She was sitting quietly reading a magazine when her fairy godmother appeared.
She was surrounded by a great glow of rainbow colours. She held a silver wand. This she shook gently to allow stardust to float away. She smiled with an abundance of loving care at the girl. She lifted her arms dramatically, and said, “I have come to provide you with an adventure that will provide you with all those things that you most desire.”
The girl raised her eyebrows.
The fairy godmother continued. “First, I will summon a magnificent carriage pulled by a team of white horses. Then, with a little magic, I will transform your clothes into a ball gown more beautiful than anything you ever saw. The carriage will take you to a truly splendid costume ball being held at the palace, where you will meet the prince. There, you will dance with the prince all night, but you need to be back home by midnight. If not, all the finery and magic will disappear.”
At this point the fairy godmother had a sheepish grin. “Of course,” she went on, “if you should leave it too late and in rushing away leave one of your crystal slippers behind, well if this were to happen, the prince, having fallen madly in love with you, will search the kingdom for the foot that the shoe fits.”
She pauses for effect.
“Here’s the exciting part. When he fits the shoe to your foot he will ask you to marry him. You will, naturally, and you will both live happily ever after!”
The fairy godmother lifted her head and laughed.
“So, what do you think of that? Isn’t it wonderful?”
The girl just shrugged. “Sorry, not really my sort of thing.”
With that, she picked up the TV mag and switched the telly on.