CHAPTER 7

Anybody Lose a Sneaker?

Cupid felt like a princess as she walked into the ball. No one recognized her, of course, now that she was out of her Cinderella rags. “You look hexquisite!” one princess said to her as she passed. “Oooh, I want rainbow-colored hair, too!” said another. Cupid smiled. The Grand Ball was even more hexciting than she had imagined!

“Excuse me. Would you like to dance?” a young prince asked. He held out his hand to Cupid.

“Oh! Um… maybe a little later. Thank you for asking,” Cupid replied.

“I will wait forever for the young lady with the rainbow-colored hair,” the prince said.

Cupid watched him walk away and sighed. Maybe if she could solve these stepsisters’ problems early, she could enjoy one dance. For someone who was always playing matchmaker and helping other people find love, Cupid never seemed to have any time for romance for herself. Cupid suddenly had an idea. Maybe she could talk about royal balls on her next Mirror-Cast show. She imagined what she would say: Are you looking for love? Is it your lifelong dream to meet a handsome prince at a royal ball? Then pay close attention. I’m here to tell you everything you need to know to make a royal hit in romance! Cupid searched the ballroom and spotted the stepsisters moping around, looking even more miserable than usual. Rule number one: Do not mope around in the corners, Cupid thought. You must get out and mingle! Cupid moved in and watched the stepsisters more closely. She noticed that Charlotte kept tugging at her dress and checking the time. Rule number two: Always wear clothes that you are comfortable in and make you feel hexquisite.

Prudence, meanwhile, kept watching the people on the dance floor with a sad look on her face. Then, as Cupid watched, a young prince walked over to Prudence and asked her to dance. Prudence looked surprised and nervous, and quickly shook her head.

“Are you sure?” the young man asked. “Forgive me if I’m being forward, but I couldn’t help but notice you standing here by yourself, tapping your foot to the music. I thought surely you would like to dance.”

“No… no, thank you,” Prudence said firmly.

Cupid looked back to Charlotte, who had moved to a dark corner of the ballroom. What is she doing? Cupid wondered. It looked like she was pretending to throw a bookball! Why would she be pretending to do that? Does she even like bookball?

A little while later, Cupid went to the bathroom to wash up her hands. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see Prudence dancing in front of the mirror. She was shimmying and twirling and seemed to be having a great time… all by herself. Luckily, she didn’t see Cupid, and Cupid quietly sneaked out, shaking her head. Why would Prudence refuse to dance with a royal, yet dance alone in the ladies’ room?

As Cupid left the ladies’ room, she nearly bumped into Charlotte and her mom. But they didn’t recognize Cupid, so they carried on the conversation they’d been having.

“Charlotte. I’m begging you. Just dance with someone. It doesn’t have to be a prince. Just dance with anyone. Please,” Stepmother pleaded with her daughter.

“Mother, I told you already. I don’t feel like dancing right now. If I see someone I want to dance with, I will.”

“My dear, you mean to say there’s nobody in the entire kingdom that you’d like to dance with right now? Not even a teeny little bit?”

“No, there isn’t. Please quit bugging me, Mother. I can’t enjoy myself when you upset me like this.”

“Oh. Very well, then, Charlotte,” her mother said sadly.

Cupid had to admit she was on Team Stepmother here. These girls just aren’t giving the ball a chance! she thought.

Before long, it was almost midnight. Would the spell wear off like it did in Cinderella’s story? Cupid wasn’t sure—Maddie hadn’t said anything about it. The DJ announced the last dance of the evening. Almost everyone grabbed a partner and started dancing, except Cupid, who was hiding in a corner, and the stepsisters, who seemed to be hiding, too.

Suddenly, Cupid heard a familiar voice. “Cupid? Is that really you?” She turned around and saw it was Hopper Croakington II! He’d become Prince Charming in this mixed-up fairytale. And it suited him! He was still as nervous and awkward as ever, even though he looked adorable in his Prince Charming outfit.

“Hopper, this is your big chance!” Cupid said. “Why are you hiding in corners instead of tearing up the dance floor? Every princess here would love to dance with you!”

“Maybe, but I’d have to talk to them first!” Hopper said sadly. “And then talk to them some more while we are dancing, and then even more chitchat afterward! I’d just mess everything up, so why even bother?”

“I think you’re worrying way too much,” Cupid told him calmly. “Hopper, just in case you’ve forgotten, the only reason these princesses are here is to dance with Prince Charming. And in this fairytale, that just happens to be you!”

“But suppose it doesn’t work out, and I change into a frog right in the middle of the dance floor?” Hopper said miserably. “I’d be the laughingstock of the ball! Tomorrow all anyone would be talking and hexting about would be how Prince Charming turned into a frog at his own ball! No, thank you! Better safe than sorry. I’m staying put right here.”

But Cupid insisted. “Hopper. Listen to me. I know about these things. Dances. Love. Romance. Please—just dance with one princess,” she said. “I promise you won’t regret it!”

Hopper sighed and scanned the room. He looked just about ready to give up when his gaze landed on one particular princess.

“All right,” he said. “I’ll ask one girl to dance. Maybe I can give it a shot with that girl over there.”

Cupid turned to look at the girl, and then it was Cupid’s turn to sigh. It was no surprise that Hopper liked her—she looked like Briar Beauty, and it was common knowledge that Hopper was crushing on Briar.

“That’s great!” Cupid said enthusiastically. “So, go over and talk to her. I guarantee you she won’t say no.”

“Okay,” Hopper said. “I will ask her to dance! Here I go.” He ran his fingers nervously through his hair and smoothed down his jacket. “How do I look?” he asked Cupid tensely.

“Just let me do one thing,” Cupid said, and she straightened out his tie. “Now you look perfect,” she said. “Fairy, fairy handsome!” Hopper gulped, and glanced again in the direction of the girl. Cupid gave him a little push. “Now go!” she ordered. “Remember to breathe. And have fun!”

Hopper slowly walked toward the girl. His heart was pounding and he was trying to keep calm as he approached her. “Smile. Chat. Pay attention to what she says. Smile. Laugh. Be cool… be cool… be cool…” he told himself. When he was finally next to the girl, her back was to him. He coughed softly and tapped her shoulder. “Ahem!” he said.

The girl turned and opened her eyes wide in shock. “Oh! Your Majesty!” She gasped. She quickly gave a little curtsy. Hopper was immediately uncomfortable.

“Oh please,” he said nervously. “There is no need for that. I was just wondering… I mean… do you… would you like… what I’m trying to say…”

Cupid was watching from the corner. “Oh, Hopper,” she groaned. “Can’t you just relax?” she whispered.

Hopper took another big gulp of air. “Wanna dance?” he blurted out.

The girl gave him a dazzling smile. “I would love to!” she said, and immediately held out her arm.

“Oh! You want me to—I should—well, okay, then,” Hopper stammered as he linked arms with her.

Hopper and the lovely girl had been dancing for barely more than a minute when she started complimenting him, just as Cupid knew she would. “Oh, Your Majesty, you are such a spelltacular dancer,” she said, smiling up at Hopper.

But Cupid could tell that Hopper was even more nervous.

“Your Majesty, please forgive me, but you suddenly look a little green! Are you all right?” the girl asked. “Do you need to sit down? Can I get you anything? Would you like a glass of water?” She really was being fairy sweet. But it looked like Hopper was getting ready to make his getaway before this girl’s prince truly did turn into a frog.

“Sorry. Gotta run,” Hopper said, and, much to the girl’s dismay, he disappeared.

Hopper rushed over to Cupid. “Whew. That was a close one,” he said.

Cupid started to say something, but he stopped her. Hopper held up one hand.

“We had a deal, Cupid. You told me to try dancing with one girl, and I did. You can’t say I didn’t try.”

Cupid agreed. She then realized Hopper could probably use a distraction from the stress of trying to be Prince Charming, and to take his mind off the prospect of dancing with any more princesses.

“Hopper, would you like to help me figure out what my two stepsisters, Prudence and Charlotte, are up to?” she asked.

“Would I? Spying! Wrestling! Anything but dancing!” Hopper said, and they both laughed.

But by the time she and Hopper turned to follow the girls, they had already disappeared. Looking out a large window, Cupid spotted the stepsisters’ carriage heading away from the castle. Cupid and Hopper ran out the front door and bounded down the stairs toward her teapot carriage. They needed to catch up!

“Cupid, wait!” shouted Hopper from behind her. He had fallen on the stairs. Cupid hurried over to help.

“Are you all right?” Cupid asked, worried. Hopper was okay, but he’d tripped on a shoe—not just any shoe, a red high-top sneaker!

“A sneaker! Oh my fairy godmother! This storybook is getting more confusing by the second. Hopper, what do you think finding a sneaker means?” Cupid asked.

“Somebody wants to be here even less than I do?” Hopper guessed. He shrugged.

But Cupid stood, staring at the sneaker. “Do you think it’s a symbol? Or a clue?”

“Maybe it matches the color of the dress of the girl who lost it!” Hopper said. “But I don’t know, Cupid; we could be making a big deal out of nothing. Maybe it’s a girl who likes sneakers and just wants to be comfortable. I’ve always been amazed by how you girls can walk around in those uncomfortable-looking, fancy shoes all day—not to mention dancing all night at a ball. Which reminds me: I just want to get out of here. Can we go home now?”

Cupid sighed in hexaustion. “You know, maybe I’ll never get out of this storybook,” she said to Hopper. “I can’t seem to figure out the stepsisters. And now here we are at the Grand Ball, and I don’t have a clue as to what’s going on, either. What if I can’t make it to the Happily Ever After at The End of this story?”

Hopper was shocked. “Cupid, you’re one of the smartest people I know,” he told her. “And you do one of the most difficult things in the world every day in your ‘regular’ life. You help everyone fall in love! Do you realize how hard that is? There are so many people in the world who would do anything just to meet that ‘special someone,’ and you make it happen every day of your life! That takes special skills, a clever brain, and a huge heart. Don’t worry, Cupid, we’ll figure this out.”

Cupid was touched. “That is so sweet of you to say. Thanks, Hopper!” she said. “Okay, let’s go home.” Together, they headed back to the ballroom to gather Cupid’s things. Once they were inside, a colorful, twirling sight caught Cupid’s eye. “Wait a sec—is that… isn’t that?”

Hopper looked in the same direction as Cupid. Even though the music had stopped, one girl was dancing in the middle of the dance floor. It was… Maddie.

“Hi there!” Maddie said when Hopper and Cupid approached her. “Isn’t this ball tea-rrific?”

“Um, yeah it is, I guess. But, um, Maddie, what are you doing here?”

Maddie shrugged. “Well, the invitation said everyone was invited, so I figured, why not?”

“That’s great, Maddie, but I think we have to get going now,” Cupid replied. “The ball looks like it’s over.”

Maddie looked disappointed. “Really?”

Cupid nodded. “Really.”

Maddie sighed. “Just when things were getting interesting!”

Back at home, Cupid couldn’t fall asleep, even though she was fairy tired from the busy night she’d had. After tossing and turning for a while, she decided to go into the kitchen and make herself a cup of tea. She was surprised to see Stepmother sitting at the table.

“Hello, Cinderella,” she said quietly. “Can’t sleep? Neither could I.”

Cupid noticed Stepmother was having tea.

“Yes, I was just going to make myself a cup of tea,” Cupid said. “May I join you?”

“Why not?” Stepmother said with a sigh. She scooted over to make room.

When Cupid had her tea in hand, she took a seat next to Stepmother and gently cleared her throat. When Stepmother looked her way, Cupid smiled and said, “I thought my stepsisters looked absolutely lovely tonight.”

Stepmother nodded in agreement. “Tell me, Cinderella. Is it wrong for me to want the best for my girls?”

“Of course not,” Cupid said. “It’s perfectly normal for a mother to want the best for her children.”

“That’s what I always thought,” said Stepmother. “But my daughters seem so unhappy. And they don’t like me.”

“Of course they like you! They love you!” Cupid cried.

“But they don’t. As a matter of fact, most people hate me. Oh, you think I don’t hear the whispers? I know all the names people call me. ‘Horrible.’ ‘Mean.’ ‘Nasty.’ ‘Wicked,’ even.”

Cupid suddenly felt a little guilty for thinking a few of those things herself. But that was who she was in the fairytale—wasn’t it?

“I just want my girls to be happy, Cinderella, that’s all. And… that goes for you, too.”

“Me?” Now Cupid was really surprised. This didn’t seem like the wicked Stepmother.

“Yes, you! I’m sorry I didn’t let you go to the ball last night. That was wrong of me. There actually was a girl there that reminded me a lot of you.” Here she gave a little laugh. “But her hair was every color of the rainbow. A bit much for a formal ball if you ask me. When I saw her I felt bad, thinking about you sitting here at home, alone. So I’m sorry. And I promise you that the very next ball the prince has, you will be allowed to attend.”

Cupid was so shocked, she impulsively jumped up and gave Stepmother a big hug!

Stepmother patted her back and said, “Thank you, dear. I’m feeling much better right now. I think I’ll go up to bed.”

Stepmother started to walk away and then suddenly stopped and turned back to Cupid.

“And, Cinderella? That heart-shaped meat loaf you made for dinner the other night was simply delicious.”

Cupid smiled. “Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Cupid went to sleep as well, and later that night she dreamed about sisters, frogs… and meat loaf!