Bechloe Fairytales

Cinderella

Once upon a time, there lived an unhappy young girl. Unhappy she was, her mother was dead, her father had married another woman, a widow with two daughters, and her stepmother didn't like her one little bit. All the nice things, kind thoughts and loving touches were for her own daughters. And not just the kind thoughts and love, but also dresses, shoes, shawls, delicious food, comfy beds, as well as every home comfort. All this was laid on for her daughters. But, for the poor unhappy girl, there was nothing at all. No dresses, only her stepsisters' hand-me-downs. No lovely dishes, nothing but scraps. No nice rests and comfort. For she had to work hard all day, and only when evening came was she allowed to sit for a while by the fire, near the cinders. That is how she got her nickname, for everybody called her Chloe. Chloe used to spend long hours all alone talking to the cat. The cat said, "Meow", which really meant, "Cheer up! You have something neither of your stepsisters has and that is beauty." It was quite true. Chloe, even dressed in rags with a dusty grey face from the cinders, was a lovely girl. While her stepsisters, no matter how splendid and elegant their clothes were still clumsy, lumpy and ugly, and they always would be. One day, beautiful new dresses arrived at the house. A ball was to be held at Court and the stepsisters were getting ready to go to it. Chloe didn't even dare ask, "What about me?" for she knew very well what the answer to what would be. "You? My dear girl, you're staying at home to wash the dishes, scrub the floors and turn down the beds for your stepsisters. They will come home tired and very sleepy." Chloe sighed at the cat. "Oh dear, I'm so unhappy!" and the cat murmured "Meow". Suddenly something amazing happened. In the kitchen, where Chloe was sitting all by herself, there was a burst of light and a fairy appeared. "Don't be alarmed, Chloe," said the fairy. "The wind blew me your sighs. I know you would love to go to the ball. And so you shall!" "How can I, dressed in rags?" Chloe replied. "The servants will turn me away!" The fairy smiled. With a flick of her magic wand, Chloe found herself wearing the most beautiful dress, the loveliest ever seen in the realm. "Now that we have settled the matter of the dress," said the fairy, "we'll need to get you a carriage. A real lady would never go to a ball on foot!" "Quick! Get me a pumpkin!" she ordered. "Oh of course," said Chloe, rushing away. Then the fairy turned to the cat. "You, bring me seven mice!" "Seven mice!" said the cat. "I didn't know fairies ate mice too!" "They're not for eating, silly! Do as you are told, and remember they must be alive!" Chloe soon returned with a fine pumpkin and the cat with seven mice he had caught in the cellar. "Good!" exclaimed the fairy. With a flick of her magic wand — wonder of wonders! The pumpkin turned into a sparkling carriage and the mice became six white horses, while the seventh mouse turned into a carriage man, in a smart uniform and carrying a whip. Chloe could hardly believe her eyes. "I shall present you at Court. You will soon see that the Princess, in whose honor the ball is being held, will be enchanted by your loveliness. But remember! You must leave the ball at midnight and come home. For that is when the spell ends. Your carriage will turn back into a pumpkin, the horses will become mice again and the carriage man will turn back into a mouse, and you will be dressed again in rags and wearing clogs instead of these dainty little slippers! Do you understand?" Chloe smiled and said, "Yes, I understand!" When Chloe entered the ballroom at the palace, a hush fell. Everyone stopped in mid-sentence to admire her elegance, her beauty and grace. "Who can that be?" people asked each other. The two stepsisters also wondered who the newcomer was, for never in a month of Sundays, would they ever have guessed that the beautiful girl was really poor Chloe who talked to the cat! When the princess set eyes on Chloe, she was struck by her beauty. Walking over to her, she bowed deeply and asked her to dance. And to the great disappointment of all the young ladies, she danced with Chloe all evening. "Who are you, fair maiden?" the Princess kept asking her. But Chloe only replied: "What does it matter who I am! You will never see me again anyway." "Oh, but I shall, I'm quite certain!" she replied. Chloe had a wonderful time at the ball, but, all of a sudden, she heard the sound of a clock: the first stroke of midnight! She remembered what the fairy had said, and without a word of goodbye she slipped from the Princess's arms and ran down the steps. As she ran she lost one of her slippers, but not for a moment did she dream of stopping to pick it up! If the last stroke of midnight were to sound... oh, what a disaster that would be! Out she fled and vanished into the night. The Princess, who was now madly in love with her, picked up her slipper and said to his ministers, "Go and search everywhere for the girl whose foot this slipper fits. I will never be content until I find her!" So the ministers tried the slipper on the foot of all the girls... and on Chloe's foot as well... Surprise! The slipper fit her perfectly. "That awful untidy girl simply cannot have been at the ball," snapped the stepmother. "Tell the Princess she thought to marry one of my two daughters! Can't you see how ugly Chloe is! Can't you see?" Suddenly she broke off, for the fairy had appeared. "That's enough!" she exclaimed, raising her magic wand. In a flash, Chloe appeared in a splendid dress, shining with youth and beauty. Her stepmother and stepsisters gaped at her in amazement, and the ministers said, "Come with us, fair maiden! The Princess waits to present you with her engagement ring!" So Chloe joyfully went with them, and lived happily ever after with her Princess Beca. And as for the cat, he just said "Meow"!