Chapter 18: Glass Slippers
As the months passed, Cindy Tremaine was unable to find a job that would earn her enough money to buy a dress for the Ball at the end of the Fall Semester. Fortunately, she found an old dress of her mother's while cleaning the attic. Though it was old-fashioned in style, Cindy's plan was to redesign the dress using whatever materials she had left from sewing and touching up the dresses her stepsisters were planning to wear. When the eve of the Ball came, the dress was finished. While Cindy quickly changed into it, her stepmother and stepsisters were heading into the living-room fully dressed in their formal ware.
"Mother, I don't understand why you're coming with us," Trissy said, wearing a green gown with matching gloves and a feather pinned to her dark-brown hair.
"Yeah, we're not little kids anymore," Ana added, adjusting the ruffles on her magenta-colored gown which had black gloves and matching heels.
"Now we've already discussed this, girls," Ms. Tremaine insisted, putting a violet shawl over her dark purple gown. "I'm only coming with you because I've heard Char's father is going to be present at the Ball. If I can talk to him in person, I'll see about arranging a date between Char and one of you."
"Is this because of that thing I overheard Char telling Cindy about his dad wanting him to get married before inheriting his company?" Ana asked.
Before Ms. Tremaine could answer, Cindy came down the stairs wearing a frilly pink dress with a long sash in the front and a bluish-green beaded necklace around her neck.
"I hope you weren't planning to leave without me," Cindy said in a smug tone.
While Ana and Trissy stared in awe, Ms. Tremaine looked indifferent. "It seems I underestimated you, Cindy. Even those beads are a nice touch."
Looking at the beads herself, Trissy realized, "Hey, those are my beads!"
Before Cindy could react, Trissy yanked the beaded necklace off with one swipe of her hand.
"And I believe that's my sash you're wearing!" Ana commented, tearing off the front of Cindy's dress angrily.
From there, it devolved into utter chaos as Trissy and Ana took turns ripping apart the dress Cindy had worked so hard to make. She tried to push them away, but together they were too strong for her. During all of this, Ms. Tremaine just watched with that same indifferent look.
"Are you finished?" Ms. Tremaine asked, once they stopped. "The Ball will be starting soon."
Huffing in unison, Ana and Trissy stormed out leaving Cindy in a pile of rags that used to be her dress. Smiling maliciously, Ms. Tremaine turned away and followed her daughters. Once the door closed, Cindy covered her eyes and ran up to her room where she knelt on her bed and began to cry.
"Why, Father?" Cindy pondered. "Why did you marry her? She's a cruel woman, and her daughters are no better! She just wanted your money! But now that that's running out, her anger is focused on me and not her terrible spending habits."
Crying further, Cindy failed to notice the warm light that suddenly appeared in the room. When she looked up, she couldn't believe her eyes.
"Ms. Fairy!" Cindy exclaimed, seeing her blue-robed teacher sitting right in front of her. "What are you doing here?"
"To help you get to the Ball, dear," Ms. Fairy explained. "After all, I am your Fairy Godmother."
"My what?" Cindy blinked.
"I'm so sorry, my child," Ms. Fairy apologized, stroking Cindy's hair. "I should have told you sooner, but I wanted to wait until you actually needed me."
"Like now?" When Ms. Fairy nodded, Cindy got to her feet. "How can you help me?"
"For starters, you need a new dress." From out of thin air, Ms. Fairy produced her ivory-colored wand. Standing up, she waved it around Cindy's head while uttering, "Bippidy Boppidy…Bippidy Boppidy…Boo!"
A trail of sparks flew from Ms. Fairy's wand, encapsulating Cindy. She watched as her ragged dress turned into a shimmering blue gown with matching gloves and a headband that pushed back her hair which was tied into a bun. Then her plain white shoes were replaced by glass slippers that sparkled.
"What do you think, dear?" Ms. Fairy asked.
"It's…beautiful," Cindy admired, turning the dress side-to-side. "But the glass slippers make me feel uncomfortable, like they could shatter at any moment."
"My apologies," Ms. Fairy acknowledged and waved her wand over the slippers. They were now made of see-through plastic instead of glass. "Is that better?"
"Yes, thank-you," Cindy nodded. "Now how will I get to the Ball?"
"That's simple," Ms. Fairy smiled. "I called your friends before I came here."
"You mean Jack and Gus?"
"Indeed, and they're coming to pick you up soon."
"Oh, this is…like a dream come true," Cindy mused, looking at herself in the handheld mirror. "But it's only temporary, right?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Ms. Fairy replied. "On the stroke of twelve, the spell will be broken and everything will go back to the way it was before."
"I understand, but thanks anyway." Then as Cindy hugged Ms. Fairy, a car horn beeped.
"Your friends are waiting," Ms. Fairy said, breaking from Cindy's embrace. "Have a good time!"
Smiling, Cindy responded, "I will!"
Then as Cindy ran out of her room, Ms. Fairy disappeared in a burst of sparks.
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At the school, Cindy arrived with Jack and Gus following behind her wearing matching tuxedos they rented from a local shop. In the school's gymnasium, the Ball was underway with people dancing to a series of hit songs played by Gene Lampman, the school's resident DJ and intercom announcer. He had lightly tanned skin with black hair pulled into a ponytail and a curly chin-beard. His clothes consisted of dark shades, a yellow Hawaiian shirt, tan shorts and sandals, gold braces, and a small lamp hanging from a golden chain. As he spun turntables and popped in various CDs, Char stood near the refreshments table wearing a yellow-and-red military-style uniform looking bored out of his mind.
"Maybe you should go talk to him," Jack suggested.
"No, that would be too embarrassing," Cindy blushed.
"Come on! Don't be shy!" Gus grabbed Cindy's arm and pushed her in Char's direction.
With no other choice, Cindy walked over to Char hoping her stepmother and stepsisters weren't watching. Just then, the lights dimmed and Gene announced the Couples' Dance would be starting soon.
End of Chapter 18
