Bedtime Story - Cinderella

Bedtime Story: The Fairytale of Cinderella - This is a story for your children as well as adults, based on the original story by Charles Perrault from 1697. Elizabeth is a Scottish narrator and enjoys reading stories to help children and adults relax and unwind. The story has been adapted to enhance the themes of love, kindness, positivity, and forgiveness.

Transcript

Hello,

My name is Elizabeth and tonight I will be reading you a bedtime story,

The fairy tale of Cinderella.

Before we start,

Make sure you are comfortable in bed.

Make sure you are nice and cosy and that you have everything that you need.

Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a sigh.

Wonderful.

Now we will begin.

There was once a beautiful young girl called Ella.

She lived in a wonderful country house with her father,

William.

Sadly when Ella was a little girl,

Her mother had gone to heaven.

Her mother was a beautiful lady and had taught Ella to always be brave and kind.

She had taught her that there is always good in everything and everyone if you just look for it.

Ella always remembered this so as she grew up,

Whenever she came across a grumpy old man or a mean rude girl at school,

She was always kind to them and it seemed to change their mood like magic.

Ella had so much fun with her father.

They took long walks together,

Painted,

Played games.

She was so happy.

As Ella grew into a young lady,

Her father worried that she needed a mother to help her and guide her.

William met a lady at a party who was a widow.

She had two daughters around about Ella's age.

William became friends with the lady,

Meeting her for lunch and dinner.

After a while he decided to ask her to marry him.

She immediately said yes and became known as Lady Tremaine.

Lady Tremaine had spent all of her family fortunes on fancy gowns for her and her daughters.

She thought that William was rich as they lived in a lovely country house.

But what Lady Tremaine didn't know was that William was not rich at all.

He had decided to spend as much time as possible with Ella as she grew up,

So had used his money wisely to allow him to do so.

The couple were married and Lady Tremaine and her two daughters,

Anastasia and Drusilla,

Moved into the country home,

Along with their grumpy cat,

Lucifer.

Lady Tremaine immediately started decorating the house and spending so much money that William had to work extra long hours to make money to support them all.

Often William had to go away on long trips to make money to support Lady Tremaine and her expensive habits.

Her own daughters were spoiled and mean to Ella.

They would not help around the house.

Every time William was away on a trip,

Her stepmother made her do more and more of the chores.

Cleaning the clothes,

Washing the dishes,

Cleaning the carpets,

Making all of the food and feeding their mean cat,

Lucifer.

They wouldn't even let Ella sit with them to eat.

One day as she was serving them lunch,

Her stepmother screamed at Ella.

Why are your clothes so dirty,

Ella?

Said her stepmother.

Ella replied it was because she was cleaning and it was the cinders and the ash from the fireplace.

His stepsisters thought this was so funny and cackled like hyenas.

Anastasia nearly choked as she shouted,

I know we should call her Cinder Ella.

The wicked stepsisters didn't realise it,

But Ella actually liked the name and she just smiled at them.

While decorating the house,

Her stepmother moved Cinderella to the dusty room in the attic so that her daughters could get bigger rooms.

Cinderella being kind and looking for the good and everything,

Just sang songs while she worked and thought that her new room was nice and quiet.

She even made friends with a few mice in the loft and she decided to call one of her new mice friends Jack.

Even in her dirty clothes,

Cinderella was still beautiful.

Every time Cinderella's father came home,

The wicked stepmother praised Cinderella for being so helpful and moving to the loft.

Cinderella just smiled and said nothing else as she did not want to upset her father.

Cinderella's father had just left for another long trip when a royal invitation was delivered to the house.

There was to be a ball in honour of the young prince returning from his travels.

Every young lady in the land was invited,

For the king hoped his son would meet his future bride and stop travelling so much.

When the stepsisters saw Cinderella with the invitation,

They immediately grabbed it from her hands and started fighting over it.

Lady Tremaine took the invitation and read it aloud.

By royal command,

Everyone is invited to the royal ball.

The stepsisters screeched so loud that Lucifer the cat jumped.

The sisters started running upstairs to their wardrobes screaming,

Pulling out the clothes and shouting,

Cinderella,

Come and clean this,

Cinderella,

Come and press my petticoat.

They could talk about nothing else except what they were going to wear and what their hairstyle would be.

I shall wear my red velvet dress with the lace trimming,

Said Anastasia.

Well,

I shall wear my pink dress with the ruffles and of course there's always my diamond necklace which is really rather special,

Said Drasilla.

That evening,

After she had helped the sisters with their dresses,

She climbed the long stairs to the attic and looked in the old trunk.

In the trunk was an old dress belonging to her mother.

It was a little bit discoloured and a little bit shabby but she thought it would do just fine as she had no other dresses to wear.

At last the great day arrived.

Cinderella helped the sisters to dress and she helped them to curl their hair.

They were about to leave soon so she ran up to the attic quickly to put on her dress and brush her hair.

Even though the dress was old,

She still looked beautiful.

She rushed down the stairs shouting,

Wait for me,

Wait for me,

Just as her stepmother and sisters were leaving.

Her stepsisters looked at her with shock and screamed,

She is not coming with us.

Her stepmother was calm and walked towards Cinderella.

Where did you get this lovely gown dear?

Her stepmother said.

Oh it was my mother's,

Scushed Cinderella with a huge smile.

As quick as a flash the stepmother pulled at the dress and ripped the lace.

The stepsisters laughed like hyenas again as their mother walked away and said,

Oh that's a shame,

Maybe you can go to the next ball.

And left Cinderella on the steps.

Cinderella watched them until they were out of sight and then she began to cry.

Suddenly she heard a voice of a lady,

Hello,

Hello,

You need to stop crying.

Cinderella was crying so much that she could hardly see.

She wiped the tears away and saw a beautiful fairy in front of her.

I am your fairy godmother,

You need to stop crying as we have lots to do.

Cinderella said of course and immediately she got up to get on with her chores.

Her fairy godmother said,

No we need to get you ready for the ball.

I can't go to the ball she sobbed,

My dress is in tatters and they left without me.

Well we better hurry and fix that.

Go and get me a large pumpkin from the garden.

Cinderella did as she was told.

She was in shock from seeing a fairy.

She thought she must be dreaming.

She returned with the pumpkin and saw her little mice friends were watching.

To her amazement the fairy waved her wand at the pumpkin and immediately the pumpkin rose into the air.

It moved about and there was lots of sparkles and slowly and gently as the sparkles floated to the ground there was a beautiful carriage in the shape of a pumpkin but it was silver and sparkly.

Cinderella didn't know what to say.

Next the fairy godmother shouted all the little mice over.

She whispered to some of the mice and they all nodded their heads and agreed with her.

The fairy godmother waved her wand over the mice and they turned into beautiful horses for the carriage.

All of them were dressed with shimmering silver reins.

Next she spoke to Jack and a few of his friends.

They all squealed with excitement as she waved her wand and turned them into footmen and Jack became a handsome coach driver.

Hurry,

Hurry said the fairy godmother into the coach.

Cinderella didn't want to be ungrateful but she gently looked down at her dress.

Oh goodness me said the fairy godmother I forgot about your dress.

She waved her wand and Cinderella felt like she was floating from the ground.

There was glimmering sparkles all around her.

She gently landed on the ground again and to her amazement she looked down and saw the most beautiful pale blue gown with shimmering fabric that looked like tiny diamonds all over.

She saw her reflection in the window and her hair was beautiful.

She smiled at her fairy godmother as she made her way to the carriage but suddenly realised that she was barefoot.

She lifted the dress slightly and the fairy godmother smiled.

She waved her wand and Cinderella was then wearing the most beautiful glass slippers.

Hurry,

Hurry said the fairy godmother and told Cinderella that she must leave the ball before midnight as at the last stroke of midnight the magic would disappear.

Oh yes of course said Cinderella with the largest smile.

They arrived at the palace and as Cinderella was a little late everyone else was already in sight.

She ran up the stairs just as she could hear the music starting.

The doors were opened for her and as she stood at the door everyone seemed to turn around and look at her all at once including the prince.

Cinderella was a little shy as everyone was staring at her.

The prince walked towards her and asked her to dance.

She immediately said yes but she didn't realise he was the prince.

She was just happy to be dancing.

Everyone else started to dance but in the background Cinderella's step sisters and her stepmother were glaring at Cinderella and thinking that she looked very familiar.

Cinderella had a wonderful time.

She danced all night with the prince.

She didn't even notice that all of the other young ladies were a little bit upset that they did not get a chance to dance with the prince.

After a while the prince asked her to take a walk to the balcony.

He had a funny feeling that she didn't realise who he was and he wanted to let her know and also to find out more about her and who she was.

He was just about to tell her when the clock chimed midnight.

Cinderella looked up at the huge clock.

Oh no!

She exclaimed.

I must go.

She started to run down the palace steps.

The mice footmen were waving.

Hurry!

Hurry!

Wait!

Wait!

Called the prince.

I don't even know your name.

She turned to call her name but as she did so one of her glass slippers came off.

The prince was getting closer to her so she turned and ran into the carriage leaving the glass slipper behind.

The driver sped away while the clock was still chiming midnight.

Luckily they managed to get around the corner before everything changed back.

The pumpkin rolled along the road and the horses and the footmen all changed back to mice.

Cinderella was in rags again but she didn't care.

She had such a wonderful time that the memory would last forever.

They walked back to the house and the little mice were in her pocket.

The next day as she was serving breakfast she heard the sisters talk about the beautiful princess in the blue dress.

They described the dress exactly that Cinderella was wearing.

Then Cinderella realised they were talking about her and she smiled.

Who was she said Anastasia to her mother.

I do not know said the stepmother but I will find out.

She wasn't very pretty said Drizella.

Why did the prince dance with her all night?

As Drizella said this Cinderella realised who she was dancing with.

She was a little shaken and accidentally dropped a cup.

Her stepmother looked at her suspiciously as Cinderella went off to the kitchen.

There was a loud knock on the door.

Anastasia looked out of the window and screamed.

It's the prince and his footman.

Her mother held her finger to her lips to silence her daughters and went to the kitchen.

Go to your room immediately and do not come down until I call for you she told Cinderella.

Cinderella did as she was told.

She did not realise who was at the door.

The stepmother opened the door to the prince.

Good morning Lady Tremaine said the prince.

I am looking for the young lady who wore this glass slipper last night.

Immediately Drizella pushed forward.

Oh that's mine is definitely mine.

No it's mine screamed Anastasia.

Girls girls said their mother.

Where are your manners?

Let the prince come in.

Anastasia tried to push her big foot into the glass slipper but it was no use.

The slipper was tiny.

Drizella screamed it's my turn next.

The prince knew it did not belong to her either but politely let her try.

But her feet were also too big.

The prince rose to his feet and asked Lady Tremaine.

You have three daughters?

No no said the stepmother.

I only have two daughters.

No one else lives here.

The stepsisters were giggling.

The prince said goodbye and took the slipper with him.

Just as he reached the garden he heard the most beautiful singing.

He looked up at the house and the attic window was open.

He looked at Lady Tremaine who had a shocked look on her face.

Who is in the attic said the prince.

No one said Lady Tremaine.

The prince's guards immediately went to the attic and found Cinderella sitting at the window singing.

She came down the stairs to find the prince in the living room.

She was dressed in her rags dirty face but as soon as he saw her he smiled.

Please try on the slipper.

The stepsisters laughed and said she wasn't even at the ball.

Cinderella's stepmother glared at the daughters.

Cinderella smiled and slipped her foot into the glass slipper easily.

The stepsisters stood with their mouths wide open in surprise.

Right there and then the prince went down on one knee and asked Cinderella to marry him.

She smiled and said yes.

The stepsisters squealed in delight and shouted we will be bridesmaids.

As Cinderella walked out of the house with the prince she smiled at her stepmother and said I forgive you.

Cinderella's father William returned from his travels the next week and was delighted to find out all of the news and was also delighted that the prince had asked to marry his daughter which he approved.

The wedding was spectacular and everyone in the land was invited even Cinderella's stepmother and her stepsisters were bridesmaids.

They all seemed to have learned the lesson to be kind to others.

They all lived happily ever after together.

The end.

Goodnight and sweet dreams.

Reviews

It was awesome I feel asleep instantly 😁 thank you

It is my favorite story thank you so much Elizabeth

That was really good I’m happy it didn’t involve violence

Absolutely brilliant thank you! My boys fell asleep very relaxed.

A lovely version of Cinderella. Have listened to it several times hoping to hear 🙉 all the way to the end but keep falling asleep

Nice I like the story I’ve listen to lots of Cinderella stories but I think this one is one of my favourites! Thanks thanks!! The story was just perfect!😊😀😃😄😁😀😃😄😁😊😊😊