Cinderella Around the World

My name is Yeh-Shen, and long ago I lived in a cave in southern China, where the hills roll like sleeping green dragons. My only friend in the whole world was a beautiful fish named Yu, who had big, golden eyes and fins that shimmered like a rainbow in the water. I loved him very much. But my stepmother was not kind, and she made my world feel very small and grey. This is where my story, a tale you might know as the myth of Cinderella, begins.

My stepmother was jealous of my friendship with Yu. One day, she tricked my dear fish and took him from me. I was so heartbroken, my tears could have filled a pond. As I was crying, a wise old man with a long, flowing beard appeared as if from thin air. He told me not to worry. He said the bones of my fish were full of magic and could grant my deepest wishes if I just asked. Soon, it was time for the Spring Festival, a huge party where everyone would dance and celebrate. My stepmother gave me an impossible chore—to sort a giant pile of seeds—and forbade me from going. With tears in my eyes, I went to the fish bones and wished for a way to join the festival. In a flash, I was wearing a beautiful gown made of bright blue kingfisher feathers and a pair of the tiniest golden slippers you have ever seen. I went to the festival, but I had to be careful not to be seen. As I rushed home before my stepmother, one of my precious slippers fell off. A merchant found it and sold it to the king, who was amazed by how small and delicate it was. He declared he would marry the person whose foot it fit.

The king's men brought the little golden slipper to every home, and eventually, they came to my cave. My stepmother and stepsister tried to squeeze their feet into it, but it was no use. Then, it was my turn. The slipper slid onto my foot perfectly, like it was made just for me. To prove it was mine, I pulled out the other matching slipper from my pocket, and the king knew he had found me. We were married, and I never had to be lonely or live in that dark cave again. My story is very old, but it’s not the only one. Far away in ancient Egypt, a girl named Rhodopis also lost her slipper when an eagle carried it to the Pharaoh. In Germany, a girl named Aschenputtel was helped by birds in a magical tree. Our names and our homes are different, but our story is the same: it shows that even when things are hard, a kind heart is a treasure. This story has traveled across oceans and through time, inspiring cartoons, movies, and books that remind children everywhere that hope is the most powerful magic of all.