Chapter 7: It's Been Interesting

((The title just about sums up my life for right now, too. I went to Disney World with my choir (second place over-all, woot!), have had finals, rehearsals with plays, I've written tons more on other stories, attended a three-week summer camp for gifted kids in Missouri, spent a week at my dad's house, and I've just generally had an extremely busy time. I hope that everyone out there has had less to do than me. Enjoy the next chapter. I really am sorry for the three month delay! -Lella))

"Aha! A maid," said the prince, "just what I was looking for!" The prince handed a silver tray of delicious-looking cookies to Cinderella. "Would you take these back the kitchen, please?" Cinderella nodded and turned around with the tray as the prince threw an angry look at his father--the king.

Oh my gosh! The king is here, too?! She quickly walked back into the room from which she had came, but she couldn't help but listen by the door to hear what was happening.

"Father, really, do you think that this is going to make up for anything?" the prince yelled angrily.

"Thomas! A ball is an excellant idea, and I'm most certainly not trying to throw a party to make up for lost time! I can't help the traveling that I have to do. I may have missed your 21st birthday, our hunting trip, and the Grande Party, but the trips that I took during that time where to better this kingdom. If I hadn't gone to visit King Atlanta, Bishop Milledgeville, and Queen Savanah, our kingdom could be at war right now! I'm sure that you must understand that."

"We weren't even fighting with them! You're such a liar! I don't want a ball, I don't want your excuses, and I don't want you partying with foreigners when your one-and-only son has an important event. I look ridiculous by myself at events where my father--the king--is supposed to speak! You promised me that you would have a speach ready for me by my birthday, but did that happen? No. I'm so sick of you!"

The king stood up in anger, "Don't you dare speak to me in such a manor! Not only am I your father, but I am the king. And as such, I demand the highest honor, integrity, and respect--especially from you." The prince walked away from his father and shoved a glass vase off the table, shattering it into a million peices. He stormed off into the garden, leaving his father behind.

The king shook his head in disgust and dabbed his handkerchief at his perspiring forhead. "Maids!" he called out. Cinderella's breath caught in her chest, and she set the tray on the ground before running into the room.

"Y...Yes?" she said as kindly as she could. He'll know for sure that I was listening! Don't be nervous!

"Oh, thank goodness. Can you clean this up?" He pointed to the shattered glass coving half of the room. Cinderella nodded her head quickly and reached for the broom that was in the corner of the room. The king took off without another word, and Cinderella was left alone with the glass, the broom, and her ugly shoes.

"I can't believe it..." she muttered to herslef, "Not only did my wish come true, I got a job at the castle, and I met the prince and king, but I also got to skip all my meals of the day, wear hideous shoes, clean up after the prince's mess, get terribly lost, and wax a floor for no pay. This is turning out to be the most weird and frustrating day of--"

Suddenly, a poof of smoke appeared infront of her, causing her to lose attention of her words. After the purple smoke twisted and curled around itself, her grandfather--or fairy godfather--was standing right there.

"Ah!" she shrieked in surprise.

"What? Scared of your own grandfather?" he joked. Haha, very funny. I'm not laughing.

"Well, when you look like you're twenty, it's certainly a shock!"

"Yes, I suppose that it could be," he said non-chalantly, while picking at his nails. "So, you're probably wondering why I'm here."

"Just a little."

He smiled and snapped his fingers. Every glass shard picked up and rolled into a liquid glass. Using one finger as a wand, he shaped the glass into the vase and set it in place. The vase was whole. Not a scratch could be seen. It was perfect.

"How'd you do that?" Cinderella whispered in amazement.

"It's a little trick that I picked up when you were little. There's a reason that we always called you 'Clumsy-rella'." Cinderella rolled her eyes and put her fists on her hips.

"Oh yes!" he said, "You wanted to know why I'm here. Well, how's your wish working for you?"

"It's, um, interesting to say the least."

"Is it now?" he asked in a tone that finally reminded her of her grandfather. Something about that made her want to open up to him now.

"Yes! Oh, I've gotten lost, met the prince and king, cleaned things, met cooks who speak every language, worn horrible shoes, and skipped my lunch and dinner! It's been the most interesting of interesting days!" she cried out half in anger and half in sarcasm. "I just... hope that this job isn't this everyday."

Her fairy godfather laughed and patted her on the back. "My dear, it will get better. Things always get better."

"Not always!"

"Yes, always. You just don't know it. Eventually, you'll laugh at these things with your friends. Oh! Speaking of which, your friend Marie dropped by the house today."

"She did?" Cinderella asked excitedly, "Did you tell her where I was?"

"Well, I wasn't going to, but it slipped. I told her that you had sold yourself--"

"What?!"

"--As... a maid," he said to fix the mistake. "I would never say such a horrible thing of my grand-daughter." He walked around the room, sparkling in the sun that drifted in through the windows. The sunset light made the room a comfortable orange cast.

"What did she say?" Cinderella whispered, somewhat afraid of the answer. Will she hate me? She may never see me again after this--she probably will.

"Hah-ha! That's the good part! She wants to join you!"

"What?" No way!

"Yes way!"

"Stop reading my mind!" Cinderella whopped him with her broom as her mind reeled in with the thought of having her best-friend with her at work.

"Sorry! I don't mean to," he tried to convince.

"Yes you do."

He sighed, "Okay, you caught me. Maybe I do, but she's sending in an application to join you. Now, I'm not sure if she'll get in, but--"

Cinderella ran up to him and grabbed him by the jacket. "She will get in! You'll make sure of it, won't you?" She let him go slowly and took a step back. "You will assure her entry. You're able to do that." It was nearly a question. She hoped so bad, but didn't know for sure.

"Well, I suppose, but I don't want to abuse my powers."

"This wouldn't be that bad!" she cried in desperation.

"Not for you, but I must be terribly careful of what I do!" he said. Her eyes welled up with soft tears, and he shook his head, "Fine."

"Yes!" she yelled, jumping up and down.

Her fairy godfather held her down by the shoulders, "Hush! You must be a bit more quiet!"

Cinderella clasped her mouth shut, "Oh! Sorry!" She went back to a soft whisper. "Thank you, Grandfather." She gave him a hug before he sent her back to work. Through the corridor she went with the silver tray--off to find the maid's quarters, and maybe a little bit of dinner.