That was the first time she ever mentioned love to me, the first hint of her dream I picked up. Why, I even thought she was thinking of me for a while, isn't that silly? Me? Still, it was a nice thought while it lasted, and anyway, why not? Friendship's a great thing, and it's always possible it may grow into something else. Things often start off as something small, and if you stick with them, and work at them, then they could turn into something really exciting. Take an acorn, for instance. It doesn't look like much when it falls to the ground, but give it time…

            Once in the autumn, when the leaves turn brown,

            A tiny little acorn fell to the ground.

            He covered himself in fallen leaves,

            And then he rolled up his sleeves…

And though he was no big deal,

            He knew he was no big deal (an acorn?)

            He forgot about good and bad and should

            And started to do what he could.

           

            And now he's an oak tree -

            He holds his head up high.

            His roots are buried in the earth,

            His branches brush the sky.

            He knows what he's here for

            In every leaf and limb

            Maybe before we swing the axe

            We can learn a lesson from him.

            (You know, I think you might be right about that.)

            (Hey!)

            The very first monkey to pick up a stick

            He wanted his breakfast, and he wanted it quick (they all do!)

            He used that stick to crack a nut

            Without a single 'if', 'and' or 'but'.

            He thought it was no big deal (did he really?)

            He thought it was no big deal

            He hardly noticed what he'd done

            Even though he was the very first one.

            And now look around you

            To where that stick has lead

            To cups and plates, and skis and skates,

            And sewing machines, and thread.

            That monkey was a genius (Oo Oo Oo Ah Ah Ah)

            An Einstein chimpanzee

            But he didn't know when he grabbed that stick

            How the world was going to be.

            Once there was a planet, spun round the sun,

            Thought a little life would be a lot of fun,

            Planted the stream in a deep blue sea,

            The acorn, the monkey and me!

            And maybe I'm no big deal

            I'm probably no big deal

            But me and you, and the other two

            Could help that dream come true…

            Who knows where we're going,

            But just look where we've been

            The nut, and the tree, and the monkey, and me,

            And everything in the dream.

            It may seem like nothing,

            What you and I can do,

            But you just don't know how a dream's gonna grow,

            You just can't see how a dream's gonna be,

            So don't try to guess –

            Just start with a yes!

            (Just go on, say yes, that's right)

            And it could be a real big deal

            It could be a real big deal.

            Wish on a star – and start where you are –

            And we could go far…

***

            The day of the ball finally came, and you should have seen this place! What a mess! Ugly sisters' paraphernalia spread all over the place – dresses, wigs, shoes, powder, a tip! And Cinderella rushing around doing everything. Well, nearly everything. She had to get her sisters all ready; iron their dresses, brush their dentures, powder their wigs, polish their shoes, cut their toenails and put green nail varnish on them, and all at the same time! Oh, those sisters were so impatient, they just couldn't sit still.

            While all this was going on, I was down in stable, polishing the carriage and grooming the horse. Poor Daisy! She's far too old to pull the carriage by herself.

            Well, the whole week leading up to the ball was taken up with preparations, so that it was almost a relief to see them set off on the night. At least, it would have been a relief, if I hadn't caught a glimpse of Cinderella's face as she walked alone back down the stairs to the kitchen. It nearly broke my heart to see her so disappointed. I went and sat up on the grass behind Hard-up Hall, to look up at the stars and feel sorry, but I couldn't get poor Cinderella out of my mind. So, eventually, I went back to the kitchen door to peer through the keyhole, and check that she was all right. And this is where we come to the business of dreaming.

            I shouldn't have been eavesdropping, I know, and what I'm going to tell you will sound crazy, I know that too; but it was at that moment that I began to see that I'd been wrong about dreams and wishes. And here's why. In the kitchen, with Cinderella, was a beautiful little old lady dressed in an amazing sparkly dress, and holding a shiny wand. And she was talking to Cinderella…