A Retelling of Cinderella - Homework

Instructions

Homework for Lydia's Intermediate Writing Class (Not my art) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I practically skipped along the path. Tonight, I was going to the biggest party of the year. I was so excited I could hardly keep it in. "Clara?" I turned and smiled at my best friend. "Hi, Eliza." I bounced on my toes, my curly blonde hair flopping with the movement. "Clarabelle Margait!" She pouted. "You didn't tell me you got an invitation to the ball!" I winced. "Sorry-" "No 'sorry's!" Her expression sofened. "I have a present for you." "Oh, Eliza, you-" "Shush!" She grinned. "You'll love it, I know you will." "All right." I smiled sheepishly. "Where is it? What is it?" "Come on!" Eliza grabbed my arm and dragged me toward her house. We ran up the stairs to her room. I flopped on her fluffy chair while she dug around under her bed. "I know it's here somewhere-" She grumbled, her voice muffled. I giggled behind my hand. "Aha!" Eliza brought out a large package. "Here." She gave it to me. I took it and opened the wrapping. Blue fabric spilled out and a beautiful dress emerged. "Oh, Eliza!" I cried, running my hands along the material that felt like water. "Thank you!" I squealed, giving her a fierce hug. "But one thing." Eliza's voice grew serious. "Leave the party at midnight. I don't think I made the dress durable at all, so it'll break after midnight. Directly after the clock dongs 12 times." I was confused, but Eliza always knew what she was talking about, so I trusted her. ~~~~~~~ Soon I was in that dress, going up the stairs to the mansion in front of me. And I glided through the big doorway, down the hall, and to the ballroom. I stood at the top of the stairs, which receded into the smooth wooden floor. Whispers suddenly flew around the room. They had no idea who I was. I smiled confidently and started to make my grand entrance down the steps. My eyes somehow found the host's son, Matthew, through the crowd. But he was watching me, too. Our eyes met. He started to make his way through the barrage of people, not taking his gaze away from me. I stepped onto the wood floor and he made it to the end of the stairs at the same time. "Clara?" He whispered. "Matthew." I felt nervous about what he would say. He had been my childhood friend, my best friend. Then his father got rich and became the most important figure in our town. Matthew moved into the mansion, and I hadn't seen him since. "Clarabelle... How long it's been." Matthew's expression relaxed. "5 years." I agreed softly. He fell silent. "5 years since you became wealthy and left." "Clara... Just because I'm wealthy doesn't mean I'm any different than I was back then." "Doesn't it?" I whispered. Matthew sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Then he stretched out his other one. "Dance with me?" I nodded. We danced for the rest of the evening. We talked and laughed and caught up with each other. But then the clock started donging. I snapped my head up to see the clock face. It was 12. I stepped away from Matthew. "I- I've got to go." I told him hastily. "Why?" He asked, looking confused. "I just do." I turned and fled. Up the stairs, down the hallway, through the doorway. I made it to my house just in time, glad that it was so close. Eliza was right. My dress crumpled as soon as I closed the door behind me. Phew. I ran to my room and flopped onto my bed. I thought about Matthew. Maybe I had misjudged him. Maybe being rich didn't actually change him. I fell asleep without knowing, so I jumped awake when the doorbell rang. Quickly, I threw on a dress and ran downstairs. I opened the door and sucked in a breath. "I'm looking for a young woman named Clarabelle. She left this at Matthew's ball." the steward said, gesturing to my shoe, which he held. How had I left that at the ball? Silly, silly, Clara! "He claims to want to marry whoever this Clarabelle is." "That's me!" I heard, but the words weren't mine. My sister Lillian stepped forward. "I'm Clarabelle. And Matthew told me he wanted to marry me." She gave me a cold glare as if to say, "Don't say a word". "But-" I opened my mouth. "This is my older sister Lillian." She snapped, pointing at me. "All right, but you have to try on this shoe to prove it. If it fits, you can come back to the mansion with me." the steward said, and I felt hope drain out of me. "Of course." She gestued that he could come inside. He did, and Lillian walked into the living room and sat on a sofa. She held out her foot pristinely. The steward tried the shoe. But it got stuck. It didn't fit! I wanted to cheer. "Actually, I'M Clarabelle." I stepped forward. "My sister was trying to take my place." "It's true." Said a voice behind me. Matthew! My heart leaped. He walked in, and when he saw us watching, he shrugged. "You left the door open." "Let's see if the shoe fits." the disbelieving steward said. I sat, and he slipped it on. It fit perfectly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now, 4 years later, married, I still love telling my story.