Learn Curve for Girls

Suhani Dewra

Cinderella woke up at the crack of the dawn. Mopped the floors, washed the clothes. Made the breakfast, ironed the clothes. Her stepsisters were insensitive, so was her stepmother. Dear father was under the influence of the new mother. Months passed by, but nothing changed. Cinderella’s dreams and hopes were not to be realized, was convinced Cinderella.

One sleepy afternoon, the door knocked. There was the king’s soldier who had a message to deliver to every house in the town.

“Hear, hear, my dear fellow beings. To mark the occasion of prince’s 22^nd birthday, the king extends his invitation to the grand ball to be held tomorrow night. The king and the price shall be happy to have you all grace the occasion,” announced the man.

“The prince’s birthday?! A dance party?! How lovely this sounds,” exclaimed the stepsisters with unbound excitement. Joined in the mother who had a plan for her girls.

The trio got together to get their dresses ready and match the accessories and everything they thought was pretty and glittery. Cinderella mustered some courage and walked up to the stepmother.

“Dear mother, am I also to go? I would love to be at the royal ball. You well know how much I love dancing and all things around it,” said Cinderella in her soft voice.

“Oh no Cinderella, you don’t go. You stay home and look after the house,” instructed the stepmother.  

The next evening, the stepsisters were ready, all dressed up resembling a Christmas tree.

“O my lovelies, the prince is sure to get charmed seeing your beauty,” said the stepmother. “Listen carefully girls, you have to ensure that the prince notices either of you. I plan to ship one of you as the prince’s bride. So, dance well; speak well; and charm well!” said the stepmother.

While soaking in all her sadness for having been left at home, something stirred within Cinderella. She decided to sneak out of the house and see what the royal ball looked like. “I have absorbed too much of unfair behavior from these women. I mustn’t worry about the consequences,” saying so Cinderella got ready. Of course, she didn’t have a make-up kit or finery to wear. For a change, she acted smart and used her step sisters’ makeup and accessories and also the dress. To ensure that her step family didn’t recognize her, Cinderella used a party mask.

Getting to the palace was a task. “How do I get there? How about flick some money from my dad’s cupboard?” thought Cinderella.

Soon the ever helpless Cinderella was at the royal ball room. The hall looked magnificent with intricate light green and golden architecture. The orchestra was soulful and there were gorgeously dressed men and women dancing with each other.

“What a splendid sight to watch!” exclaimed the new entrant.

Cinderella joined the club and got along dancing with everybody, ensuring to never drop her mask. While dancing she happened to become the prince’s partner. The couple danced for some time and then the prince struck the conversation. Cinderella knew it was time for her to realize her dreams.

She immediately told the prince that she wanted his help.

“What kind of help?” Asked he.

“You do see that I am good dancer. Could you offer me the dance trainer’s job in your palace? The palace must have a dance trainer, say for parties like these,” she tried to educate. 

The prince agreed with her vision. He said, “How about you see my tomorrow in the courtroom. I will discuss with the king as well.”

The next morning when Cinderella was out to buy groceries for the day, she walked up to the palace and met the prince and the king. They both agreed about the need for a dance trainer in the palace and offered her the job.

Cinderella no more lived with her stepfamily. She was the official dance trainer at the palace with a royal quarter offered to her as part of the job.