Wonderella
Scouring away cinders off the cold hearth at night, Ella wondered,
‘Will there ever be an end to this misery?’ As if negating her hopes, Ella heard
her stepmother thunder from upstairs. "Ella, are you dreaming? If you have scrubbed
the kitchen, come upstairs, make my bed and wash my feet." Ella lived with her
stepmother and her two stepsisters who had always been mean to her.
Days passed on in drudgery. Deep within, Ella knew she was
meant for something better in life. “What is my true calling?”, Ella would ask
her reflection in the water barrel, to the squeaking mice in the barn and to
the scudding clouds in the sky. “What do I really really want?”
One day, an envoy from the palace arrived with an invitation
for the young ladies of the house. A royal ball at the palace! The crown prince
was looking for a bride. Ella helped her sisters prepare for the ball. The ladies
were particularly careful in keeping Ella busy so that she never got the time
to find herself a gown.
On the day of the ball, Ella was raking through the attic for
some spinning wool. She chanced upon a rare treasure. Her departed mother’s old
wooden trunk. She had fond memories of her mother. She unlatched it. Lo and
behold! There was a sparkle of fairy dust. A wise-looking woman appeared.
“I am your fairy godmother, Ella. Let me transform your look
with a wave of my wand! You shall be the most beautiful damsel at the ball
today. The prince will never take his eyes off you... Bibbidi… Bobbidi…”
“Oh, but wait!” Ella cut her off. “I am looking for
something deeper. Something more meaningful… The ball never enticed me. Oh, wise
woman, could you tell me how to find my true calling?”
The fairy godmother though taken aback, sighed smilingly, “I
am so happy you asked, Ella. Look through your mother’s trunk and you shall
find therein beautiful verses you had written as a child. Your mother had
treasured them. It’s not late. Write, Ella. Write your heart out for the world
to read. I know you love to read too. Here…” With a wave of her wand, the fairy
godmother brought to Ella, piles and piles of books from all over the world.
The attic had become a library.
She added, “And let me tell you dear, this magic spell would
never wear off! What you read, remains with you for a lifetime. And may what
you write remain in the hearts of all, forever.”
Ella’s joy knew no bounds. Filled with joy and a new found
passion for life, Ella lived happily ever after.
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