It was a busy weekend for Joy. He had a lot of homework, a painting competition to go to, his mom had to do some shopping for Ginni, and Sid’s family was coming over for dinner. So when Joy did sleep that night, he was too tired to think about Fairy Land.
But Fairies never forget their promise, and Blue Fairy certainly does not. So she came in his dreams, though she did seem a little anxious.
“Hello Joy”, she said. “Looks like you had a busy day. Well, I have a busy time ahead too. I have to go help Cinderella today. Do you want to come with me?”
Joy sprung up as he heard the word Cinderella. He was so keen to meet the kind-hearted beauty that he forgot he was tired, and agreed immediately. The Blue Fairy touched Joy lightly, and flew off. Joy flew right behind her, over the crescent moon and the twinkling stars into the huge white cloud of Fairy Land.
When the seven rainbows shone through the misty white, Joy knew that the Fairy Land had come. He followed Blue Fairy to the top of a neat house, with a lovely garden. A girl, dressed in rags, was sobbing alone in the garden. Far off, one could hear the hustle and bustle of the Princes’ ball. Do you know who the sad, lonely girl was?
It was Cinderella! And the fairy had to help her get ready for the ball. Gently, the fairy descended from the sky, with Joy along.
“Don’t cry, child!” said the fairy. “I’ll send you to the ball. Fetch me a large pumpkin, six mice and a rat.”
Cinderella looked up with her teary eyes, and said, “I can’t get any rat. All rats have drowned after they followed the Pied piper to the river.”
“Well, get the other stuff!!” replied the blue fairy. Worried, then she turned to Joy. “How can I make a coachman for her without any rat?”
“Why don’t you turn something else into a coachman?” inquired Joy.
“I can’t!!” exclaimed the fairy. “There’s no magic to do so. But a pretty maiden can’t go to the ball without a coachman.”
Meanwhile Cinderella came back with the stuff, and the fairy changed the pumpkin into a lovely coach, mice into six handsome horses, and Cinderella’s rags into beautiful gown and jewelry, complete with glass slippers. However, there was no coachman to take the coach to the palace, and both Cinderella and the fairy were confused. Joy decided to help.
“I suppose I can be the coachman” he offered, much to the relief of the Blue fairy.
So Joy became the coachman, and took pretty Cinderella to the ball. She was to return before the clock strikes twelve, and Joy was to wait outside the palace doors for her.
As the clock struck twelve, Cinderella came running out of the palace doors. The Fairy’s magic was disappearing, and the magical coach, horses and ball dress all returned to their real state. Cinderella was back in her rags.
“Oh please!!” she pleaded to Joy, “Could you bring one of the glass slippers from the palace stairs. It belongs to the fairy, and she may be upset that I lost it.”
“The Fairy is very kind. She wouldn’t mind. And anyway, the lost slipper will turn out to be extremely useful. Trust me.” replied Joy.
The Blue Fairy came to leave Joy back to his home, and was very happy with his timely help. Joy went back home, knowing that the prince would eventually find Cinderella and they’ll live happily ever after.
PUZZLE:
Kids, do you remember the original Cinderella story? Try answering these questions to find out:
Who ill-treated Cinderella, and why?
Why was she called Cinder-ella?
How did the prince find her?
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