Not So Fairy Tales

Cinderella

Cinders was a lonely child,
the only girl in her fathers eyes.
He had cared for her, adored her
raising her since her mother died. 

But Cinders was a spoilt child
Everything given on a silver plate.
She grew to expect grew to dream
of marrying a prince- it was her fate. 

And so her father spent and spent
wasting money on frivolous things
until the day the coins ran out-
his only hope, to give a woman a golden ring. 

So Cinders got a new step mother
and two stepsisters to add to the count
They made her help around the house
So her hate for them started to mount... 

Then came the day, a few years later
Her old father suddenly died
And through her grief, she started to plan
the families downfall- so Cinders started to lie. 

Oh poor poor Cinders, she started to play
the part of a broken young girl
Who cleaned and cooked and lived and worked
in shadows, while her sisters lived with pearls. 

The day the soldiers came around
to announce the Prince's grand ball
Cinders knew her fate had come-
it was time for Step mother to take the fall. 

She watched and waited for the night
waiting until the family left
Then she ran up to her room
And into a secret gown, she dressed. 

She smiled wider as she slipped on
her new, perfect glass shoes
knowing this was one battle
she would refuse to loose 

Then Cinders danced into the ball
and silenced the whole floor
and eyes followed the Prince round
as he walked to where she stood by the door. 

They danced all night, in front
of everyone's envious eyes.
Yet Cinders never told him her name
And she fled as midnights bells started to chime. 

On the steps, she took off one shoe
and left it glittering in the light
knowing he would hunt her down
after he fell in love in one night. 

The next morning, the hunt began
as the prince went from door to door.
He gave the glass shoe to each girl
to see whose foot it was for. 

Finally he reached the house
Of Cinders and her step mothers.
The three steps tried the shoe on-
to the Princes question of “No others?” 

“I am here.” Cinders said,
stepping forwards into shoe.
She met the Princes shocked eyes
and heard his whispered “Its you.”

“Her?” The step mother sneered
and scorned “This lazy little thief?
If this is who you think you love...
You are in for a life of grief.” 

“You dare talk to my future wife like that?”
The prince stood and stared.
Cinders smiled as she watched and waited
to see the end- what her future fared. 

“Yes, I dare.” The mother replied
“When I have spent years in this house
trying to raise her as my own
since the death of my poor dear spouse.” 

A sister smiled and met Cinders eyes
as she piped up in her small voice
“Sir, she cannot love as you can...
but if you marry her, it is your choice.” 

Cinder felt a flash of fear as
she saw her Prince start to think
and so she stepped forwards
staring at him, refusing to blink 

“You will marry me.” She snarled at him.
“You will not ruin my plans.”
The prince narrowed his eyes at her
and before she could react, he grabbed her hands.

“And so her true face is shown.”
her step mother slowly mused.
“You see, sir, this love is not for you.
This will just end up with you being used.” 

“Yes, I think I start to see.”
The prince replied, letting go.
“Cinder, you will leave this place
Leave this family...and don't go slow.”

 Cinder backed away from them.
From the family, and her dream of fate
suddenly understanding, suddenly knowing...
they were right to be angry, it was their turn to hate.