get out of here.”

One day, exciting news swept through the village.  The King and Queen announced they were going to host a ball!  What was most exciting is that every young maiden was invited to come and at the ball, their son, the Prince, would choose a bride.  Well, you can imagine how excited Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters were to hear about this! At once, they turned to Cinderella and pointed their fingers at her.

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Deep inside she would think, "I may look like a mess but I am not a mess, not really."

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“Cinderella, make me a new dress!”

“I want a long veil!”

“Cinderella, now!”

The girl worked as fast as she could, her fingers flying.  She sewed ruffles and buttons and flounces onto dresses for her stepsisters and her stepmother that had to present the latest style, and nothing less.

As she sewed, Cinderella looked up at her stepmother.  “When may I start my own dress?”

“You?!” snapped the stepmother.  “What makes you think you're going to the ball?”

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“You?!" snapped the stepmother.  "What makes you think you're going to the ball?"  

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“I mean, I just thought–“

“Think again!”  The stepmother turned her back on Cinderella.  To her daughters, she said, “Girls, get ready! Before you know it, our carriage will be here.”

The stepsisters primped and fussed. Cinderella sank into a corner.  When the carriage arrived at the door, the stepmother and stepsisters, their noses high in the air, stepped into the carriage.  Off they all rode, giggling and shimmering in their finery.

Now let's go back in time a few days.  We'll peek inside the palace where we see the Prince pacing.  The ball is just days away, and he's getting more and more alarmed.   His mother and father said not to worry, it would be easy to choose a bride from all the young ladies who would attend the ball.  Yet how could he tell just by looking at them, which young lady he should marry?

At last the Prince settled on a plan.  It so happened that one of his loyal servants was about the same size and age as he, and the servant looked very much like him.  “If my servant and I were to switch clothes,” thought the Prince, “I could act as a servant for the night.  As servant, I could watch the ladies when they don't think anyone is paying attention, and find out more about them.”

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At last the Prince settled on a plan.

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You can be sure the servant was very glad to pretend to be the Prince for one night! He practiced all day talking like the true  Prince and walking like him.  At the night of the ball, the pretend Prince stood ready to receive his guests. And the true Prince, as a pretend servant, was put to work.

Now that you know what was really going on at the royal palace, let’s return to Cinderella. When her stepmother and stepsister's carriage disappeared into the distance, she called out in despair. “Why is this happening to me!  It’s not fair!”

“Lots of things in life aren’t fair,” said a voice behind her.  "The question is, what can  be done about it?"

Cinderella could hardly speak. “Wait, who are...? I mean...?”

“Oh, fiddle faddle!” said the Fairy with a toss of her head.  “Am I your Fairy Godmother, or am I not?”

“You are?” said Cinderella, not really knowing.

“Of course!” said she with a sharp nod.  The Fairy Godmother wove her wand.  At once, a gold-trimmed carriage appeared with a driver and four fine horses.  

“Is this for real?” said Cinderella.  

“Believe it,” said the Fairy Godmother.  “Oh, and one more thing.” With another wave of the wand, Cinderella’s rags were gone.  She was wearing the loveliest blue gown she could ever imagine!  Cinderella marveled at her new fine gown.  But the Fairy Godmother spoke in a stern voice, “Now pay attention!"

"To what?" said Cinderella, still in a glow.

"At the stroke of midnight, this spell will wear off. All of this, everything you see, will disappear.  Everything will go back to the way it was before.”

“I will remember,” said Cinderella, who wasn't in the least bit worried.  The night was young, and midnight was many hours away.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” said the Fairy Godmother briskly. “Get inside your carriage!”

Cinderella stepped in, barely believing it all.  The horses and carriage seemed to fly through the air.  With the speed of wind, she was headed to the ball!

Now let us leave Cinderella.  We are returning to the palace.  The pretend Prince, who you no doubt remember is really the Prince's servant, was having the time of his life.  Each lady, and this included Cinderella’s stepsisters, laughed very loudly at any remark he happened to make.  They adored him completely.  They wanted nothing more than to let him talk on and on about himself. Whatever it took to keep his attention.

When Cinderella arrived at the ball, she caught the eye of the pretend Prince.  He waved to her as if to say, “You! Next!” Cinderella was a bit surprised, thinking that was rather like the way her stepmother and stepsisters called our orders to her.  But she went over to the pretend Prince and bowed. They started to dance.

“Of course you want to hear all about me,” he stated.

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“Of course you want to hear all about me," he stated.

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“Well, all right,” said Cinderella.  The Prince chatted on. All the while he wondered, “Why isn’t this one laughing and giggling?  Why isn’t she adoring me like the others?” As soon as the song ended, he gave her a curt nod and turned around. Three finely-dressed ladies were waving to him from across the room and shouting, “Me, me!  My turn, Your Highness!” He pointed to one of the ladies, and the other two groaned with disappointment. The one he pointed to shrieked with delight and ran toward him, tripping over her gown. Cinderella stepped back.  The prince danced off with his new partner. Cinderella wondered, “What just happened?”

At that moment, Cinderella noticed something glinting in the corner of her eye.  It was a silver tray leaning against the wall. What she didn’t know is that the pretend servant, who as you know was really the Prince, had been given a silver tray to fill with pastries to offer the guests.  He had set down the tray to move closer to some of the ladies to hear them talking. While he was gone, it was moved. When he returned to the spot, the tray was gone! He couldn’t think about listening to any more ladies.  He must find that tray!  

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When he returned to the spot, the tray was gone!

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Cinderella noticed a servant in the distance who seemed to be dashing about, looking for something.  She picked up the silver tray and took it over to him. “Excuse me,” she said. “Could this be what you’re looking for?”

The would-be servant smiled with gratitude. “Thank you,” he said with a bow. “I was looking everywhere for it.  I can’t tell you how glad I am you brought it to me.”  How kind she was to seek him out this way to bring back his tray - he, a lowly servant! The pretend prince wanted to talk more to this lady.  He said, “If I may ask, how are you enjoying the ball, my lady?”

“It’s fine,” said Cinderella. “But in a way, I must confess it is not quite what I thought.”

“How do you mean?” asked the pretend servant.

“It’s hard to say,” said Cinderella slowly. “I suppose I came to dance with the Prince.  And I did. But there was something about it. Somehow I thought it would be different.”

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“Somehow I thought it would be different."

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The musicians started a new song.  “My lady,” said the pretend servant, “may I have a quick dance?  So you can compare, I mean.”

“Why not?” said Cinderella with a smile.  

At the next beat of music, the two of them whirled around.  They danced and laughed, and seemed to float in the air as they whirled about.  Cinderella felt as if they knew each other, but how could that be?

Then she stopped. “Oh dear!” she said. “I must not keep you from your duties.”

“Of course,” said the pretend servant.  He quickly picked up the silver tray and gave a quick bow to Cinderella.  Off he went to the kitchen to fill it with pastries for the guests.

Just then the clock began to chime.  “Dong!” it rang.

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Just then the clock began to chime.

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Cinderella did not hear the chime.  She was lost in thought. There was something about that servant.  But what?

“Dong, dong, dong!” rang the clock again.

“Oh, my!” Then Cinderella remembered – she must leave the ball right away!  As soon as the clock struck midnight, the spell would vanish - everything would return to how it was before!

The clock kept on chiming. Cinderella ran up the steps to the front door.  She ran so fast, one of her glass slippers fell off. Yet she had no time to pick it up.  Hobbling with one shoe, she ran to the carriage. “Quick, Cinderella, get inside!” the driver called axiously.

As soon as Cinderella was safely in the carriage, the horses raced out of the palace grounds.  Just then, the clock struck midnight. The carriage, the four horses, and the driver all vanished in a puff of smoke. Once again, Cinderella was dressed in her ordinary rags.  She was far from home. She would have to walk the long way home.  It was nearly morning by the time she tiptoed inside, not that anyone noticed. Her stepmother and stepsisters were sound asleep and snoring loudly.

What Cinderella did not know was that while she was running up the steps, the pretend servant - the true Prince, that is - had noticed her running out and had followed her out the door.  But by the time he got outside and looked around, there was no trace of her. He noticed one glass slipper shimmering in the moonlight. He picked it up in wonder. He did not know the name of the young woman he had met -  the only clue he had was this one glass slipper. The mysterious young woman must have the other glass slipper.  Somehow, he must find her!

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Somehow, he must find her!

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The next day, there was a royal announcement.  The Prince was going to visit every cottage in the kingdom, looking for the young woman whose foot would fit the glass slipper that had been left behind, and who had the other glass slipper.  

As he visited one cottage after another, eager young women tried to squeeze their feet into the glass slipper.  Of course, the Prince could tell right away they were not the same young woman and the one he had met at the ball. But as a gentleman and a Prince, he gave each one a chance.  At last each would give up, and he would move on to the next cottage.

At Cinderella’s house, her stepmother and stepsisters were waiting for the Prince with great excitement.  Each stepsister was sure she would be the one to get her foot into the glass slipper. After all, wasn’t her dance with the Prince the best one he had that night?  Wasn't he really looking for her?

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Each stepsister was sure she would be the one to get her foot into the glass slipper.

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The stepmother noticed Cinderella.  “You must not be here when the Prince comes!” she said sharply.  "Go to your room, at once!"  

In a low voice she said, “Fine with me!” thinking of the Prince who could talk of nothing but himself.

“And do not come out until I tell you to.”

“Fine!” said Cinderella. She went up to her attic room and shut the door.

Before long, the Prince arrived at the cottage of Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters.  Each stepsister tried to fit her foot into the glass slipper with all their might, but their feet just could not fit. Both were discouraged and sat there in quiet disappointment.  Even the stepmother had nothing to say.  It was so quiet, in fact, that Cinderella thought the Prince must be gone by now.  She came down the stairs from her attic room.

“Oh!” she said, surprised to see the Prince still there.  

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“Oh!" she said, surprised to see the Prince still there.

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He looked up. Strange - he did not carry himself in the way as the Prince she danced with at the ball.  And he did not look like the Prince, either.  At once, the true Princess recognized her - she may be dressed in rags, but he knew at once it was she, the very same woman he had danced with at the ball!

Remembering what she had said when she had returned his silver tray, the Prince now said to Cinderella, “Excuse me. Could this be what you’re looking for?”  He smiled warmly.

Cinderella took a step back, astonished.  Why, now there was no doubt!  This Prince standing before her was the same servant she had danced with at the ball! Why was he now dressed as the Prince?  Yet remembering what he had said when she returned his tray, Cinderella now bowed and said, “Thank you.  I was looking everywhere for it. I can’t tell you how glad I am that you brought it to me.”

I am sure you can guess what happened next.  Cinderella’s foot fit the glass slipper perfectly.  The Stepmother and Stepsisters were astonished.  Even more so, when Cinderella took out of her pocket the other glass slipper.  Cinderella and the Prince took each other’s hands and looked into each other's eyes.  They knew what would happen and so do you - the two of them were wed and lived happily ever after.