Cinderella and Me

Cinderella and Me - 4th June 2014
Advanced Project (Storytelling #1) : The Folk Tale

Objectives :

To tell a folk tale that is entertaining and enjoyable for a specific age group.

To use vivid imagery and voice to enhance the tale.

(7 - 9 minutes)

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During my primary school time, my teachers and friends knew me as a quite and shy girl. One day when I was in standard 1, a trainee teacher announced, "Today, I am not going to teach. So, what would you like to do?". The whole class was so excited. "We play game! Girls vs boys!", "Storytelling!"
"Okay, I choose, storytelling!", the teacher decided.
At first, I thought the teacher will tell us a story, but she said, "So... who is going to come in front of the class, and tell a story?"
"Ain, teacher!" a friend, sitting next to me shouted.
"What? Why me?" I was shocked.
"Ain, what story will you tell us?", our teacher asked, looking and smiling at me.

"Teacher, she is good in telling stories. Last time she told me the story of Cinderella!" my friend was so excited. "Ain, just tell the same story, I like it.. Go!", she continue, whispering to me. Trying to make me confident.

Then, that walked in front of the class. That was my first public speaking, in my life.

Hye friends...

Once upon a time there lived an unhappy young girl. Her mother was dead and her father had married a widow with two daughters. Her stepmother didn't like her one little bit. All her kind thoughts and loving touches were for her own daughters. Nothing was too good for them - dresses, shoes, delicious food, soft beds, and every home comfort. But, for the poor unhappy girl, there was nothing at all. No dresses, only her stepsisters’ hand-me-downs. No lovely dishes, nothing but scraps. No rest and no comfort. She had to work hard all day. Only when evening came was she allowed to sit for a while by the fire, near the cinders. That’s why everybody called her Cinderella.

Cinderella used to spend long hours all alone talking to the cat. The cat said, “Miaow“, which really meant, “Cheer up! You have something neither of your stepsisters has and that is beauty.” It was quite true. Cinderella, even dressed in old rags, was a lovely girl. While her stepsisters, no matter how splendid and elegant their clothes, were still clumsy, lumpy and ugly and always would be.

One day, beautiful new dresses arrived at the house. A ball was to be held at the palace and the stepsisters were getting ready to go. Cinderella didn't even dare ask if she could go too. She knew very well what the answer would be: “You? You're staying at home to wash the dishes, scrub the floors and turn down the beds for your stepsisters.” They will come home tired and very sleepy. Cinderella sighed, “Oh dear, I'm so unhappy!” and the cat murmured “Miaow.”

Suddenly something amazing happened. As Cinderella was sitting all alone, there was a burst of light and a fairy appeared. “Don't be alarmed, Cinderella,” said the fairy. “I know you would love to go to the ball. And so you shall!” “How can I, dressed in rags?” Cinderella replied. “The servants will turn me away!”

The fairy smiled. With a flick of her magic wand Cinderella found herself wearing the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. “Now for your coach,” said the fairy; "A real lady would never go to a ball on foot! Quick! Get me a pumpkin!” “Oh of course,” said Cinderella, rushing away. Then the fairy turned to the cat. “You, bring me seven mice, and, remember they must be alive!”

Cinderella soon returned with the pumpkin and the cat with seven mice he had caught in the cellar. With a flick of the magic wand the pumpkin turned into a sparkling coach and the mice became six white horses, while the seventh mouse turned into a coachman in a smart uniform and carrying a whip. Cinderella could hardly believe her eyes.

“You shall go to the ball Cinderella. But remember! You must leave at midnight. That is when my spell ends. Your coach will turn back into a pumpkin and the horses will become mice again. You will be dressed in rags and wearing clogs instead of these glass slippers! Do you understand?” Cinderella smiled and said, “Yes, I understand!”

Cinderella had a wonderful time at the ball until she heard the first stroke of midnight! She remembered what the fairy had said, and without a word of goodbye she slipped from the Prince’s arms and ran down the steps. As she ran she lost one of her slippers, but not for a moment did she dream of stopping to pick it up! If the last stroke of midnight were to sound... oh... what a disaster that would be! Out she fled and vanished into the night.

The Prince, who was now madly in love with her, picked up the slipper and said to his ministers, “Go and search everywhere for the girl whose foot this slipper fits. I will never be content until I find her!” So the ministers tried the slipper on the foot of every girl in the land until only Cinderella was left.

“That awful untidy girl simply cannot have been at the ball,” snapped the stepmother. “Tell the Prince he ought to marry one of my two daughters! Can't you see how ugly Cinderella is?”

But, to everyone’s amazement, the shoe fitted perfectly.

Suddenly the fairy appeared and waved her magic wand. In a flash, Cinderella appeared in a splendid dress, shining with youth and beauty. Her stepmother and stepsisters gaped at her in amazement, and the ministers said, “Come with us Cinderella! The Prince is waiting for you.“

So Cinderella married the Prince and lived happily ever.

Ladies and gentlemen, I still remember, after I finished the story, the whole class gave me a big hand. That was my first storytelling in front of the class, but not the last. When I was in standard 2, the same thing happen again. A friend requested me, to come in front of the classroom and tell a story. Which story? Again, Cinderella. And the same thing happen when I was in standard 3 too.

My first three years in school telling the story of Cinderella in front of the class. It is one of the sweet memories. Even I was still known as a quite and shy girl during my school time. That is why, Cinderella story means a lot to me.

First, as the story I used to start public speaking.
Second, it was also the first story I read from my first story book.
And finally, Cinderella story taught me about the beauty of patience. It make me believe that patience leads a life with happy ending.