Fairy Godmother: Episode 2

It was the day of the party and Adaline was in her room. Mildred was dressing her as the other maids were preparing for the party.

“Mrs. Helena sure overdid herself, didn’t she?” Mildred asked.

“Yes, she did," Adaline said, trying to sound grateful.

Mildred swatted her on the leg and smiled. "Don't have to pretend to me, dear. I see everything. Don't you worry, your father will be here, and the day still belongs to you.”

Adaline looked at herself in the mirror. The dress Helena picked for her was hideous. It was brown with big red roses sporadically placed around the dress. It had a big bow that wrapped around the waist and flowed down the back of the dress. The arms were so puffy, they kept hitting the side of Adaline’s face.

“Thank you,” Adaline smiled at her. “I am not sure about this dress. It seems a bit . . . I can’t even put words together for how awful this dress is.”

“I agree, but this is the dress your stepmother had made for you.”

“I always wanted to wear mothers’ gown for my sixteenth birthday,” Adaline pouted.

“I know, love. But this is the dress Mrs. Helena told us to dress you in.”

Adaline wanted this day to be about her. “It is not her day and I won’t let her control what I wear on my birthday,” Adaline backed away from Mildred. “Go get me mother’s gown, I wish to wear it instead. I don’t care what Helena says. I am wearing my mother’s gown.”

“I will not argue with you miss. I will go get it,” she leaned in and winked. "It is way better than this gaudy thing."

Adaline laughed. She had been looking forward to this day for years. She would now be considered a lady and of age for young men to be courting her. She didn't have any suitors yet, but her stepsisters made sure that they were noticed by the young men and not Adaline. Today was about her and she was going to get noticed.

The party was only a few minutes from starting, and Adaline was nervous. She hoped that her dad would notice how beautiful she looked in her mother’s gown. She loved the white lace that laid over the subtle pink gown that hugged her body. The lace sleeves were a bit hard to get on, but they made her arms look long and lovely. The dress had a long lace train that started at her mid-back and flowed all the way down. She would have to be careful, so no one would step on the train and tear it. The neckline hit mid-chest and had simple pink roses around the collar. When she looked in the mirror, she hardly recognized herself. The dress fit her perfectly. She looked like an adult now, the little girl she often saw was now gone and replaced by a new image- a beautiful woman.

A knock on the door startled her. "Come in," she said.

Mildred walked in. “You look beautiful miss Adaline, just like your mother.” Tears started to fill the maid’s eyes.

"Don't you dare start to cry, you will make me cry and I can't go downstairs with puffy eyes."

“Sorry,” she wiped her tears away and took in a deep breath. “Your guests await you,” she curtsied.

“Is my father here?” Adaline asked.

Mildred looked down quickly and then back up at Adaline. “I did not see him downstairs, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t here.”

Adaline started to panic a little. He said he would be here, he promised her. He was probably just hiding, or possibly even greeting guests and making sure everyone had a glass in their hand to toast her as she walked into the room.

“Are you ready?” Mildred asked.

Adaline took in a deep breath. She had been ready for this day for months now. “Yes.”

She walked out of her room and paused for just a moment, long enough to gather up some courage. Then she proceeded down the staircase.

As she came into view of the guests, she heard several gasps. Their reactions were what she had hoped for; guests were leaning in and whispering to each other, boys were standing straight and putting on their best smiles. Her stepmother and sisters had just the reaction Adaline was hoping for; pure anger and jealousy. She knew her stepmother picked out the ugly dress for her so she couldn’t outshine her precious, devious daughters. Helena was trying to hide her anger, but Adaline could see it rising in her. She looked her stepmother in the eyes and smiled, slightly bowing her head.

As she got down to her guests, she was greeted by many she knew and many she did not, but there was only one person she was looking for- her father. She had not seen him yet and was starting to worry.

As the party went on there was still no sign of her father. The maids were gathering the guests into the parlor for the cutting of the cake, but Adaline was not ready. She couldn’t do this without her father.

As she was seated in front of everyone, she was trying to keep a smile on her face while holding back tears, but she was having a hard time. As the cake neared her, one of the maids hurried towards her and slipped an envelope into her hand. Everyone’s attention was on the elaborate cake Miss Helena had the baker make. Adaline hated the yellow and red flowers, it was nothing like the cake she had told her stepmother she wanted. She pushed that aside and discreetly opened the envelope. The parlor was so bright with lights and people were chattering and clapping. Adaline slipped the note out of the envelope. It simply said, “Make a wish!”

She slipped the note back into the envelope just as the cake was set before her. She looked at her guests, scanning the room for her father. She knew everyone was waiting for her to blow out the candles. She looked down at the envelope again. She closed her eyes and wished . . . Then she blew out the candles.

As the candles went out, so did the lights. Women screamed, startled from the sudden darkness. The lights came back on within moments. People were looking around, trying to figure out what had happened. Adaline couldn’t be bothered by it, she wanted her father here as he had promised her.

The party continued on. There was food, cake, dancing, and conversation. Boys were lining up to dance with Adaline, but she was not interested in any of them. She just wanted her father.

When the dancing died down and guests were starting to leave, Adaline slipped away from the crowd. She walked down to the stables, sat on the bench, and let the tears she had been holding back fall.

As she was sitting there, she heard a soft whisper, “It’s okay, there is no need to cry.”

Adaline jumped to her feet and started to look around. “Who is there?” She didn’t see anyone.

“My dear child,” a calming voice spoke.

Adaline was looking around and, as she turned, she saw lights floating around her like little blue fireflies. The lights began to form a body, and then a small, thin woman appeared. She had snow white hair that fell down to her waist. Her red lips showed brightly against her pale skin. She was dressed in a yellow gown, that sparkled like fireflies in the night. On her back were two large, translucent wings with silver glitter sprinkled over them, glistening in the moonlight.

Adaline jumped back, “Who are you?”

"Don't be afraid, dear child. I am your fairy godmother," she said with a bow.