NOT YOUR USUAL CINDERELLA

2

"Mary Jeanne!" Mrs. Smith called

"Yes..." she noticed everyone, except Mary Jane, was staring at her.

"You should never eat with your hand" she pointed it out "This is continental style of eating"

"You haven't said that either mom" Mary Jeanne was as frustrated as Mrs. Smith.

"You, young lady, are always looking for excuses for your mistakes" Mrs. Smith scolded "Everyone eating here haven't made same mistakes as you have" that was true "So instead of finding excuses, why not try to act like your sister here, who – "

"Mother" Mary Jane saw the warning signs "That's enough"

"Well, I'm tired of always correcting her all the time"

"Jenna, that's enough" Mr. Smith said, his voice final and Mrs. Smith huffed but kept quiet "Girls, clean the table when you're done. Jenna, come with me please"

As the couple left, the teens sighed in relief.

"That could've ended well" said Magdalene

"Yeah" said Jeanne

"You should just let her be, you know" Jane said

"She's doing it on purpose" Jeanne cried

"I know" said Jane "Just let her do it. And let her think that she wins or whatever"

"And she can do that, yeah" said Magdalene

"Stop being sarcastic, of course she can do that" Mary Jane said

"No I won't" Mary Jeanne said

"Come on..." Jane said

"Nope" Jeanne said in finality,

They ate their food while bantering about this and that and laughing merrily but Mary Jeanne could swear she saw a hint of worry every once in a while on Mary Jane's lovely face. She knew her twin wanted to spend the time together, if its nor because of their mother then its because the classes are the only time they get to spend together and bond.

A few rooms from the dining hall, Mr. and Mrs. Smith were seated in the study room. It was Mr. Smith's, but recently, she learned to share with Mary Jeanne as another desk was installed in the room, its style more modern than the Victorian style desk Mrs. Smith chose for Mr. Smith,

"You hear them down there?" Mr. Smith asked "they are happy. You keep scolding them and they'll push you out of their lives"

"Only Mary Jeanne would do so, she's hotheaded. I think those law and politics lessons are doing that to her head" Mrs. Smith argued "Mary Jane knows what's to be done and does it at its perfection"

"They are twins, Jenna, don't choose sides and prefer one than the other. You should know better to do so, one can't live without the other" Jenna scoffed "Look how she defended her sister today, it's clear she has had enough too"

"I'm not choosing sides John, I'm just correcting my daughter, as any mother should do. She must learn to do the right thing and own her mistakes instead of making excuses"

"I know love" he said as he hugged her "Just correct her in the right way, talk kindly to her as you talk to Mary Jane"

"I'll try" she promised, and he knew that's the only commitment she can offer right now

"You know what, I think you just need to get laid" John said

"Really now?" Jenna Smith purred, she was aware of what's to come

"Yeah, to take off the stress" he said, and kissed her. The rest was a memory she will always remember.

In the kitchen, the twins were helping Magdalene clean the dishes then prepare the ingredients for lunch.

"Want to hang out after this? We could go for a walk around town" Mary Jeanne asked Mary Jane

"I'd love to, but I have lessons with mother today" Mary Jane answered

"Trust me, they won't be done until dinner" Mary Jeanne gave her a knowing look

"I don't know, let's just stay in"

"If you have a chance at freedom better take the offer before its too late" Magdalene said "speaking from experience, go live a little"

"Fine" Mary Jane answered "let me go change"

Minutes later, Mary Jane came down the stairs dressed identical to Mary Jeanne's brown pants and white baggy shirt.