The Step-Sister

Night of the Ball

     Cinderella was in a deep, dark red that accented her pale skin. Cinderella's prettiest features were her glass shoes, they were terribly uncomfortable, but they would be talked about for ages to come. She was absolutely stunning. She would make quite an entrance at the ball. Ella watched through a window as Cinderella climbed into the golden carriage she had rented for tonight. Ella was sad that she would not be attending the ball. It would have been so much fun, but Ella had chores to do.

     She turned away from the window and shuffled back towards the dining room to dust it. She would never forget what she found inside. On the table, illuminated by the shimmering moonlight, was a white ball gown with a gold bodice, and gold patterns around the skirt. It was one of the prettiest dresses Ella had ever seen. It looked like it was made of the same material as the fabrics that Cinderella had tossed aside. Ella wondered briefly if it was for herself, but discounted the idea as ridiculous.

     Just then Harold walked in wearing a fashionable white tunic with gold trim. He smiled and said, "You had better hurry and get dressed, the ball won't last forever you know."

     Ella glowed with love and joy, then shooed Harold out of the dining room so she could get dressed. The luxurious fabric felt like warm clouds on her skin. Ella looked in the dining room mirror and nearly didn't recognize herself. There was one last thing that didn't quite make sense. There was a single boot with straps and buckles on it sitting on the table.

      "Harold!" Ella called.

     "Is something wrong?" He asked with a worried expression.

     "No, everything is perfect," Ella assured him, "I just can't figure out what that boot is for."

     "Oh, of course, I forgot to tell you about it, let me show you."

     Harold grabbed the boot, and told Ella to sit and hold out her foot. Ella put her good foot forward.

     "The other foot, please. I know you don't like people seeing it, but you have to trust me."

     Ella nervously put her twisted foot forward, and for her, that was the ultimate sign of trust. Harold slipped the boot on gently and Ella could feel the soft fur on the inside. Harold started to tighten some of the straps near her calf. When he reached her ankle he said, "I don't know if this will work, and I should have given this to you a long time ago. I was just so scared of failing. Tell me if it starts to hurt." Harold shouldn't have worried, he tightened the straps enough to support Ella's foot, but not enough to make it painful. "Try it out." Harold prompted.

     Ella stood and cautiously put more weight on the foot with the boot. The inside of the boot was soft and padded, and no matter how Ella moved her legs, the deformed foot never hurt. She whirled around and hugged Harold tightly, he hugged her back, then picked her up and spun her around.

     "Thank you, thank you so much. I don't think you even begin to understand what you've done for me." Ella cried with tears of joy streaming down her face.

     "I don't think you even begin to understand what you've done for me." Harold replied tenderly. After a few minutes he stopped staring at Ella long enough to say."We should get going or they might not let us get into the ball."

     "Yes, I think we should get going, I'll race you out the door." Ella teased, she had never, ever won a race in her entire life. Ella ran before Harold knew what was happening. He ran after her, very careful not to go too fast, to give Ella one of the most important gifts she would receive that night, her confidence.