The evil stepmother.
Once a man lived happily with his wife. They had a wonderful daughter. Her name was Cinderella. She was the sweetest girl in the land. “You are the best daughter,” her mother always said.
Unfortunately, her mother became very ill. She asked Cinderella to come to her deathbed. She told Cinderella, “Always be kind and true, and good things will happen to you. ” she then closed her eyes and passed away. Cinderella cried for several days. The father was also sad for his dead wife.
After four years, Cinderella's father met another woman. She pretended to be nice and gentle. In reality, she was the most arrogant woman around. She had two daughters from her previous marriage. They were just like her, arrogant and proud. The woman really fooled Cinderella's father. At last he asked her to marry him. The stepmother was kind, but only until the wedding was over. She began to be mean and bossy. She hated everything about pretty Cinderella.
The stepmother gave Cinderella all the work in the house. She had to wash the dishes, scrub the tables, and clean all the rooms. Cinderella had to work from morning till night. She had to live in a dirty attic room. She had to sleep on an old straw bed. However, her sisters had the most wonderful beds. They had everything, while Cinderella had nothing.
The stepsisters always made fun of Cinderella. “You stupid goose! You are so dirty and ugly. ” Cinderella was always very tired, but she didn't complain.
Cinderella could not tell her father because he was controlled by the stepmother. When Cinderella finished her work, she used to sit in the corner by the chimney. There were always a lot of ashes and she would get very dirty. Because of her dirty appearance, her sisters called her Cinder Rags. “Cinder Rags, Cinder Rags, as dirty and ugly as an old hag,” they would tease her. Even though she looked dirty, she was much more beautiful than her sisters.
One day the king's son decided to have a party. It would be the grandest party of all time. It would last for three days. There would be dancing, food, and plenty to drink.
The young stepsisters were invited to the party. They were both so very happy to be going. They wanted to look their best. They called Cinderella. “Comb our hair for us. Shine our shoes,” they ordered. Cinderella diligently helped them prepare for this important event.
“Cinderella, don't you want to go to the party? ” the sisters asked her.
“You are only joking with me,” she said. “I should not go to such a fancy place. ”
“You are quite right,” they replied. “People would laugh if they saw a dirty girl at the party. ”
The stepsisters were so mean. They enjoyed making fun of Cinderella. They finally left for the party with their mother. Cinderella watched them for as long as possible. When she couldn't see them any more, she started to cry