literature

This Isn't Cinders' Story

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The younger sisters of Ella Cinderson were overshadowed by their sibling's beauty and popularity. At high school, they were not simply known as Charlotte and Gwyneth, they were known for being Ella's ugly step sisters. Ella Cinderson was head cheerleader and prom queen. She continued her reign in sixth form. The sisters could not escape their belittlement. Any scholarly achievement was held up against something Ella had already achieved. Ella gave the impression of kindness to succeed. She had older, smarter girls complete her work. In return she would smile at them in the corridors, that would be payment enough.
It was bad enough at high school, but the sisters got similar treatment at home. Charlotte and Gwyneth's mother, Adele, was disappointed that they hadn't inherited her beauty. It was her own fault. She had married for money when she was young, not looks. The old man she married had six farms but fewer teeth. Although the girls had all their own teeth, they had gotten their father's looks. Adele inherited the farms and quickly sold them on. It was a profitable business being a professional gold-digger.
At their new home, Charlotte and Gwyneth's mother was cruel to her unattractive daughters, but was wicked to her charming step-daughter. While Ella reigned supreme at school, once her entourage was out of reach, her new step-mother would scold her constantly. Charlotte and Gwyneth enjoyed feeling superior, if only briefly. Until their mother would sit them down once again and explain something she called 'the grooming plan'. They had a strict beauty regime that was completed every night. Adele explained the importance of cleansing, toning, moisturizing, brushing, spraying, firming, re-brushing, etc. She would end every lecture with the same question: "How will you marry into money looking like that?"
It had gotten worse as the school's prom drew nearer. Ella had won the crown the previous year and Adele would be damned if one of her girls wouldn't win it this year. She had flirted with the lecherous principle of the school and even hinted that his desires could become reality if he were to swing the vote for prom queen. Now all she had to do was prepare her daughters for the cattle market. They were not naturally beautiful like their step-sister. They needed work, which required money. A fortune really. Which was handy, because Adele had married Ella's downtrodden father for his fortune anyway.
To say Ella Cinderson's father was under the thumb was like saying Ray Punzul's beard was 'quite long'. His new bride walked all over him, but he didn't mind. The poor fool was smitten and did not want to die alone. He looked on in silence as Adele dipped into Ella's college fund, preferring to live a quite life.
It was 6 o'clock on the night of the prom. Charlotte and Gwyneth's limo was booked for half past. The ugly sisters were less ugly having endured nine hours of pre-prom preparation. They were less ugly, but they were exhausted. They had been plucked and prodded, tanned and preened all day. Luckily they only had to be crammed into their frilly, chiffon dresses and they were ready.
Ella had not been treated to a day at the spa. Instead she had spent ten minutes in the bathroom with her limited products and slipped into the recycled prom dress she was allowed last year. As the reigning prom queen, she had to attend this year to hand over the crown.
Ella was not permitted to ride in the limo with her sisters. Luckily, one of her admirers had offered to drive her to and from the prom in exchange for a dance. Manipulation was one of Ella's keenest tools.
When all three girls had arrived at the prom, with one chauffeur in tow, the party had already begun.  Although there were many pretty girls at the prom, none compared to Ella. She turned heads everywhere she went. Boys fell apart and trod on their dates on the dance floor as Ella glided past. Ella used her looks to get free drinks all night. Of course, this being a high school prom, one likely lad had spiked the punch and towards the end of the night, Ella had become increasingly giddy.
The clock struck 10pm, but not many heard it. There was electronica on and those still standing were swaying awkwardly. Ella was leaning against a speaker, sticking her chest out with her hand in her hair. Her appeal was less subtle when she was inebriated. The headmaster had indulged in the punch himself. He pressed his lips to her ear and whispered that her reign as queen was over.
Perhaps it was the punch, but most thought it was the threat of someone taking her long deserved crown that saw Ella's facade of niceness come crumbling down around her.
The new prom queen had been announced. It was not Charlotte, nor was it Gwyneth. Which was good, as they were both fast asleep, leaning against each other on a bench at the side of the hall. A shiny girl in a big pink dress climbed the stairs to the stage and stood, awaiting her prize.
Ella pushed the perverted educator aside and mounted the stage. A frightened secretary handed Ella her microphone. She was ready to address her people.
"You all look horrid. I can hardly believe any of you deserve this title more than me. Not one of you lumps is getting my crown. I am your queen!" Ella turned to the shiny girl and stuck up her nose. She dropped the microphone. The thud broke the silence of the hall, accompanied only by the gentle snores of her ugly step sisters. The crowd parted as she walked through. A sea of shocked faces turned as she passed, as they had done before.
Ella Cinderson was not sweetness and light. She was not even hard done by. As it turned out, she had been secretly plotting with her evil step mother. Adele was waiting outside the prom, her and Ella's bags packed. They made plans to use their beauty to travel the world, always getting their way. They had much more in common than anyone realized.
Ella's father was distraught. He had lost his first wife, his second and now his daughter. All the beautiful women left him. Charlotte and Gwyneth never did though. They looked after him until he grew to a great age, and passed away in the night. They inherited what little money he had left and spent their lives together as spinsters. They owned a great many cats and a parrot called Percy.
Something I did for uni.
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