Week Thirty(May 18 - May 24)- Topic: Metallic
Winner: Sunny
The Stepmother’s Confession
By Sunny
I started at the book of fairy tales in bewilderment. Cinderella? Who was she? I re-read the story; concentrating on the smaller details to try and figure out what story the Brothers Grimm had gotten wrong this time.
My eyes rested on the description of the family that Cinderella lived with. With an almost audible click the pieces settled into place. Could this terribly twisted story be referring to the Rellinstines? Seizing my hat and coat I dashed out the door to hale a taxi; there was only one way to find out the truth behind this story.
I knocked on the large oak doors of the Rellinstine Mansion, it was answered after several seconds by a tall, well-dressed, older lady with dark grey hair.
“Mrs. Rellinstine, how are you?” I asked tentatively, I hoped she wasn’t mad at me for not coming to her charity dinners for the last three years.
“Jack! Goodness, I haven’t seen you in ages! How are you?” she asked, pulling me into a hug.
“I’m doing good, I’ve published a couple of books recently,” I answered, straightening my jacket following Mrs. Rellinstine into the living room.
“Excellent! So what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
I pulled the book out of my briefcase. “Have you read this?” I asked.
“No, but I heard about it. It’s written by locals, right?” she said, putting on a pair of reading glasses and taking the book.
“Yes, it is. The village idiots, I’m afraid,” I said, opening the book to the Cinderella story.
Mrs. Rellinstine eyebrows rose higher and higher as she read until the disappeared into the grey bun on top of her head. “What on earth? The evil stepmother?” she sputtered once she had finished.
I pulled out a notebook and pen. “After this drivel was published I realized that somebody needed to write down the truth about these stories and I was wondering if you could tell me what happened.”
She handed back the book to me, as she did so I noticed that her nails were painted a metallic silver that matched her shoes. “Very well,” she said with flared nostrils. “When Mr. Rellinstine died I was left the house,” she gestured about the living room. “And his daughter, Ella, to take care of. Ella and I never saw eye-to-eye on things but she certainly wasn’t ever a servant!” she paused for several seconds. “Anyways, for sixteen years she lived here, at her eighteenth birthday I assumed she would move out and all would be done. However, she decided that she wanted to stay here and continue living in her old room. For another three years I didn’t say anything, but finally I couldn’t take it any more!” she yelled and buried her face in her hands.
“What did you do?” I asked. Maybe the Grimm’s story hadn’t been that far off after all.
“I did the only sensible option left. I paid a friend to pretend to be the Fairy Godmother and give Ella a dress and a carriage so she could go to the Fundraiser Dance at Town Hall!” Mrs. Rellinstine wailed.
I stopped mid scribble. “You what?” I asked.
“Yes, I paid someone to impersonate a national figure! I couldn’t take it, I tell you! That girl, you have no idea what she’s like! The singing, the constant cheerfulness, the sweet innocent kindness, the making clothes for all the local rats, it’s enough to drive anyone insane!”
I became aware that my mouth was hanging open. “Did it work? Did she move out?” I asked once in recovered.
“Oh yes, she met some guy named Charlie who’s in a rock band and she moved in with him. It’s been really nice, not having her around. Now it jus have to figure out how to get rid of my daughters, Jill and Briana,” said, Mrs. Rellinstine, staring off into space, contemplating.
“Well, I think that’s all I need,” I said, getting up and retrieving my hat.
“Nice of you to stop by!” called Mrs. Rellinstine as I walked out the door.
What a weird, weird family, I thought.
More from Sunny: http://www.goodreads.com/story/list/1814...
More from this contest: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1456...
