One fine afternoon, Cindirillo returned home after a hard day of work. As he walked straight to his room, he sighed, happy to be home alone. A day without his stepmother and sisters was glorious... It only happened in rare occasions and it was a time to treasure, every second it lasted.
Ready to take a bath, the young man shrugged when the front door opened and closed right after. The cracking voices of Doña Carmiña, Ana and María reverberated in the two story house. It was like having cockatoos at home, screeching and guffawing all day long. Cindirillo was about get in the bathroom when the three ladies climbed upstairs, their hands loaded with shopping bags. A sudden heat, a very unpleasant tingling sensation ran up starting on his feet to stop on his face. The vultures went shopping, with HIS money, the product of HIS hard work and sweat. It wasn't fair. No.
"Look all the pretty things we bought, José", Ana teased him, taking a fancy dress out from one of the bags.
"That's a fine dress Ana." Cindirillo swallowed the heavy lump in his throat.
"It is, and very expensive", the girl replied. "I'm gonna wear it for tonight's ball."
"A ball?" The boy didn't know what they talked about.
"Yes! Tonight's Villa del Mar inauguration. They've invited us to the ball. Isn't it great!" María said with enthusiasm.
"Hey girls... Don't be mean with your brother. He can get confused and think he's invited too, when it's obvious he's not... Remember he has to wake up tomorrow before dawn to go fishing. Besides, the invitation clearly states that only three people in this house can go." The hideous stepmother showed him the card with the gilded number 3 written on it. Laughing out loud and mocking on poor Cindirillo, the three ladies walked away as they shook their bags and talked about how much fun they will have in the inaugural ball.
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José stood by the window in his bedroom staring at the shoreline. On the inlet's opposite side, there was the grand new hotel. In the way the sun was setting down behind the rocky cliffs, the lights in the Villa del Mar went on, reflecting on the bay's water surface like floating stars. Cindirillo could hear the music, wishing to be there. A tear rolled down his cheek when he realized that he could only wish. Even though he'd been invited he had nothing elegant to wear, neither money to buy it. The colors on his best clothes were fading and his shoes were worn out. The eighteen years old boy had other plans for the money he'd been saving for so long. He would use it to pay the courses needed to grant his high school diploma and go to college, and out of the town; to be able to rent an apartment and move far away from his stepmother and sisters was his goal and once he had the amount required he would be gone, for ever.
Above in the night sky, the first stars twinkled when a shooting star fell. The white tail of stardust arched down until it vanished, somewhere beneath the horizon and the sea. "If I could only go to that ball... And have fine clothes and shoes to wear, I'd be happy, at least for one night." The boy sighed, speaking to himself. He closed his eyes and the ocean's warm breeze blowed on his face softly bringing the aroma of moistened sand and salt. In the distance the subtle sound of chiming bells was heard. "Stupid me... There's not such things as fairies or wishing shooting stars." Crestfallen, Cindirillo walked toward his bed. Deep inside he urged to tuck in and fall asleep. The music coming from the hotel made him feel miserable.
He was about to climb up to bed when the front door's bell rang. Surprised to have someone calling at the door, the teenager put his t-shirt on and headed to the first story of the house. Cindirillo opened the door and found no one. On the floor there was a big squared black box that read on top 'Oscar de la Renta'.
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In his shaky hands, Cindirillo lifted the box, studying it with curiosity and guessing it was left at the door by mistake. That was until he found an envelop with his name on it written in flawless calligraphy. José got inside after making sure no one saw what was left on the balcony. After closing the door behind, he hurried up to his room, locked the door and placed the box on the bed. Giving a second thought, he finally decided to open it. Carefully he removed the cream-colored tissue paper that covered the content and he almost fainted to see what was inside. His eyes couldn't believe it. A tuxedo, neatly placed, ready to use was inside. The shirt, the suit, belt, bow... even the shoes were inside. And everything was just his size! His whole body trembled. Walking in circles and without keeping his eyes off the box, the young fisherman thought it was a joke, or maybe he was dreaming. There was a tuxedo on his bed... The way he wished a second ago.
Laughing to the absurdity of the idea of being recipient of a granted wish from heaven or fairies, he picked in his hands the envelope to revise what was in it. "Oh God this is too much!" He exclaimed when he found an invitation to the ball at Villa del Mar. "DearMr. Cindirillo", he read aloud. "This is an open invitation to the ball taking place tonight in my hotel. In the box you'll find anything you need to wear. Do not reject this invitation, I must beg. Me and my family will be more than delighted to have you as a VIP guest in the feast. A taxi will pick you up at 8:00 pm at your house. Hoping to see you there, your friend, Armando Gighliotti".
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***Hey guys! What do you think of this version of Cinderella up to now? Do you like it is a man instead of a girl? What do you think of José? Do you think he'll attend to the ball?
