Who ever came up with the story of Cinderella got it all wrong! That is not how the story goes. I know. I'm your so-called 'Cinderella'. And my name isn't 'Cinderella'; it's not even 'Ella'! My name is 'Della'. And this is how the story of the scullery maid who went to the ball and married the prince really goes. No fairy godmothers. No 'evil' stepmother. No 'evil' stepsisters. None of that is true. The only true parts of the story are the overworked maid, the stepmother, and the stepsisters – but they weren't evil. Just wait, I'll tell you the real story. You deserve to know the truth.
My name is Della. I'm sixteen years old. I was a servant in my stepmother's house for four years. My father remarried when I was five. He died when I was six. Ever since his death, my stepmother made me work for my home. But understand this now, she is not evil. Neither are my stepsisters, Veronica and Carrabelle. As far as I'm concerned, they're just there. If it wasn't for me, they'd have lost the house years ago.
My stepmother, Delia, is careless with the money that we have – had. She throws it every which way. Like I said, if it wasn't for me, we'd be living on the streets.
When Delia sold the servants to other rich families who needed servants, she meant to sell me too, but the neighbors wouldn't hear of it. 'She's you're late husbands daughter, for the stars' sake! The least you can do is keep her.' So she did. I was the sole servant of the manor. My sisters were happy. They didn't have to do anything. I was happy serving them. I loved my home.
But back to why it was because of me that they even have the house. One day when I was ten years old, a man from the bank came and told Delia unless she paid her taxes in two days, we'd lose the house. Delia, of course, couldn't. She had no money. She had spent it all years ago. Everything new that she bought, she bought on credit. She told Veronica and Carrabelle that we had plenty of money. I knew better.
Before the man left, I went to him and told him what Delia was doing. He pitied me so he sent me to another manor house two days later when Delia didn't pay. I was sent to Lord and Lady Hoop's home to work. Veronica and Carrabelle came too where they lived as princesses. Delia got a job as a seamstress's assistant so she could pay off the house and her debts.
Veronica and Carrabelle stayed with the Hoop's for one year. After the year was up, Delia had paid everything off and had moved back into the manor. Veronica and Carrabelle moved back in with their mother. I had the option to go, but I chose to stay with the Hoop's. Unfortunately, I only stayed for a year after that. Lord Hoop died and Lady Hoop moved to live with her brother; I was sent back to work for my stepfamily.
I was twelve then. It has been four years since I returned to work for my stepfamily. Money we have now. Delia, amazingly enough, learned her lesson with money and doesn't spend it foolishly anymore. Well, sort of. It is about this time in my life that you sort of know my story. It was about now that you know the false version of my story. Here is where what you know starts.