A-Z April Challenge 2015: C for CINDERELLA’S LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER

C for Cinderella
Google Images

Cinderella stepped into the coach drawn by six white horses, feeling beautiful. She was a princess for the night, all thanks to the Fairy Godmother. She lifted the hand mirror that was on the cushion beside her and checked her face once more. She couldn’t help but be fascinated by how lovely she appeared. There wasn’t a streak of coal on her rosy cheeks. Her lips appeared luscious while her eyes shone with excitement. Prince Charming will definitely notice her, wouldn’t he? 

She looked at her feet encased in dainty slippers made of glass. She was used to running around in threadbare socks. But the transformation was just incredible. Cinderella couldn’t take her eyes off her feet as she stepped out of her grand coach. A footman gave her his arm and escorted her into the palace’s ballroom. She walked in, confident, quite thrilled to be the cynosure of all eyes. Her red ball gown caught everyone’s eye in the light of the chandeliers; her slippers tap-tapping as she walked on the marble floor. 

Prince Charming came forward to greet the beautiful woman who had arrived late for the dance. He had never noticed her before. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as he lifted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and went to greet her. Taking the glass in his left hand, he lifted her small white hand to his lips in greeting, his eyes holding hers steadily. Cinderella’s left hand went to her fluttering heart, drawing his attention to her bare shoulders. Without a word, Charming pulled her into his arms as they began to dance. Champagne glass in hand, Cinderella danced with the Prince, completely unaware of the jealous glances from the other women – young and old. 

As he plied her with more champagne, Cinderella got rather tipsy and forgot all about her promise to get back home by midnight. When the clock began striking twelve, she came to her senses and started running towards the entrance or tried to. Her feet refused to co-operate while her glass slippers kept sliding off her feet. In a hurry, she bent down to remove them off her feet, to help her run better. The slipper on her right foot flew out of her hand and landed afar on a cushioned chair while the left slipper stayed with her. Did Cinderella wait to find out what happened? Of course not!

She rushed out of the door and reached the garden, only to be snarled at by a couple of footmen. Where did this ragged urchin spring from? The King would have their hides if he found out. Without making a noise, they lifted Cinderella bodily and dumped her outside the ornate gates. It took her all of four hours to walk back home. 

Mind and body bruised, Cinderella wept over her loss. Why did she have to go to the palace that night? It only made her crave for the life of a princess that could never be hers. She recalled the pretty picture they had made – Prince Charming in his princely attire and herself in the red ball gown, holding a glass of champagne, dancing to live music. Sigh! She looked down at the glass slipper that she had carried back with her. 

Alas, it had turned back into a ragged sock! 

Check out some of my favourite bloggers who are also participating in A-Z April Challenge 2015

Ina Tales

Devika Fernando - Author of Romance Novels

Eloquent Articulation by Inderpreet Kaur Uppal

I Luv Fiction by Ruchi Singh

Shanaya Tales
Prasanna Rao
Flightless Bird Thoughtful Wings by Swathi Shenoy

Film Review: CINDERELLA

I loved the film!

Cast: Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Stellan Skarsgård, Holliday Grainger, Derek Jacobi, Helena Bonham Carter
Director: Kenneth Branagh

As no one in my family was keen on watching fairy tale films, I decided to go to Cinderella (2015) all by myself at Cinemax Sion. 

THE STORY

Adapted from Grimm’s Fairy Tales, the film is the story of Ella (Lily James) who is the only child leading a peaceful and loved existence along with her parents (Hayley Atwell and Ben Chaplin). Sadly, her mother falls ill and on her deathbed, makes Ella promise to lead a courageous and kind life. Later, her father gets married to the recently widowed Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett) and brings her home along with her two spoilt daughters Drisella (Sophie McShera) and Anastasia (Holliday Grainger). There is no peace in the household from this point.

Soon, Ella’s father goes on one of his trips, never to return. Insisting that she cannot afford the servants, Lady Tremaine sends them away and makes Ella do all the work. When her face gets dirty with the ash from the fireplace, the stepsisters begin to call her Cinderella. Cinderella has a miserable life until she happens to meets Kit (Richard Madden) in the forest. She believes that he works in the palace while he is actually the prince. The rest of the story follows the fairy tale and is about the grand ball given at the palace, the fairy godmother helping Cinderella attend the ball till the prince manages to trace her back with the one glass slipper that remains with him.

MY PERCEPTION

Though I have read so many versions of this tale and also have watched the animated version of Cinderella, I must say I was hooked from the first scene. The house Ella grows up in, in the middle of the meadow, is a treat to watch. Her friendship with all the farm animals is nothing short of beautiful.

Lily James has done a commendable job of acting as Cinderella – courageous and kind indeed. Cate Blanchett is just perfect as the wicked stepmother and so are Sophie McShera and Holliday Grainger as the spoilt stepsisters (though the two were a mite too loud). Richard Madden plays Kit aka Prince Charming. He looks gorgeously handsome and fits the role of a prince in love. I was happy to see that there was more of him in the film than in the original fairy tale. 

The best scene is when the Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) converts the pumpkin into a gorgeous golden carriage, the mice friends of Ella into four white horses, two lizards into footmen and the goose into the coachman. I am sure children would love to watch this one for sure. 

The film runs for just 1 hour and 46 minutes making it a total joy packaged in less than two hours.

VERDICT: A must see if you are fond of romance; fairy tales and magic. I loved it. 

*Silly
**Shaky
***Smart
****Snazzy 
*****Super  

Picture Prompt 2: THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER

Pic Courtesy: The Book Club

Cinderella stepped into the coach drawn by six white horses, feeling beautiful. She was a princess for the night, all thanks to the Fairy Godmother. She lifted the hand mirror that was on the cushion beside her and checked her face once more. She couldn’t help but be fascinated by how lovely she appeared. There wasn’t a streak of coal on her rosy cheeks. Her lips appeared luscious while her eyes shone in excitement. Prince Charming will definitely notice her, wouldn’t he? 

She looked at her feet encased in dainty slippers made of glass. She was used to running around in threadbare socks. But the transformation was just incredible. Cinderella couldn’t take her eyes off her feet as she stepped out of her grand coach. A footman gave her his arm and escorted her into the palace’s ballroom. She walked in, confident, quite thrilled to be the cynosure of all eyes. Her red ball gown caught everyone’s eye in the light of the chandeliers; her slippers tap-tapping as she walked on the marble floor. 

Prince Charming came forward to greet the beautiful woman who had arrived late for the dance. He had never noticed her before. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as he lifted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and went to greet her. Taking the glass in his left hand, he lifted her small white hand to his lips in greeting, his eyes holding hers steadily. Cinderella’s left hand went to her fluttering heart, drawing his attention to her bare shoulders. Without a word, Charming pulled her into his arms as they began to dance. Champagne glass in hand, Cinderella danced with the Prince, completely unaware of the jealous glances from the other women – young and old. 

As he plied her with more champagne, Cinderella got rather tipsy and forgot all about her promise to get back home by midnight. When the clock began striking twelve, she came to her senses and started running towards the entrance or tried to. Her feet refused to co-operate with her in her drunken state while her glass slippers kept sliding off her feet. In a hurry, she bent down to remove them off her feet, to help her run better. The slipper on her right foot flew out of her hand and landed afar on a cushioned chair while the left slipper stayed with her. Did Cinderella wait to find out what happened? Of course not!

She rushed out of the door and reached the garden, only to be snarled at by a couple of footmen. Where did this ragged urchin spring from? The King would have their hides if he found out. Without making a noise, they lifted Cinderella bodily and dumped her outside the ornate gates. It took her all of four hours to walk back home. 

Mind and body bruised, Cinderella wept over her loss. Why did she have to go to the palace that night? It only made her crave for the life of a princess that could never be hers. She recalled the pretty picture they had made – Prince Charming in his princely attire and herself in the red ball gown, holding a glass of champagne, dancing to live music. Sigh! She looked down at the glass slipper that she had carried back with her. 

Alas, it had turned back into a ragged sock! 

Note: I wrote this story for the Writing Prompt from The Book Club. Click Here to know more and take part in Picture Prompt 2 that's open till March 5, 2015.