I don't see why everybody thinks us stepmothers are evil. Maybe they haven't heard it from our point of view. Which is why, I'm going to tell you my version of 'Cinderella'
Let's start off with the facts. First, Cinderella is actually called, Ella. The trouble is she told everybody that I made her work in the cinders. Therefore she made up the name Cinderella. Second, her mum never actually died, people just assumed that, her mum was actually never married to her dad; they had her out of wedlock. Third, I married her father when she was two months old. Fourth, her 'evil stepsisters' were actually half-sisters, they were 5 years younger than her, she just exaggerated. So now we can start.
Ella was sitting at the table doing homework with her sisters. All I did was ask her if she'd done any chores that morning. (That's where she got the 'evil stepmother making me do all the chores' bit from) I knew that Louise and Sarah had done theirs, because I watched them. Ella immediately got into a sulk, so I said that if she didn't then she couldn't go to the mayor's annual barn dance which we were all going to that night, as a punishment. I didn't mean it. Anyway, then she stormed off and locked herself in her room. I could tell she hadn't done her chores. So, I went and talked to her father, and he suggested that I really did enforce the original punishment.
Now where she got the fairy godmother bit from, who knows, but anyway I helped Sarah and Louise get dressed for the dance, and then I got dressed myself. I gave Ella another chance, but she wasn't taking it. Then the girls and I left. Ella's father was going to come after he had talked to Ella, and tried to persuade her to come too.
Next thing I know, the son of the mayor had come up to me, and we were chatting when, out of the corner of my eye I saw Ella and her father coming in the door, I excused myself and went over to them, Harold said: "Ella, what have you got to say to your mother," and Ella said: "I'm really sorry." She didn't sound as if she meant it though. Then the son came up to me again and said that his father would like to meet me. (Perhaps I forgot to mention I'm an author of a famous book?) Anyway I went over there and Ella and the mayor's son were talking. They seemed to be getting on really well. At midnight I asked Ella if she wanted to come with me and her sisters now, or if she wanted to go with her father. She decided to come with us. I didn't force her, she chose to.
When we got back I noticed she'd lost one of her shoes. I offered to go back and find it while she put Louise and Sarah to bed. She looked annoyed, but agreed anyway. So I went back to the barn dance and found her shoe. I got caught up talking, so it wasn't 'til about 1:30 in the morning that I got back. I went into the house, and realized something was missing. I looked around and found a note that was from Ella. It read as follows:
Dear mother,
I have gone to make my fortune somewhere else. Possibly in the city. Anyway don't try and find me. Sarah and Louise are safely tucked up in bed. Tell dad I'm sorry, but I'm sick of having to look after my little sisters. I love them and all, but they're really annoying. Anyway don't worry about me I'll be fine. Love Ella
That was the last I heard of her. I know that some people will still prefer the old story, but me, I think that honesty is the best policy.
