Cinderella Takes the Stage by Disney Book Group

Author:Disney Book Group
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Published: 2017-08-17T16:00:00+00:00

“Do you happen to know where the ivory lace is? I think I brought it in a couple of days ago,” Ella told the mouse, who darted back into the pile. He returned moments later, the lace in his teeth. Ella was delighted. “Why, thank you! Do you have a name?”

The mouse stared at her, whiskers twitching.

“I see. Well, let’s call you Leopold. Leo for short,” Ella said as she patted his head.

The mouse bowed and ran back to the mound of materials, squeaking. Ella could have sworn that the squeak sounded just like the mouse had said, “Good day, Cinderella.”

Ella turned to Val. “Did you hear that? I’m sure that mouse spoke to me. Have you ever heard a mouse speak?”

“Hmm, I don’t think so.” Val shrugged. “Maybe a fairy charmed him.”

The girls continued working for hours, pausing only for the soup Florence brought them for lunch. Val sewed and hammered and fastened. Ella sewed and cut and beaded.

By the time the sun was low in the sky, Ella’s maiden puppet was nearly finished. The girls took a break for tea and biscuits brought out by Ella’s father. He didn’t say a word to interrupt. He just gave the two girls, Claudio, and Bruno pats on the head and a tip of his hat.

“So, what would you do with the prize money, Mademoiselle Cinderella?” Val asked as she sipped her tea.

“What will I do with the prize money, you mean?” Ella grinned.

“I admit you’ve made a lot of progress. But I have a trick up my sleeve that will guarantee me the win,” Val said.

“Oh, do you?” Ella took a sip of tea. “It’s not just about the gold coin for me. The Midsummer Festival is my favorite day of the year. There’s so much magic in the air. And the puppets are the best part—besides the bonfires, of course.” She paused. For some reason, she felt silly telling Val about the dress. “But the prize is a bonus. I’ve had my eye on a dress in the village. I guess that might seem less important than a goat.”

Val’s eyes lit up. “Is it the gold-and-silver one? In the window of Madame Collette’s?”

“Yes!” Ella was surprised. Val didn’t seem like the type to care about a dress. She could make such beautiful things herself.

“It’s absolutely gorgeous. It would look stunning with your hair,” Val said.

Ella blushed.

Val continued. “I don’t think a dream of winning a dress is any less important than a dream of winning a goat. We should all get the chance, right? Our hearts don’t always need to want the same thing. As long as they want something.”

Ella felt much better. Val understood. “Exactly,” Ella said.

“I’m just sorry your dream won’t come true this year,” Val said with a smirk Ella now knew well.

“Oh, you.” Ella threw a handful of hay at Val.

“Thank you! This will make fabulous puppet hair,” Val said, giggling.

The girls finished their tea. Claudio and Bruno were fast asleep on the hay after a day of playing.

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