Nancy Loewen - The Other Side of the Story: Fairy Tales with a Twist

by Trisha Speed Shaskan

illustrated by Gerald Guerlais

You must have heard of me. The wicked stepmother?
Not true. Its just another one of Cinderellas wild
stories. Not as wild as the one about the pumpkin.
And the fairy godmother. The real story, the true
story, began with some chatterand some dust.

All I ever wanted was a husband and
a mansion. Before I married Cindys
father, my two darlings and I had met
Cindy only a few times. The girl had
seemed normal then.

After I married Cindys father, my
darlings and I moved in. When I had
just one foot on the front step, my
dear husband kissed me good-bye
and said, Im off on business!

He leaves often, Cindy said, but
the animals stay put. They talk.
They joke. They sing. They even help
outespecially the bluebirds.

Now, I dont mind a story. But I like facts, not fiction.
Soon the girl was talking all kinds of hokey-pokey.

Once upon a time, Cindy said, one of the bluebirds
became blue. Not the color. The feeling. His friend had
flown south ...

My darlings and I were stuck near the front door.
I just wanted to put away my bags. And thats when
I saw it: dust.

Dear, is the whole house this dusty? I asked.

I dont know, Cindy said. Ill give you a tour!

In the dining room,
Cindy told stories.

In the study, Cindy told stories.

Nonstop.

Girls, I said, time to get to work. This place
needs a good cleaning.

Once upon a time, when I was cleaning ...
Cindy started.

Oh, boy.

Cindy mopped the floor. But she finished so fast!
My darlings had barely started.

Did you know robins and sparrows are my friends?
she said. But the sparrows dont like the robins.
Silly creatures! Once upon a time, one of the
robins

Cindy, dear, I said, why dont you go and wash the
clothes now, hmm?

But Cindy washed them so fast! How on earth did she
do it? I had to find another chore for her, just to keep
her busy.

If theres one thing squirrels love, its washing
clothes, Cindy said. The rats, though, would rather
iron. You know, one day I

Squirrels and rats doing laundry? Quit telling such
foolish stories! I said.

Time passed, but nothing changed.

In the garden, Cindy
told stories.

In the kitchen, Cindy told stories.

At dinner, I couldnt hear myself think.
Dear, please, I said,

STOP
TALKING!

But Cindy didnt stop.

One day, a letter arrived. It was an invitation to
the kings ball. The prince would surely fall in love
with one of my darlings. Then they would marry,
live in a beautiful castle, and one day be king and
queen of all the land!

Oh, Stepmother, I have to go too! said Cindy.
Once upon a time, a girl and a prince ...

And thenjust like thatCindy lost her voice.
Imagine! It had to be from all that storytelling.

Well, what could I do? I told Cindy she had
to stay homefor her health. She cried, of
course. But a ball was no place for a sick girl.
She needed rest.

Sometimes, its so hard being a stepmother.

At the ball, my darlings twirled. They whirled.

But then some strange girl waltzed in.
Her gown was magnificent. I couldnt take
my eyes off it. I wondered how much it cost
and if my seamstress could copy it for me.

The prince and the girl danced and pranced.
My poor darlings were left prince-less.

A few days later, the prince made an announcement.
A glass slipper had been left at the castle. The prince
would marry the girl whose foot it fit. Our big chance!

After visiting every other mansion in the neighborhood,
the princes valet arrived at our door.

Me! Me! said one of my darlings.

No, me! Me! said the other.

One at a time, said the valet.