"Cindi?"
"Yes, father?" Cinderella replied without looking up from her cooking.
"There's...something I wanted to tell you for weeks..." Jacob swallowed, clearly reluctant to talk to his daughter.
Cinderella looked up and smiled. Cute dimples appeared at her cheeks as she gave her small smile, making her look absolutely lovely.
"It's okay, father, you can tell me," she gently coaxed.
"Well...you see..." Jacob paused for a moment, then plucked up his courage once again and said," Well, Cindi... since your mum died...well...I met a woman who was really kind and good to me...and after a month we fell for each other...so...you know..." Jacob trailed of into his own stream of thoughts.
"Oh...oh!" As Cinderella slowly understood, she gasped. "That would be fantastic!" She laughed and danced all around the room. Suddenly she stopped, and a mask of sadness covered her face. "But I guess no-one could ever replace Mama..."
Jacob sighed and twiddled his fingers unconsciously.
"It's okay," Cinderella exclaimed, instantly cheerful again. "When's the big day?" She asked, reaching forward to hug her dad.
Jacob, still a little taken aback by her cheerfulness, took a moment to recover and said, "Sorry you wouldn't have time to prepare, but it's tomorrow..."
"No, no, it's fantastic! I'll go prepare right now!" Cinderella bounced up and down like a kid, except she wasn't one.
"Wait! I forgot to tell you something!"
"Yes father?" Cinderella said, raising an eyebrow, grinning.
"That woman...well she had married before and had a kid...and they're moving in with us."
"Oh! That's even more wonderful!"
"Really? Okay, then..." Jacob was still a bit stunned by his daughter's reaction.
"See you later, Dad, I'll go to the market to buy a dress for the wedding if you don't mind!"
"Not at all, bye!"
-
Wedding bells sounded as Jacob and his bride walked down the aisle. The bride was a pretty, slim woman with thin lips coated in red, like blood.
Although Cinderella was excited, she had the feeling that there was something sinister about the woman and she and Jacob just don't fit together.
Cinderella shook her head, clearing the thoughts away, not wanting to ruin this happy, joyful day for her dad.
The groom and the bride said their vows and exchanged rings, as according to the tradition. Not long after, the wedding ended.
Cinderella quickly came over to congratulate her father and her step-mother. As she did so, she caught the step-mother rolling her eyes as her father looked away. How unkind she was! Cinderella sighed. Maybe this family might not be peaceful and pleasant at all.
"Oh! So you're Cinderella? What shabby clothes you wear! And do you even know how to apply makeup?" A hideous girl with a huge nose came up to her and said.
"Excuse me, but who are you?"
"Why, I'm your stepsister, Grisella! Boy, you do stink!"
Oh no, Oh no. How could I have such an dreadful stepsister? This turning out all wrong! Cinderella was horrified. How could father even fall for my stepmother?
Thousands of unpleasant thought swirled around Cinderella's head. She shook her head again, dismissing the thoughts as unnecessary worries. "Everything going to be all right," she whispered to herself.
"Hey wierdo, why are you talking to yourself? Do you have mental problems? Grisella jeered.
How awful she was! Cinderella grimaced at Grisella's comment and looked away, not wanting to have a chat with her.
"Grisly! Come here now, honey!" A shrill, piercing voice rang out, sharp and clear as a gunshot.
Grisella brightened up instantly and bounced to her mum's side, which looked a bit childish for her age.
Cinderella's father beamed as he saw Grisella. "Hey, Grisella, it's so nice to meet you! How are you?"
"I'm fine, thanks," Grisella quickly became the politest and sweetest person Cinderella has ever seen. It was surprising how one could change personalities so quickly.
Cinderella looked away, not wanting to dwell in the sea of unhappiness, and watched others dance around the garden...
