The monthly meeting of the Retired Fairy Godmother Coffee Club(RFGCC) was about to convene in the comfy apartment of Madame Coy. The club had been meeting less often since the Covid pandemic had forced them to meet on Zoom, but now that the crisis seemed to be over the ladies decided it was okay to use their regular magic and meet face-to-face.
It seemed sad that the group, after several hundred years of fairy godmothering had been forced to retire or find other outlets for their magic. Girls today had no need for old fashioned magic to find their happily ever after. Still nostalgia for the good old days always resulted in reminiscing about their former triumphs.
Today they had agreed to discuss the role of her fairy godmother in helping Cinderella find her “happily ever after.” As the ladies big and small settled down to sip their tea or coffee, the air was filled with glowing expectations. Cinderella’s fairy godmother’s name was Lina. She was a short, round, cubby cheeked frau who was happy wearing a kerchief and huge apron which she filled with bits of left-over magic waiting to be used.
Note: The first thing you must know, dear reader, is that there have been hundreds of versions of Cinderella’s story written and though the most well-known might be the film by Walt Disney, they have never captured the original version of her story as chronicled first by the Brothers Grimm.
Lina reached for a delightful piece of cherry strudel and began her tale.” I must confess that I became Cinderella’s fairy godmother though there was no fairy godmother in the first version of her story. Frankly, those Grimm Brothers told a very gory tale that might horrify children today. My role was created later to smooth out the nasty versions of her plight. Still the life of a girl forced to become a servant and bullied by a stepmother and stepsisters is in line with the original tale. The poor child was living a miserable life and somehow managed to stay sweet, gentle and kind. Her faith in the future came from the last words of her loving mother. I was assigned by our Fairy Godmother General to do what I could to make things right for the child. Unfortunately, my magic was only effective until midnight which caused some major difficulties.”
Briar Rose’s godmother interrupted. “I always thought that was just a condition you added to make things more dramatic.”
Lina made an offended harrumph and continued.
“In the Disney version of the 1950’s it was true that the girl found some comfort in loving and caring for animals. Her dog was her companion and protector. She fed the birds and other small animals who sensed her sweet nature. They definitely helped me in getting her to the ball to meet the prince.”
“When Cinderella fled the ball as the clock stuck midnight, she did not accidentally lose her glass slipper. I must admit making them glass was just a little glitch in my magic spell. It was totally unintended. But I was in a hurry. Cindy, trooper that she was, wore the darn things just like young women today continue to wear totally uncomfortable shoes to attract admiring looks from their men. Her feet were so sore from dancing in the beautiful but totally uncomfortable footwear that she kicked off both shoes so she could run faster. She picked them up dropping one as she fled. As luck would have it, the dropped slipper was the way her Prince was able to find her. It was also lucky that it took a few days for him to try on the slipper. Cinderella feet were so swollen right after the dance that it would never have fit.
“I must admit that the glass slippers turned out to be a blessing. While I knew they would be hard to dance in, they turned out to be a very necessary touch.
Cindy thanked me repeatedly for her chance to go to the ball. That she was able to attract and charm the prince was totally all her doing.”
“Lina, wait a minute.” Another godmother interrupted. “Are you telling us it was love at first sight?”
“Of course, it was.” Lina continued. You know we have no power to make anyone fall in love. “
The Prince would never have found her, had it not been for the slipper. The stepsisters and stepmother did their best to keep him from trying the slipper on the girl he loved. They tried to lock her away. In a last effort to thwart her the stepmother saw to it the slipper the Prince had was “accidently” broken.”
“But Cinderella had the other slipper!” Several ladies sighed.
“Not exactly. Actually, her dog found it and just as the prince was leaving dropped it in front of him. By that time Cindy had escaped. When the prince saw Cindy, there was really no need to put the slipper on. It really was true love at first sight. Cindy told me later she was glad she did not have to try it on because her feet were still sore.
In a unified chorus the godmothers sang, ”And they lived happily ever after”
Lina laughed, “I assume true love triumphed. There are no divorces in fairytale land. Cindy made me godmother to her daughter. That is, as they say, is a story for another day.
The ladies took prepared to leave. Snow White’s fairy godmother was invited to speak at the next meeting. The location would be texted to the club.
Note: Don’t worry dear reader. We know there is not a fairy godmother in the traditional Snow White story, but she has a story to tell. Check out my next blog for what you never knew about Snow White.
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