Fairy Godmother: Episode 1

Adaline was the pride of her father’s life. She lost her mother when she was just ten years old and, for a while, it was just the two of them. She loved and cherished that time together, especially because he was often away for business. When Adaline was just fifteen years old her dad went away on what he dubbed a “special” trip. Adaline was excited for his return and the surprise he had promised. Little did she know that surprise would change her life.

He returned a few days later in a white and gold carriage, with the reddest of roses adorning it completely. She had never seen anything so beautiful in her life. Her father emerged from the carriage and she ran out to hug him. As she was enjoying his embrace, she noticed a woman's head sticking out.

“Who is this, father?” Adaline asked.

“This is your new stepmother, Helena,” her dad replied with a huge smile on his face. “And, there is another surprise awaiting you,” he whispered. “Two stepsisters.”

Adaline was in shock. She never considered the possibility of her father remarrying, but she did want him to be happy and she had always wanted sisters. Despite her surprise, she was excited.

They got out of the carriage and each curtsied to Adaline. “How do you do?”

She curtsied back with a soft nod and a great big smile.

“These are your new stepsisters, Quinn and Dina. Girls, this is Adaline,” her father made the introductions.

"Pleased to meet you," Adaline responded.

“And you,” they replied in unison.

“Adaline, would you please show them to the guest room while I give Helena a tour of the house?” Her father asked.

“Of course. Please follow me.” She turned and started to walk into the house, the girls just behind her.

As Adaline walked them through the house to the guest room, she gave them a little tour. "This is the dining area. Mildred is the finest cook, she makes the best pies. This is the sitting area. Father and I love to read, do you like to read?" She asked her new stepsisters.

“Yes," Quinn said sternly.

Adaline was afraid her new stepsisters didn’t like her. They never smiled and they were awfully quiet during the tour.

"Here is the guest room. There are two beds, so this will be perfect for you. It even comes with its own washroom," Adaline said excitedly.

The girls looked displeased with their new living arrangements.

“This is it?” Quinn spoke up. “This tiny . . . dusty room?” She asked as she ran her white glove over a dresser.

“Is there no other room? Perhaps something larger?” Dina asked, looking just as disgusted with the room as Quinn.

"This is our only guest room," Adaline replied.

“Show us your room. Is it bigger than this?” Quinn demanded.

“I, umm . . .” Adaline didn’t know what to say.

“Show us then,” demanded Dina.

“Yes, of course,” Adaline replied, and she started walking the girls to her room.

As they got to Adaline’s room, Quinn’s eyes brightened with excitement. “Yes, this is much bigger. There is more light in this room. This is where we will be staying. You can move the extra bed in here.” Quinn said as she kept scanning the room.

“This is my room!” Adaline protested.

“Do you not want us to feel welcome in our new home?” Dina frowned. “Plus, you are just one person. You deserve to have the smaller room.”

“Now stop dilly-dallying around and move your stuff out of here. And send the maid in to freshen up the room, we don’t want to live in a room that smells like miserable pathetic wench,” Quinn said as she looked Adaline up and down.

Adaline didn’t know what to do. She had never been treated in such a way. Everyone liked her. She was always so kind and pleasing, unlike these vile girls.

“Well, go!” Quinn yelled.

Adaline turned quickly. She wanted to run and tell her father about the girls’ behavior, but she also wanted to be friends with them. After all, they were now her sisters. She didn’t want to upset her father and his new bride. She was excited to have a new mother and sisters. Maybe they were just as nervous as she was and would start getting along in a few days once they were settled.

The months went by and things did not improve. Her stepsisters were mean to the maids and cooks, always demanding things. When her father was around, though, they were perfect little angels. Adaline hated being around them, so she spent most of her time in the stables with the horses, or out wandering the woods picking flowers; anything to avoid those wretched stepsisters.

Adaline wanted to get to know her stepmother, but any time she would try her stepmother would always say she was too busy to be bothered or she would call her daughters into the room. Adaline would tell her father they were lovely, but she really wanted to tell him the truth. He was so happy, and she didn’t want to ruin that.

They were now just a couple days away from Adaline’s sixteenth birthday. She was looking forward to a day just about her. She had to sit back in the shadows of her stepsisters every other day, but on her birthday she was sure she’d get the much-needed recognition.

Her father came into her room as Adaline was getting ready for bed.

“I have some bad news,” he said.

“Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine, I just have to leave early in the morning for a job. With your birthday being just a couple days away, I might not make it back in time.”

“You can’t miss my birthday! I need you here, it’s my sixteenth. You just can’t miss it!” Adaline was close to tears.

“I am hoping to be back that afternoon, giving me plenty of time to make it to your party.”

“I can move the party so you won’t have to miss any of it.”

"Your stepmother has worked so hard with the preparations. You can’t move it, it will crush her,” he replied.

Adaline didn’t care what it would do to her stepmother, she just wanted her father to be there. “I don’t want to celebrate if you aren’t there.” She dropped her head, hoping her pouting would make her father change his mind.

"Look at me, princess. I will be there, I wouldn't miss your birthday. You are now becoming a woman. That is a big transition and I wouldn’t miss it for all the gold in the world,” he said, bopping her on the nose.

“Promise?”

“I promise. I will only do one market instead of two, that way it will ensure that I will be here in plenty of time for your party.”

“Thank you, Dad.” She hugged him tightly.

“I can’t believe my baby girl is going to be a woman. I am so proud of you. Your mother would be so proud of you.” He leaned back and brushed her hair from her face, “You look just like her, so beautiful.”

Adaline blushed. “I do miss her so.”

“Yes, so do I,” he said as tears started to fill his eyes. He quickly blinked them away and stood up. “You have a new mother now and she is working very hard to give you a great party.”

Adaline turned and started to tuck herself into bed, she didn’t want her father to see her roll her eyes. Her stepmother did nothing for her. This party was going to be more about her and her precious daughters, Adaline’s birthday just gave her a reason to go all out. “Yes, she has been working very hard,” she finally got the words out.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Goodnight my beautiful daughter. I will see you on your sixteenth birthday.” He turned around and walked out.

As Adaline closed her eyes she softly whispered, “Please, let him make it home in time for my party and save me from my wicked stepmother and sisters.”