Hey y'all, I was bored one night, had writers block for This Gift and had fairy tales in my head. This is the outcome. As y'all know I'm a 98 Degree fan to then end, so who else could you expect to find in my fairy tale than 98 Degrees themselves? Word of caution, this story hadn't been checked over by my editor so any grammatical or syntax errors should be overlooked. I do not know any of the members of 98 Degrees personally, I know nothing of their sexual preferences and I don't believe any of them to be princes... if they are, I'm greatly sorry for that. I heard the other day on the news that Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson are now married. Congratulations to them. I, on the other hand have had many accomplishments myself in these passed couple of months. I've finally come out to my family and friends and now have the most adorable, most sweetest, most caring man ever. Jorge. It's only been a short time, but in that short time we've been able to do many things that most couples don't get to do in a lifetime. Te quiero papi.
As always feedback is welcome: bigdaddycool_0813@hotmail.com
Enjoy the story. Much love y'all, Drew.
Once upon a time, there was a rich gentleman who had lost his wife. Having truly loved this woman, he felt very sorry when she had passed. Finding himself truly unhappy over her loss, he decided to marry a second time thinking this would make him as happy as he had been before. Unfortunately, the woman he chose, Britney, was the proudest and most haughty woman ever known. She was always out of humour with everyone, nobody could please her and she returned the courtesies of those around her with the most affronting disdain. She had two sons, Justin and Nick, by a previous husband whom she brought up to be proud and idle, in essence perfectly resembling their mother. They disliked their books and would not learn to work. Many ostracized them. The gentleman, on his side, also had a son, Drew, who in sweetness of temper and carriage was the exact likeness of his mother. The gentleman had hoped that his new wife would cherish his son in the same fashion his first wife had. Not long after the wedding ceremony, the gentleman fell ill and passed much like his previous wife leaving Drew under complete care of Britney. Once the ceremony had passed, Britney began to show her true temper, she could not bear the pretty boy because his sweet, obliging manners made those of her own sons appear most disrespectful. Because of this newfound hatred towards Drew, Britney ordered him to live in the kitchen. He wasn't to leave the kitchen unless instructed by Britney, and only until the task asked of him was completed. Seeing no need for servants when she had Drew, Britney soon dismissed all the servants her adoring husband had hired many years ago. Drew kept busy by mopping the floors, scrubbing down the tables, preparing meals, and keeping the house tidy -- especially the sleeping chambers of Britney and her sons. Their sleeping chambers were beautifully laden with beds of the newest fashion, while poor Drew was forced to sleep in the attic upon a bed made of straw without any of the luxuries that his stepbrothers had for any comfort. Despite all the misfortune life played out to this poor child, he bore it all with the greatest patience, not daring to complain. When he had completed his work, Drew would sit in the chimney corner among the cinders, thus earning the name Cindrewella. Cindrewella, however dirty and dressed in rags was a thousand times prettier than Justin and Nick dressed in all their splendour. It came to pass that the King's son was throwing a ball, to which he invited all those persons of fashions of the country. Britney, Nick, and Justin had all been invited, the Prince not knowing how disagreeable they were. Cindrewella hadn't been invited because Prince Jeff knew nothing of him. The two brothers and their mother began busily preparing themselves for the joyous day. Every waking minute of their day was spent in fancying suits, shoes, and accessories that would set them off the greatest advantage. All this was new vexation to the poor Cindrewella who was forced to iron and care for these clothes. They talked of nothing but how they should be dressed. "I," said Nick, "will wear my scarlet velvet with French trimming." "And I," said Justin, "shall wear the same silk I had made for the last ball, and perhaps some diamonds around my neck. With these I must certainly look well." They sent eight miles for the best hairdresser to be had and their accessories came from the most fashionable shops. On the day of the ball, they had all called Cindrewella to consult about their attire for they knew Cindrewella had a great deal of taste. Cindrewella gave the best advice he could, and even offered to adjust their lapels, to which they agreed. While Cindrewella was busy ameliorating the appearance of his stepbrothers, Nick asked, "Should you not like, Cindrewella, to go to the ball?" "Ah!" replied Cindrewella, "you are only mocking me; it is not for such as I am to think of going to balls." "You are quite right," Justin supplied, "folks might laugh, indeed, to see Cindrewella dancing in a ballroom." Any other creature would have tried their mightiest to make the two brothers seem as ugly as hell, however, as sweet as Cindrewella was, he tried his best to make them appear as attractive as possible. Finally the long-awaited moment arrived: the proud sirs, along with their mother had stepped into a carriage and drove towards the palace. Cindrewella followed them with his eyes as far as he could, and once they were out of sight, went to his corner to cry. His godfather, who saw him in tears, asked him whatever was the matter. "I wish... I wish..." sobbed Cindrewella, without being able to complete the sentence. "You wish to be able to go to the ball." The godfather, who was a fairy, said to him. "Is that not the truth?" Cindrewella could only nod. "Well, well. Be a good boy, and you shall go." He then led Cindrewella to his bedchamber, and said to him, "Run into the garden and fetch me a pumpkin." Cindrewella dashed to the garden finding the most ripe, most plump pumpkin he could find and returned shortly with it. The godfather scooped out the inside, leaving nothing but the rind and struck the fruit with her wand. Instantly, the pumpkin became a fine carriage gilded all over with gold. Next finding six mice in the corner of the room, the godfather tapped each one with the wand, each mouse becoming a beautiful horse, a dapple-grey colour. "Well, my dear," said his godfather, "is this not the most beautiful carriage you could wish for to take you to the ball?" "Y-yes," replied Cindrewella, "but shall I go in these rags?" He queried glancing down at his attire. His godfather touched the clothes with his wand and instantly the clothing transformed into the most magnificent apparel, ornamented with the most costly jewels in the whole world. To this, he added a beautiful pair of glass docks and bade him set out for the palace. The fairy, however, before Cindrewella could leave warned that under no circumstances was Cindrewella to remain at the ball once the clock struck midnight for moments afterward his coach would become a pumpkin, his horse mice, and his clothes rags. Cindrewella did promise to do all the fairy godfather had asked and set out to the palace. As soon as he arrived, Prince Jeff, who had been informed that a great Prince had arrived that no one knew anything of, had presented himself at Cindrewella's carriage door and helped him out, conducting him to the ballroom. Cindrewella had just entered the ballroom when everyone fell silent. Both the dancing and the music stopped, his beauty hypnotizing everybody. Whispers of "How handsome he is!" was all that could be heard. The King, himself, although old, could not remove his eyes from Cindrewella, explaining to his wife that it had been far too long that he had laid eyes on such a beautiful creature. Prince Jeff showed Cindrewella the most honourable seat, and soon after coaxed him into a dance. Cindrewella danced and moved most gracefully causing everyone to, yet again, be enamoured with him. After some time, a delicious meal was served, however, Prince Jeff was so preoccupied with staring at Cindrewella that he hadn't touched a thing. Cindrewella sat himself next to his stepbrothers, paying them the utmost attention and offering them some of the oranges and sweets that the Prince had presented him. The brothers were quite shocked to learn that someone they did not know could be so polite. As they were conversing, Cindrewella had heard the clock strike quarter to midnight and bade farewell so that he could return to his house, following the godfather's orders. As soon as he entered his house, he thanked his fairy godfather and told him how he would give anything to go to the ball the next day, to which the Prince had invited him. While filling in his godfather, the stepbrothers were busily wrapping on the door. Cindrewella walked over, opening the door with a yawn so to appear as if he had just woken. "How late you have stayed," he said while rubbing at his eyes. "If you had been at the ball," said Nick, "let me tell you, you would not have been sleepy. There came the handsomest, yes, the very handsomest prince ever beheld! He paid us a thousand attentions and allowed us some of the oranges and sweets the Prince had offered him. Cindrewella was overjoyed and had asked his brothers of the name of such a prince to which Justin replied. "No one knows of him, and no one knows of the name. Prince Jeff has offered up a reward for any information." Cindrewella smiled and said, "How very beautiful he must be! How fortunate you are! Ah, could I but see him for a single moment! Dear Justin, lend me only the yellow suit you wear everyday, and let me go see him." "Oh! Sure, allow me to fetch it and lend it to a gutter rat. Do you really suppose me such a fool? No, no, mind your proper business and leave the balls to your betters." Cindrewella had expected such a response and was glad for if his brother had offered up the clothing; he would have been beside himself in what to do. The next day the two stepbrothers along with their mother appeared at the ball, as well as Cindrewella, however dressed more magnificently than the previous night. Prince Jeff was again by his side, saying the most flattering things. Cindrewella was far from being tired, and so caught up in the luxuries that he forgot about the advice his godfather had given him. Cindrewella heard the clock strike; counting the chimes until he had noted that the clock had struck twelve. He dashed out of the ballroom, praying the transformation would not be seen. The Prince tried to stop him, but Cindrewella's fear had him running faster. In such a hurry, he had dropped one of his glass docks, of which the Prince had grabbed so that he could take the most care of it. The Prince had demanded of the guards whether they had seen a prince dashing through the gates to which the guards replied they had seen nothing but a little ragged boy, most likely a beggar but definitely not a prince. Upon the arrival of the stepbrothers at home, Cindrewella had asked of them if they were blessed with the presence of the handsome prince yet again. They had replied that yes, the prince had been there, but had fled once the clock had struck midnight. As he had rushed out, he had dropped a glass dock to which the prince had picked up and spent the rest of the night watching. Everyone believed Prince Jeff to be in love. This proved to be true as the Prince; by sound of the trumpet proclaimed that he would marry the man who's foot could fit the shoe exactly. The prince's messengers took the glass shoe and brought it around trying it on all the princes and dukes and in short all the men of the court, without success. The messengers then tried the two brothers who tried valiantly to squeeze their foot into the shoe only to discover that it was impossible. Cindrewella, who knew his shoe and couldn't help but smile the whole time, dared to ask, "Please sir, if I may, would I be able to try on the shoe?" The brothers burst out laughing as one of the messengers explained, "It is highly unlikely that a foot such as yours would fit that of a prince!" The gentleman however, allowed Cindrewella to try the shoe, as the prince had demanded every man try on the shoe until they found the owner. The gentleman made Cindrewella sit down and slid the shoe on to his foot. The shoe slid on, perfectly evident that it was a true fit. The two brothers were amazed that the shoe had fit their stepbrother, and were even more intrigued when Cindrewella pulled the matching shoe out of his pocket and slid it on the other foot. The fairy godfather chose this moment to enter the room, touching Cindrewella's clothes, transforming them into the most magnificent apparel to be found. The stepbrothers took note of the most handsome prince to be found and grovelled at his feet for forgiveness of their mistreatment. Cindrewella was then escorted, dressed as he was, to Prince Jeff, who finding him more attractive than ever, instantly asked if Cindrewella would take his hand. The marriage ceremony took place several days later, and Cindrewella, as generous as he was beautiful, allowed his brothers to live in beautiful apartments within the palace and soon married them off to two great lords of the court. ~~~The End~~~