The panto is over. Long live Cinderella.

Before Christmas, I promised you an alternative version of Cinderella, prompted by a session we’d had in my writing group.

Well, dear reader, I wrote it. And no, I’m not going to share it, because what I found out was that I have no talent for, nor interest in writing fiction. What I produced was workmanlike and …. dull. Which is a shame, as I enjoy reading fiction, every day of my life.

But you did ask, so I’ll share a synopsis with you.

Grizelda and Gertrude lived with their mother in straitened circumstances since their father, a knight, had been killed in the Holy Land during the Crusades. From necessity, and from a belief, uncommon at the time that all are created equal, these God-fearing girls and their mother worked alongside the only remaining servant in running the household. Nevertheless, their mother eventually remarried. Her new husband was a widowed nobleman with an amiable if empty-headed 14-year-old daughter, Cinderella, over-indulged by a friend of the girl’s dead mother and whom she called her ‘Fairy Godmother’.

The two older girls tried to include Cinderella in their simple hard-working way of life, but she resented their efforts, regarding them as dull and boring.

One day, an invitation came from the King to all noble families. He was holding a summer ball to celebrate his son Prince Charming’s 21st birthday, in his summer palace outside the nearby town of Fantasienstadt. Grizelda and Gertrude didn’t want to go at all. Cinderella did, but as she had only just turned 15, her father stood firm and forbade it however much she and her godmother pleaded, raged and stormed.

At the ball, the two sisters, big-boned and gauche, found few dance partners. They looked on as a bewitchingly beautiful young woman arrived and straightaway attracted the eye of Prince Charming. She looked not unlike Cinderella. All evening she and the prince danced, until suddenly, just before midnight, she ran away, screaming in panic. She didn’t even stop to pick up the delicate sparkly shoe she lost in her hurry to escape.

The next day, a royal footman came to the door, bearing this same shoe. He needed to find its owner. Cinderella astonished everyone by claiming it was hers, and proved it by running to fetch its partner. She was swept off to the palace by the footman, and the rest is history.

Ann Anderson (1874 – 1952). Cinderella escapes from the ball in a great hurry.

Later, Cinderella explained that her godmother had borrowed all the finery, together with a splendid carriage, so that she could get to the ball. But she had to be home for midnight, when it was to be returned.

And Grizelda and Gertrude? Just one ball had been enough to convince them that the trappings of a noble life were not for them. They both entered a convent, where they lived in devotion and service for the rest of their lives.

Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

19 thoughts on “The panto is over. Long live Cinderella.”

  1. I love the idea of the ugly sisters going into a convent. I think you’re too hard on yourself Margaret. But selfishly I’m secretly pleased, if you were writing fiction you might lose interest in blogging and then where would I be?

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  3. Cinderella turned on its head! What fun, Margaret! And it doesn’t seem to have sprung from any of the openings you offered us before Christmas? When it comes to writing – any type of writing – I think the key thing is that the writer enjoys the process. If you’re enjoying writing fiction then why not continue? So long as you carry on blogging as well!

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  4. It seems to me you could be good at this! But, if you don’t enjoy it, that’s another issue. It’s fun to think of a tried-and-true story from another angle. Someone re-wrote Beowulf from the Grendel monster’s point of view–I like that twist.

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  5. OK Margaret, I take your word for it – I haven’t read your synopsis…. 😉
    I might however, just not now
    AND may I add, I so very much appreciate and enjoy your prose, photos and thoughts – who the hxck needs to be good at everything – THAT would be boring!
    Have a good day, amazingly, it snows here , very small dry flakes, nice….

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  7. I loved the ending. The thought of the sisters entering a convent is funny. Maybe, you can write another story on their journey in the convent? 🙂 Sister Act?
    P.S. I never really knew the names of the evil step sisters. I always knew them as the evil step sisters. 🙂

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