Cinderella Must-Haves: A Wicked Stepmom and Evil Stepsisters

“Mom! Kayoung is squishing me!” Nayoung shrieked.

“Am not!” Kayoung protested.

“Calm down, girls! There isn’t enough space in this truck!” Your stepmom snarled.

From the trunk of the pick-up truck, you rolled your eyes *At least your inside. When the car is speeding 60 miles per hour in autumn and you’re sitting outside squished between a bet and lamp, it isn’t as warm as you think it is.*

The fraternal twins started arguing some more.

You plugged your earphones into your ears and closed your eyes. Still, you could hear their annoying bickering. On top of that, now your stepmom was starting to scream.

It was going to be one heck of a long drive.

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The pick-up truck stopped in front of a dingy, hollow-looking 3-bedroom house. You hopped out and looked up.

“Ew! We’re living here?” Nayoung crinkled up her nose.

Kayoung frowned, “What happened to the mansion?”

“Since your father lost his job, we have to stay here.” Your stepmom said.

“Until when?! I can’t stay in cramped places like this!” Nayoung pouted.

*Why not? You stayed in worse before your mom married my dad.* You put your backpack on.

“Until your father gets back on his two feet again. Now let’s go in.” Your stepmom headed inside, “Bring all our things, ~~~~~!”

You gaped at her, “By myself?”

Nayoung and Kayoung snickered, “Good luck!” “Be fragile with the pink box! My China dolls are in there! They’re more expensive than you!” Nayoung stuck her tongue out. You almost chucked the box at her head. You sighed and grabbed a box.

After helping the movers move all the furniture, you grabbed your suitcases and headed upstairs. You blinked around, “Where’s my room?”

“You don’t have one.” Nayoung crossed her arms.

“There are 3 bedrooms.” You stated.

“Yeah. One for mom. One for me. And one for my sister.” Kayoung said in a duh-manner.

“But you two are twins. You can share.” You said.

They adamantly shook their heads, “Uh-uh! We like to have our own personal space.”

You sighed, “Then where do I stay?” The twins glanced up. Your jaw dropped, “Oh no.”

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You wearily dragged the box across the squeaking, wooden floor of the attic. All the dust collected up into the air. You coughed and waved your hand with watery eyes. You pushed the last box into the wall and sank onto the ground. You looked around the small, cramped space and miserably said, “You have got to be kidding me.”

You touched the locket around your neck that had once been your biological mother’s, “Mom, can you believe this?”

You knew what your mom would do. She would give you a big smile and say, “Take that something negative and make it into something brilliantly positive. I know you can do it because you’re my daughter.”

You softly smiled, “You’re right mom. I can do it.” You stood up and stretched as you courageously yelled, “I CAN DO ANYTHING!”

“QUIET DOWN!” Your stepmom yelled.

You jumped and timidly put a hand over your mouth *Oops.* You tip-toed around to organize your belongings.

The phone rang and you heard your stepmom’s tinkling laughter.

*Dad.* You knew.

A moment later, she called, “Oh sweetie~ it’s your father! Come down, ~~~~~~~ , dear!”

You rolled your eyes *Two-faced bull-dog!* You stomped downstairs. She gave you the phone with a glare, as if she was daring you to say something bad about her. You took the phone, “Hi, dad.” “Hi, honey. How are you?”

“Good.” You traced random shapes against the kitchen tile.

“How is the moving-in coming along?” He asked.

You glanced at the squabbling twins and snickered, “Good.”

“Do you like your new room?” He questioned.

You looked up towards the attic, “Yeah. It’s wonderful. Better than the old place.”

“That’s one reason why I love you, ~~~~. You’re always so optimistic. Just like your mother.” Your dad admiringly chuckled.

You softly smiled, “I miss you, dad.”

“I miss you, too. I’ll come up as soon as things are organized here. I promise you that I’ll get back on my feet, get my business starting again, and buy an even bigger house than the last one.” He swore.

“Don’t work too hard.” You whispered.

“You, too, honey. I love you. How much do you think I do?” Your dad asked.

You smiled and rolled your eyes. This was tradition. “As much as the sky and as much as the earth. I love you that much, too, daddy.” You hung up and turned around to have a broom stuck in your face. You blinked your widened eyes at your stepmom.

She raised an eyebrow, “Go. I want every single piece of dust gone. Now.”