nce upon a time there lived a girl and her father. The girl's name was Andrea Lake. Her father was a very famous merchant. Andrea had golden blond hair and green eyes. Andrea was very pretty.

Soon, everyone in the whole town knew who she was. And everyone single woman knew that Andrea was also motherless. Because of that Andrea and her father became a target for widows and other woman.

On Andrea's seventeenth birthday, her father, brought home a woman and two other girls.

" Andrea," her father began, " It has been a long time since you have had a mother. And this time, I have brought home Lindsay Parker. She is my new wife and your new mother."

Andrea smiled and took a bow.

" Who is this, father?," Andrea asked as she looked at the other two girls.

" These are your sisters. Mary and Wendy," he said.

Mary and Wendy were also very pretty. Actually, to tell you the truth they were prettier than Andrea. Mary had brown hair and brown eyes. Her face was powdered and her lipstick was redder than cherries. Her dress was very fancy and she looked as if she was a sophisticated woman. But, she was really childish and spoiled. But, at that time, Andrea didn't know, yet. Wendy was very different from Mary. Wendy had black hair and black eyes. Her face wasn't powdered and her lips weren't red. She didn't even put on make-up. Her dress was plain.

But, Wendy was different from Mary, because she was nice and kind. But, she was a follower, not a leader. And that proved to be a problem.

Andrea escorted Mary and Wendy to their new rooms. "

In our house, we didn't have so many little rooms. I believe I'd had bigger," Mary said.

Wendy, of course, agreed with Mary. Although, she thought different. The truth was, Mary and Wendy have never seen such big rooms!

" But, thank you anyway, Andrea," Wendy said.

" Who asked you to speak?," Mary said.

Wendy just looked down and went to her room.

" Why do you have to be so mean to Wendy?," Andrea asked.

" Because she doesn't have a brain in the world. She'd be lucky to get a miller as her husband," Mary said laughing.

Andrea said nothing and left.

That night, her father went off to another country. And that left her stepmother and her two stepsisters. Her stepmother very cruel. She didn't care about Andrea. She faked everything to make a good impression. Her stepmother never said a word about anything. She was still grieving over the death of her husband. So, she married Andrea's father to make things better. She thought that if you married someone else, you could forget about things that you don't want to remember. But, that isn't true. She was just using her father as a wall for her problems.

Andrea was asleep in her room, when suddenly, there was a crash. She ran downstairs to see what was happening. She followed the sounds to a room. It was a room, where her father kept all of his money and merchandise that he was planning to sell.

" Mary!," Andrea cried, " What are you doing in here? Didn't father tell you that you aren't allowed in here?"

" Oh, be quiet, Andrea," Mary said, " You are such an ignorant child!"

" What are you saying? I'm not ignorant!," Andrea snapped.

" You have all these precious jewels and money right in your house...and you don't even use or take it! I mean, I would," Mary said studying a pearl necklace.

Andrea ran up to Mary and pulled the necklace out of her hand.

" This necklace if for the Dutchess or Irmingshire! Father said this was a great deal for him! And I will not let some snobby spoiled girl to take it!," Andrea said.

Mary shoved her.

" Take it, then! I didn't like it anyway. As a matter of fact, this ruby would look awfully good on me, wouldn't it?," she asked Andrea.

Then, as if she realized what she was saying, she cried,

" Oh, what would you know? As a matter of fact, I don't think you know anything about fashion. You are as stupid as, Wendy!"

Andrea looked so horrified at what Mary had become. I mean, wouldn't you? Andrea went up to Mary.

" I will not tell anyone about what had happened tonight. And I don't want father coming home and seeing us fight. So, if you would put down these things and kindly go back to your room, I will not put up a fight," Andrea said.

Mary, as if she had lost a race, threw everything down, and went back to her room. Andrea went out after her.

In the morning, everyone sat at the table. Her stepmother smiled at Andrea.

" Andrea, you look so tired. What happened yesterday?," she asked.

" Nothing, stepmother," Andrea replied.

" Doesn't look like nothing to me. You have bags under your eyes," Wendy pointed out.

" No really. Nothing happened," Andrea said forcing a smile. But, inside she was very unhappy and angry.

There was knock on the door. Mary looked at Wendy.

" Well?," she said.

Wendy got up and opened the door.

" It's the mail man!," Wendy cried.

" It's not polite to yell," her stepmother said.

Andrea smiled and said, " I better see what the mail man has got for us."

Andrea went up to Wendy and said,

" Oh, please sit down, Wendy. I will see what he has gotten for us."

The mail man handed her some papers and left. Andrea walked over to the table reading one.

" Father has finished his will. He says, ' Everything will be given to my new wife, Fiona, and my new eldest daughter, Mary. As for Andrea she is still young and I advise her stepmother to take care of her.'," Andrea read.

Andrea felt like she would die! Mary was going to get everything! Mary and her stepmother smiled.

" Oh, isn't that wonderful," her stepmother said with glee.

" What does the other paper say, dear sister?," Mary said hardly.

Andrea opened the next paper and her face was so shocked.

" F-father is d-dead. His ship was ship-ship-shipwrecked yesterday, night!," Andrea said bursting into tears.

Mary pulled the paper from Andrea and said,

" Let me see that!"

Then, Mary smiled. " I guess everything belongs to me and mother now," she said.

Andrea looked at the two.

" You two aren't even sad!," she said, " You heartless souls!"

Then, she suddenly realized something.

" You married father for his money!!," Andrea cried, " No wonder you two are so happy! The will says everything belongs to you!!"

Andrea looked stood up and ran to her room. That afternoon, Wendy, came in.

" Sorry, to bother you, Andrea. But, you have to leave," Wendy said.

" What?"

" Mother says you have to leave."

" But, this is my house!," Andrea cried.

Mary suddenly appeared on the doorway and said, " Not anymore, dear sister."

Andrea swallowed hard and said, " You are so cold."

Mary said, " Enough with the talking. Come on. Quickly! Finish packing up and leave my house immediately. We don't need an outsider in this house!"

" But, I'm your sister!," Andrea said with tears in her eyes.

" No. I must correct you. You were my sister," Mary said.

Andrea took some clothes from her closet and placed it in a bag.

" If I must go...I will go with pride and dignity," Andrea said.

Wendy looked so sad. She wanted to do something. But, she couldn't. She didn't have the power.

" I'm sorry, Andrea," Wendy said as Andrea was about to leave.

" No, Wendy. I'm sorry for you," Andrea said as she walked out the door.

That night, Andrea stayed in the street. She was cold and hungry. And had nothing to eat for days. Andrea wrapped her clothes around her. But, the coldness wasn't so kind as to leave her a lone. She was freezing. Suddenly, she felt faint. Everything seemed blurry. Then, as quick as lightning, she fainted.

When Andrea awoke she found herself in a warm small place. She sat up and looked around. Towards the right there was a fireplace. And it was burning with fire. Towards the middle was a little window. And as she turned around there were stairs. She looked to her left there were workers there. Each asleep, either under a table or on the floor.

" Where am I?," she asked aloud.

" You are in the king's kitchen of course," an old lady said from behind her.

She looked not so old. Her hair wasn't white. It was grey and she was in a neat dress. Not a fancy one. But, a plain old one. That looked nice and warm.

" My name is Emma Williams. I brought you here when I saw you lying on the floor like that. You know, girls like you shouldn't be on the street in the middle of the night," the old lady said.

" I-I have no place to go. My stepmother and stepsister, Mary, kicked me out," Andrea said with a sad looking face, " And my father is dead."

" Oh, I'm sorry, child. You can stay here with grandma, Emma. But, to earn you keep you must work hard, child," Emma said.

" I will work, Emma. Don't worry," Andrea said smiling.

A year later... Andrea had worked hard and learned how to sweep and everything. Soon, she was the hardest working person in the whole palace. And Emma became her godmother. When Emma couldn't work, Andrea would do her work, also. So, they became very close. Wendy found out where Andrea was and visited her secretly every Tuesday.

One day, Andrea was cleaning the chimney when suddenly, a boy who was 18 years old came up to her.

" Hi," he said.

Andrea who wasn't paying attention to who it was said,

" Hi."

" I'm David," he said, " Prince David."

At the word, Prince, she froze. Andrea climbed out of the chimney and said,

" Good morning, your majesty."

" You acted so normal just now. I shouldn't have said, Prince David. And look at you, you're covered with cinders. By the look of you, you remind me of my cousin, Ella."

" I am flattered to hear that I look like a princess," Andrea said bowing.

" Actually, Ella doesn't look that pretty. But, she is nice. What's your name?," he asked.

" I'm Andrea Lake."

" Are you related to the Lake family. They are quite friendly with my father. How sad that the merchant and his daughter had died."

Andrea didn't want to make a scene so, she said, " No. Actually, I haven't heard of them before."

" Oh, well then. Good day, Ms. Andrea. Let's be friends. You can call me David."

" Oh, I cannot, do such a thing! My head will be lost if I do that."

" If you are so happy with your head on, then call me the traditional, ' your majesty'," he said, " And I'll call you Cinderella. I don't really have so many friends, Cinderella."

" Why would you call me, Cinderella, your majesty?"

" Because, you are covered with cinders and you remind me of my cousin, Ella. Didn't I just tell you that?," he said.

" Yes, your majesty."

David said good-bye and left. He saw Andrea occasionally after that.

Soon, afterwards, an announcement was made. There was a ball to be made and everyone single woman was to be invited.

" Cinderella!," Prince David called one day. His sister overheard him and said,

" David, who are you calling?"

Prince David turned around and said, " My friend."

" And I suppose she is a girl," his sister said. "

Yes, Greta. She is a girl. But, that doesn't mean she can't be my friend," David said.

Greta smiled and said, " Oh, David, you are so stupid. Friendships with a girl and boy never work. Either they hate each other afterwards or they fall madly in love with each other."

" Greta, I think you've been reading too many love books," David said.

" Okay, David. You can say whatever you like. But, I am not a person who judges. Think what you like," she said as she walked away.

Not shortly afterwards, Andrea, came out.

" What took you so long this time?," David asked.

" I had to finish sweeping the floor," she said.

" Okay. But, I have a surprise for you!," he said.

Andrea looked at him and asked, " What is it?"

" My father said in my honor, I can invite anyone I like to my ball. And I've decided to invite you. You're my friend. And I will be glad to invite you. I've even bought you a dress."

Andrea looked at him sadly and said, " Sorry, your majesty."

" Why? What's wrong?"

" I'm afraid I cannot attend your lavishing ball."

" Why not?"

" Because, I have to work on the day of your ball. And especially hard, too. Since there is so many people, coming," she replied.

" I think I can fix that," David said.

" Your majesty, I must earn my keep. And I will not take a chance of losing my home by attending. I am quite happy here," Andrea told him.

David looked sad. " Alright, Cinderella."

The night of the ball, Andrea heard many laughs and happiness upstairs. She was so sad she couldn't attend. All of a sudden, Wendy walked in.

" Wendy!?! What are you doing here?," Andrea asked.

" Oh, Andrea! I'm so sorry!," Wendy cried.

" What's wrong?," Andrea asked.

" I accidentally told Mary you were down here. She is coming. And she isn't happy, either. She's afraid that you will tell the king that you aren't dead. With her lying, the king can kill her!"

Andrea looked shocked. " Don't worry, Wendy. I will hide," Andrea said. But, it was too late. Mary had come down.

" I knew you were here!," Mary cried.

" Oh, Mary! Please!," Wendy said.

Andrea began to run. Suddenly, Emma, showed up. Andrea ran behind Emma.

" What are you two doing here?," Emma demanded.

Mary just pouted and ran upstairs. Wendy left, too. Emma looked at Andrea.

" You want to go to the ball, don't you?," she asked.

Andrea nodded quickly.

" Oh, what the heck. Go. I will do the work," Emma said.

" But, I can't let you. The work is for me, only."

" Andrea, with all the time you have stayed and helped me do the work, when I couldn't. I feel that I should take your place once."

Andrea was so happy she was about to run up the stairs when, suddenly, Emma stopped her.

" You aren't going to the ball looking like that, are you?," Emma asked.

" But, I have nothing else to wear," Andrea said looking at her dress.

" Oh, yes you do," Emma said. " Prince David told me to give this to you, in case you change your mind," Emma said handing her a gift.

Andrea opened the box. And found a beautiful dress with a pair of glass slippers.

" Oh, this looks so beautiful!," Andrea said, " I can't possibly accept a gift like this!"

Emma looked shocked.

" Andrea? This is your big chance and you're not going to wear that dress!?!," Emma asked.

Andrea thought a moment and said, " You're right. I will take this chance."

Andrea quickly changed and ran upstairs.

When she came up, David saw her and his eyes were fixed upon her.

" Wow!," King Vincent said.

David said to his sister, " That's Cinderella."

Greta smiled. Mary and her stepmother saw her and said,

" Isn't that Andrea?" Wendy just smiled with glee.

David danced with her and said, " You look beautiful."

" Thank you, your majesty."

" You can call me, David."

" I will lose my head."

" Huh? I don't think my father will mind."

They danced and danced. And soon, the ball was over.

" I will announce who I will marry, tomorrow. Come back, tomorrow!," David said smiling.

But, everyone knew who he was going to marry. Only two people would he choose. Andrea or Mary.

That night, Andrea, was sweeping the floor, again. When, all of a sudden, Mary came.

" Congratualtions, Andrea. His majesty already wants to marry you. He told me to tell you to come."

Andrea looked at her suspiciously.

" But, he said he'll tell everyone tomorrow." " Princes are always like that. He told me to tell you to come."

Andrea trusted Mary. Because, Andrea thought Mary didn't hate her anymore. Andrea followed Mary to a small little room outside.

" Go in. There's a surprise for you," Mary said smiling kindly.

Andrea went inside. As soon as she did, Mary closed the door and locked her in.

" HELP!!!," Andrea cried.

" If they can't find you, they can't marry you," Mary said laughing.

The next day, Andrea, was crying. It was morning. And she was sure to be doomed. No one will find her and David will marry, Mary. She pounded on the door fiercely.

" Where's Cinderella?," David asked.

" I don't know," Emma replied, " She was here yesterday night."

" You don't think I scared her, do you?," David asked.

" Of course not! You couldn't have!," Emma said,

" I'll look for her."

David went to his sister and told her everything.

" She hates you," Greta said.

" No she doesn't."

David didn't find Andrea. And so, since Mary was present, he had to make a choice.

David thought, Andrea had fled and ran away. His hopes were gone and he said,

" I will make my announcement, now." He said a long long speech. At that exact moment, Emma, heard Andrea pounding on the door. She unlocked it and cried,

" Andrea! What are you doing here? David's going to make his announcement!"

Andrea grew alert and she ran out of there.

"...And now, I will marry...," he didn't have time to finish. Because, Andrea ran inside the room. David was so happy! " And I will marry, Andrea Lake."

Andrea ran into his arms and he hugged her.

" Where did you go?," he asked, " I thought you fled."

" And I'm so glad, you didn't," Greta said, " I knew it would work out this way."

" yeah right," he muttered.

" what did you say, dear brother?," she asked.

Andrea explained everything. Mary was punished harshly and Wendy became a lady at court. Emma was her godmother. But, she now lived in a big big room. In the palace.

Andrea and David got married and lived happily ever after.

The End

Story by: Sandy, age 12, USA

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