Once there was a little cat who was orphaned when her father died.
She had to live with her step mother and two step sisters. Her step mom loved her step sisters more than her.
And the sisters hated her.
They made her do all the chores, which wasn't very fair. She wished she could leave.
One day, they got a letter in the mail.
It was from the Prince! He was inviting the whole family to a ball, during which he would select his new wife.
Cinderella's sisters wanted to marry the prince. This was their chance! Everyone was excited.
Even Cinderella! It would be nice to get out of the house for a change.
But then her step mother said, "No."
Cinderella was very disappointed.
So she just went back to her chores.
The big day came and her step mother and sisters got all dressed up!
Cinderella said goodbye and went to feel sorry for herself.
Then her fairy godmother appeared! "You're going to the ball," she said, "But only until midnight when your carriage will turn into a pumpkin." Cinderella thought this seemed dumb, but she said okay. She could always walk home.
Her fairy godmother offered to give her a new dress, but she already had one. So she put it on and then got into the carriage her godmother magicked out of a pumpkin with mice to drive it.
The mice were not very good drivers.
When she arrived, the cats were all having a good time.
Then the prince said, "Would you like to dance?" He was the ugliest prince she had ever seen.
And he seemed more interested in her shoes than in her.
She said no.
Then she ate some food, said hello to some friends, and left. Her family never even knew she was there.
Her carriage turned into a pumpkin after she got home.
The next day her step mom and sisters tried to tell her about the party. "I don't care," she said.
Then she moved out, and left her step mom and sisters to clean up the mess.
Cinderella got a job.
She was very successful.
One of her sisters married the prince.
The other went on to become a great painter.
And they all lived happily ever after.
