“Cindy! Can you hand me the remote?” Prince Charming called to Cinderella who was slaving away in the kitchen trying to complete the family of six’s meal.
“Of course darling, just one second.” She replied as she quickly wiped her grimy hands off on her white apron. “Hurry up! Wheel of fortune is going to be on soon.” He countered, becoming frustrated that his wife wouldn’t obey his simple orders. At his request she quickened her pace and sprinted into the run down and dingy living room. Correcting her posture before entering, wanting to look the best for her prince. Whom had not moved from his spot on the couch for a month, had a pot belly the size of the pumpkin carriage she had once possessed and had an obvious lack of personal hygiene. Yellow pit stains rimmed the edge of his wife beater that at one time was white but had developed into a charcoal grey color. There was her prince now, still in his same spot and still brewing a stench of decaying raccoon in the room. The black little rectangular remote sat right in front of him on the wooden coffee table that was littered with remains of Oreos, ice cream cartons and flaming hot Cheeto bags.
“I didn’t feel like leaning forward to grab it.” He spat, spewing a bit of saliva onto her face, ‘Isn’t he charming?’ she thought to herself as she bent down to hand him the remote. With a small smile she sat it on his lap hoping that this time he would look at her, but with a grunt he powered on the TV, ignoring her presence. With a sigh she returned to chopping up the needed ingredients for dinner all four of her children came storming through the back door each holding the same attractive scowls that her prince now always had, “Hello children how was school?” she questioned as she stirred the mixture of ingredients. Without reply they pulled the pots and pans from their cabinets and ran around the kitchen banging and clanking the pots together making their abhorrent music while letting out high shrill screams.
“We want dinner, we want dinner!” they started to chant in sync while continuing the annoying actions.
“Right away children,” she replied politely while trying to match they’re demands.
“Can you control your children Cindy? I can’t even hear myself think.” Charming’s voice grunted from the living room. “I’m sorry dear! Children, can you try to keep it down?” she begged, not wanting anything to upset her perfect husband. But they did not meet her request; they continued to march around the kitchen disturbing the disgruntled man.
“Why isn’t dinner ready yet?” one of the four shouted in angst.
“I’m sorry I just want it to be perfect, just like all of you.”
Quickening her pace even more she added the last few needed ingredients to her husband’s favorite dish. “Dinner’s ready, everyone! Make your way to the living room please.” At this request the children obeyed, they were always obedient when it came to food. Cinderella went through the dinner ritual of pulling out the TV tray’s and sat one in front of each family member, then went back through setting a plate on each table. Immediately after doing so all that could be heard throughout the small shabby house was the Wheel of fortune, the scraping of forks on the glass plates and the occasional grunt coming from Charming as he shoveled his food into his mouth. “How do you like the dinner, honey? It’s your favorite, chicken pot pie.” This was an attempt to get her husband’s attention. Letting out an appreciative grunt along with a nod was all she got in reply. “Is it good?” she questioned wanting to hear an actual answer from him. “Stop talking I’m trying to watch TV.” He shouted his eyes glued to the screen. ‘Oh Cindy you’ve done it again, gone and got him upset.’ Scolding herself she looked up at the ceiling trying to hold back the river of tears. If there was one thing she hated it was making her prince upset. Without a word Charming held up his plate in Cinderella’s face signaling to take the empty plate away. Wiping away a single tear that slipped from her eyes and down her pale skin, she grabbed his plate and the children’s as well and began clean up as the rest of the family continued watching the television. Looking at the scene in front of her she wondered, ‘How did I get so lucky?’ she asked herself as she occasionally glanced from the plates she was washing in the sink up to her family all sitting in silence watching together. A smile formed on her cherry red lips as she scrubbed the plates spotless.
After slaving away for years while living with her step-mother, she was right at home in their new house continuing the same things. Day and night she cooked and cleaned, and boy was she living the life of luxury. Cinderella’s happy ending didn’t end with the big kiss; it continued long after and will for many more years. She didn’t mind the constant judgments from her husband and children. It was her dream to have a family to boss her around all the time; that was what she was used to after all. This is Cinderella’s true happily ever after.