Anthology Book - Cendrillon

Cendrillon

Anthology Book

You may think you know this story I am going to tell you, but you have not heard it for true. I was there. So I will tell you the truth of it. Now.

Cendrillon - Part 1

I live on a green-green island in the so-blue Mer des Antilles, the Caribbean Sea. Long ago, when I was a my family was poor. When my mother died, she left me only one thing: a wand of mahogany. "Three taps will change one into another," my mother had whispered. "But only for a short time. And the magic must be used to help someone you love."

Open Ended

What details does the story tell about how the magic wand of Nannin' works and how it should be used?

Of what use was this to an orphan like me, who every day --ug,gled to find shelter and fill her belly? I could not use the and. I had no one to love and no one who loved me.

​

When I grew up, I worked as a blanchisseuse, washerwoman, scrubbing other people's sheets and shirts the riverside. Drying them in the sun.

One woman I worked for was kind. I often nursed her, for she was always sickly, poor creature. In thanks, she made me the nannin', godmother, of her baby girl, Cendrillon. When I held that bebe in my arms n her christening day, I felt such love! And I saw love returned from her sweet brown eyes.

Open Ended

How does the kind nature of Nannin' lead her to become Cendrillon's godmother?

Alas! Cendrillon's mamma died soon after this. Then her papa, Monsieur, married again. Madame Prosperine was a cold woman, and puffed-up proud because her grandfather had come from France.

When a new daughter, Vitaline , was born, Madame gave a christening party for her rich friends. 'What a feast it was! Madame and the other fine ladies were dressed in satin and velvet, all the colors of the rainbow. They laughed at my worn white skirts and peasant's way of speaking. Pretty Cendrillon came and kissed me. "Bonjou, Nannin' ." She gave me a cup of punch. Her hands were blistered and red.

"Pauv' ti Cendrillon, poor little child!" I cried. "What have you done to yourself?"

She shrugged. "My father's wife works me like a serving-girl."

"And Monsieur allows this?" Sighing, she said, "He fears Madame. But I am strong. The work hurts my hands but not my heart."

"Someday, I will find a way to help." Even as I spoke them, my words sounded hollow. What could I — a poor washerwoman — do for my dearest?

When she was older, Cendrillon would come to the river each morning to do the family's laundry. Her sweet "Bonjou'" was music. Her smile was sunshine even when clouds hid the sun. We knelt beside the other blanchisseuses and talked and sang and laughed as we scrubbed the clothes. Cendrillon seemed so happy, I wished that I could always see her so.

Nothing was easy for her at home. Madame and spoiled Vitaline ate dainties. Cendrillon often had only a handful of manioc flour and tail ends of codfish. All day she worked. At night she slept on a hard straw pallet.

​

Then, one day, she cam sad-faced to the river. No singing or joking would make her smile. I asked, "What troubles you so, my child?"

Open Ended

How does Cendrillon's behavior on this day different with her normal behaviour?

There is a ball tonight, but I am not to go," she said, looking so miserable, my heart nearly snapped in two. "Vitaline and Mamma will go But Mamma says I am lazy."

"Does it mean so much to you, this ball?"

"Oh, yes, Nannin'!" she cried. "It is a birthday fee' for Paul, Monsieur Thibault's son. He is so handsome and well spoken, he is like a prince. Yet he is kind."

"Do not cry, dear one," I said, hugging her. "Tonight you will go to the ball."

"For true?"

"Upon my soul, I promise this," I said. Though I was fearful of risking so much when I had no plan.

But her smile lightened my heart. As she gathered up her laun-dry, I heard her singing.

Long after she left, I sat watching the river. How am I to kept my promise? I asked myself. Then, as the day grew late, I began to think what I must do.

It dark when I reached home, took my mother's wand from the shelf, and hurried to my sweet Cendrillon.

What a hubble-bubble at the house! Cendrillon's papa stop on the porch, holding his gold watch, while the coachman waited beside the family carriage. "We are late," Monsieur said, as if the fault belonged to me. Inside, Madame and Vitaline were shoutin,

"Cendrillon, find my shoulder-scarf!" "Cendrillon, comb my hair I helped arrange Madame's gown, while Cendrillon combed Vitaline's hair.

​

Finally they were off, away. Good riddance!

Open Ended

How does the story show Madame and Vitaline's attitude toward Cendrillon?

Upon the instant, I told Cendrillon, "Now you will go to the ball."

"But I have no carriage," she protested. "I have no gown."

"Go into the garden and pick a fruit a pain," I said.

The child looked at me as if she thought, My poor nannin' has gone made. But she found a big, round breadfruit.

I tapped this three times — to, to, to! — with my wand, and it became a gilded coach. So far so good!

Cendrillon gasped, but I told her, "Do not waste your breath on questions; we still have much to do."

​

To, to, to! Six agoutis in a cage became six splendid carriage horses. To, to, to! Five brown field lizards became five tall footmen. To, to, to! A plump manicou was changed to a coachman.

Then I tapped Cendrillon. Her poor calico dress was changed to a trailing gown of sky-blue velvet. Upon her head sat a turban just as blue, pinned with a tremblant, pin of gold. She had a silk shoulder-scarf of pale rose, rings in her ears, bracelets, and a necklace of four strands of gold beads, bigger than peas. Upon her feet were elegant pink slippers, embroidered with roses. It was enough to hurt my eyes to look at my darling.

Draw

Try to draw Cendrillon's transportation that she used to go to the ball

Open Ended

What is Cendrillon's problem? How does her godmother help her?

Finally, I turned my washerwoman's shift into a fine red dress. I would chaperone Cendrillon, as suited a proper young lady. Away we went, over the bridge, through the town, along the shore to the granmaison of Monsieur Thibault. Just before we stepped down from our carriage, I warned Cendrillon, "The magic lasts only a short time. We must leave before the midnight bell is rung." "Yes, Nannin'," she promised.

Open Ended

Do you think it was a good idea for the godmother to warn Cendrillon that the magic would last only a short time? Explain your answer.

What a grand entrance Cendrillon made! All eyes turned toward her and could not turn away. I heard whispers all around: "Who is that pretty girl?" "Look how fine her clothes are!" "Did she come from France?" Even Cendrillon's stepmother and sister did not recognize the two of us, though they peered crossly at us. Then Paul, his eyes blazing with love, asked her to dance. And he refused to dance with any other. I know. I watched as I ate. Oh, what fine food I helped myself to, as I watched the handsome couple. Even chocolate sherbet.

Open Ended

Why do the people at the ball wonder whether Cendrillon came from France?

Open Ended

Why do you think that Cendrillon's stepmother and stepsister look at Cendrillon

Cendrillon was so happy, and I was happy seeing her so, that we forgot to mark the time. Suddenly, I heard distant bells strike the first chime of midnight. Astonishing all with my rudeness, I grabbed Cendrillon's hand and cried, "It is nearly midnight! We must go!" For a moment, I feared she would not obey. Then she turned, and we ran toward the door. Paul cried, "Wait! I do not even know your name!" He ran after us, but guests and servants, confused by such running and shouting, blocked his way. As it was, we barely escaped to our carriage because Cendrillon stumbled on the stair. She had to leave behind one embroidered slipper.

Open Ended

Why does seeing how happy Cendrillon is make her godmother happy as well?

Open Ended

Why is the detail of the lost slipper important?

Off we sped into the night as I counted the chimes. And the moment I heard the twelfth stroke, we found ourselves in the dusty road, beside a smashed breadfruit. Around us, agoutis and lizards and a fat manicou scurried into the brush. We walked home like two ragged washerwomen. Our fine clothes were gone — all except Cendrillon's one pink slipper. She took it off, saying, "I will keep this to remind me of this wonderful night and a happiness I will never know again."

"But," I said, "I will help you visit Paul again."

Open Ended

How does the story show that the magic spell has ended?

She shook her head. "I see now that it was not Cendrillon he fell in love with ," she said. "He was under the spell of your wand. When the magic goes, the love, too, will fade from his eyes."

​

"Alas!" I said. "My plans have come to nothing. I cannot give you the gift of a love that would change your life for true."

"Dear Godmother," she said, kissing my cheek, "you gave me this night. It is enough."

​

I did not see Cendrillon at the river the next day. When I called at the house, I found she was in bed. Madame and Vitaline said she was being lazy. But I saw she was sick with a broken heart. I stroked her brow for a good long time — until I heard a great commotion.

Open Ended

Cendrillon stays in bed the day after the ball.

How does the way Nannin see Cendrillon's condition different with the way Madame sees it?

When I looked for the cause, I found that Paul had arrived. He was followed by a footman carrying Cendrillon's lost pink slipper on a satin pillow.

​

To Madame and Vitaline, he explained, "I am searching for the lovely stranger who was at the fit' last night. This is her slipper. I am asking all unmarried young women on the island to try it on. I will wed the one whose foot it fits."

​

From the doorway I heard Madame say, "My pretty daughter is the only unmarried girl in the house."

Then Vitaline and her mamma tried to force the girl's big foot, with toes like sausages, into the slipper. Such grunting and groaning you never heard! So eager were they, I feared they would destroy the slipper.

"If you cut off those big toes," I called out, "it would be a fine fit." Madame screeched, "Go away, old woman!" And I did.

Straight back to Cendrillon's room I marched.

Open Ended

How does Nannin' show her attitude toward Vitaline and Madame?

"Now, child, if you love me," I charged her, "do this one thing for me: Go out into the hall."

​

She drew a shawl around her cotton shift. Barefoot, she went into the hall, where panting Madame and sobbing Vitaline had given up the battle of the slipper. But just as Paul was turning to go, I tapped Cendrillon — to, to, to! — with my wand. To the astonishment of all, she appeared as she had at the ball.

​

"No, Godmother dear," she said. "No more spells."

With a sigh, I touched her again, and she was as before, in her shift and shawl.

​

Without hesitation, Paul knelt before her. Gently he placed the slipper on her foot. Then he said, "You are as beautiful this minute as you were last night." And everyone in the room could see the true-love in his eyes.

Open Ended

Why doesn't Cendrillon want to appear before Paul as she did at the ball?

Cendrillon and Paul were married soon after this. Even the king and queen of France never had such a wedding! The guests ate and danced and sang and ate again for three days.

​

I know because I was there. I danced the gwo-ka and ate nine helpings of chocolate sherbet and came away only to tell you this tale.

Open Ended

Are Cendrillon and Paul a good match? Why or why not? Explain your answer.

Let's check your memory!

Please complete the sentences based on the selection. It doesn't have to be the exact same words with the story, as long as it is based on the story.

Fill in the Blank

The wand given to Nannin had the power to change ...

Fill in the Blank

One day, Cendrillon came sad-faced to the river because ...

Fill in the Blank

Cendrillon's godmother turned breadfruit and six agoutis into ...

Fill in the Blank

While running from the ball, Cendrillon stumbled and left behind ...

Fill in the Blank

Cendrillon told her godmother "No more spells" because ...

Now, please answer these questions

Open Ended

Which events in the story could happen in real life? Which amazing events could never happen in real life?

Open Ended

Many countries have versions of the Cinderella story. Why do you think this story is so popular all over the world?

Poll

Which story do you think is more amazing, Cendrillon or The Stranger?

Open Ended

Why do you choose that story? Tell your reasons in min. 2 sentences.