A Cinderella Story

Chapter Thirteen: The Ball

Chapter Thirteen: The Ball

Jessica was on cloud nine, her house was perfect, smal but it was all hers. A real kitchen with an attached dinning room, her living room, upstairs she has a beautiful bedroom, the corners stenciled in seashells and sea life. Another room, that would become her practice room, and a small attic.

Mrs. Rice came over every day and helped her with the decorating, and various cleaning that a girl in crutches still couldn't quite get at. Most of the time Derrick was somewhere in the house, hovering either over her, or doing odd handyman jobs, like fixing the basement breakers and nailing down boards.

One day Anna came over in the afternoon, Jessica had now abandoned the crutches and was out in the back yard, it was a small plot, but enough for Daisy to run, and some flowers to grow.

"Well?" Mrs. Rice asked her daughter as she held the screen door open. In response Anna held an envelope up, a secret smile on her face. Her mother's face lit up and she led her daughter into the kitchen.

"Quick she's out back, put it in that pile of mail she hasn't looked at yet." She ordered in a whisper, glancing out the back window to see Jessica throwing a ball for Daisy to fetch.

Anna quickly complied and sat down in the opposite chair. Mrs. Rice handed her a cup of tea and the two settled down to wait for Jessica to come back inside.

She came in a few minutes later, her breathing a little ragged, but otherwise perfectly fine.

"I hope you didn't over exert yourself." Mrs. Rice said in a maternal tone. Jessica smiled and shook her head, reaching out to grab the small pile of mail that was sitting in the center of the table. Her exression remained the same as she sortedm until she came upon the letter Anna had brought it.

Her eyebrows came together in puzzlement, as she reached out for the letter opener and slit the top. Quickly she pulled the letter out and read the first few lines. She promptly dropped the paper out of shock, and then quickly picked it back up.

"Is something wrong Jessica?" Mrs. Rice asked, her tone innocent. Jessica replied with a shake of her head, still trying to find her voice.

"It's from the local arts and theater charter. They... They are saying because I was working as a dancer for the studio, and the studio's owners are a member of the charter that they want to honor what I did in the fire. They, are holding a formal dinner, fundraiser.... For me!" She said, collapsing against the back of her chair, unable to believe the type staring at her from the page.

"When is it?" Anna asked, sharing a satisfied look with her mother, as Jessica's eyes turned to scan the paper again.

"In.. Three weeks!" Jessica said, her eyes still wide as she took it all in.

"Well that's enough time to go shopping." Anna remarked, leaning aginst the back of her own chair and checking her phone as though this was a normal occurence. For the next few days Jessica and her friends were in a flurried state of motion.

All of her friends, and many people from the studio itself recieved invitations a few days later. Anna and Mrs. Rice insisted on taking Jessica shopping for a suitable dress, both saying that this was one place where jeans would clash...

Finally the night came, Jessica stood nervously in front of the mirror in her new room. The dress she wore was a shade of off white. Thin, straps came over her shoulders, and proceeded in a criss-cross fashion down her back. The front of the dress held small sequins, just big enough to catch the light of the room, and reflect the color of the walls. The skirt was flared slightly, rolling desins in the stiching also had sequins so when she would walk, they would glitter.