The young woman sat by the hearth, idly stirring the ashes. The low fire flickered, sending glowing, golden highlights over her lovely, unblemished face. She sighed audibly.

"There you are, you lazy, good-for-nothing cretin!" A middle-aged woman stormed into the room. "I swear, I don't know why I even keep you! If it weren't for the promise that I made to your late father, God rest his soul, I swear I would throw you out into the street!"

The beautiful woman looked up. "What is it, Step-mother?" She brushed a wayward strand of hair from her face, streaking it with soot.

The harsh lines of the older woman's face turned downward. "Your step-sisters and I are ready to leave for the ball! I want to you stop dawdling and finish cleaning this kitchen! I will check it when I get back!"

Two giggling, homely young women ran into the room. "How do we look, mother?" whined the stouter of the two.

The matron broke into a broad smile. "Oh, lovely! Just lovely, my dears! Although it is difficult to tell when you are standing next to 'Cinderella' here."

The three woman turned toward the still-seated woman at the fire and began to laugh.

"Come, let's go. I can't wait to see which of you the prince will choose for his bride!" The stern-looking woman led her two daughters through the back door into the yard.

Cinderella stood and walked to the window. She watched as the three approached the stable, and her stepmother called shrill orders to the young man who stumbled around the pair of horses at the waiting carriage. Her step-mother was particularly proud of her set of black horses and checked them in excruciating detail before departing. The teen, looking relieved, ran through the gate seconds after the women were out of sight. A young colt, bought as a future replacement for the older of the two horses, emitted a shrill whinny at his departing stablemates. He would be gelded as soon as he reached full maturity. That thought depressed Cinderella.

"Oh, why am I stuck here? Why can't I be somewhere where I don't have to work all day? Will I ever find happiness?" Cinderella turned and lowered her head, somewhat surprised that she had actually spoken aloud.

"Perhaps you will, my dear. Yes, perhaps sooner than you think!"

Startled, Cinderella whirled and saw a smiling, old woman dressed in a glittering robe. Snow-white hair crowned her head, and her round face radiated an openess that removed any fear Cinderella may have at first felt.

"I am your fairy godmother, dear. You shall go to the ball tonight, never fear!" She grabbed Cinderella's hand and pulled her toward the door. "Come! Out to the garden! I have much work to do!"

Cinderella watched in awe as the old woman mumbled a series of non-rhyming incantations, transforming a pumpkin into a gilded coach, some mice into horses and a dog into a footman. Cinderella then felt her clothing moving on her body as her plain, worn garments were changed into a full-length ball gown. Finally, the old woman looked around, and smiled as she again chanted and gestured toward the barn. A dazed young man, dressed as a coachman, stumbled through the now-open door. He stopped and smiled as he recognized Cinderella, showing white, even teeth. His straight, coal black hair rustled in the almost imperceptible breeze and his brown eyes stared at Cinderella with trust and intelligence.

"Tonight you may ride, my beautiful young stallion!" the godmother nodded with approval. Turning to Cinderella, she warned, "You must be home by midnight! All of this will fade then. I will check back on you in three days. I have a feeling something may happen then!" She winked, and vanished.