Where Art Thou, Cinderella?

This one is for all the single ladies out there.

A few weeks back I was at a friend's house and made a rather odd discovery in his trashcan. Now, before I go any further I want to first make it clear that all the events which led up to this object being amongst the contents of his garbage are unbeknownst to me. In these sorts of situations, it's sometimes more fun just to use your imagination and come up with a scenario that brings satisfaction to your curiosity. For me, I was able to take this relatively trivial event and depict a situation from which I could gain some sort of "life lesson". Once I had come up with what was personally, to me, the most fitting chain of events behind this mystery, I felt obliged to share my revelation with all  my fellow Cinderellas out there in cyber space.

DISCLAIMER: For the sake of the privacy of those involved, the names, locations, and events of this story have been changed. (AKA the only part of this story which is based on  fact is that the item in question was found in the trash. All the rest is pure FICTION.).

Once upon a time, it was Saturday. Shelly and McKenzie were on their way to their dear friend--umm..let's call him "Prince"-- on their way to Prince's house. The evening agenda? A baseball game followed by some dancing at the local pub. Shelly and McKenzie were decked out in the most stylish attire appropriate to convert from sport-spectating to shagging on the dance floor. Prior to reaching their destination, Prince called and informed them that he had been out with his boys the night before and needed some Gatorade from the 7-eleven. He thoughtfully had left the side door to his castle open, and he stated they could make themselves at home until he returned. Upon their arrival to the Prince's pad, Shelly decided to dispose of her chewing gum before cracking into some tailgate cocktails. As she gave the trashcan peddle a tap with her foot, her eyes could not believe what they saw.

"McKenzie, come check out what's in Prince's trash!", Shelly exclaimed.

McKenzie ventured over with a smirk: "What, something gross?" Then, there is was. "Is that a--"

Shelly interrupted, "Yes, a shoe. A fairly new, lightly worn, beige, high heel, peep toe, shoe! Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I don't know."  McKenzie guessed. "Maybe size 7.5? I don't think it would fit you."

"No!!! Shelly snarled. "I'm thinking, WHERE IS CINDERELLA?!?!?!?"

Just about that time, in walks Prince. When he realized what the girls were laughing at, his face blushed with embarrassment. Prince was quick to change the subject and ignored all inquiries concerning the whereabouts of the maiden belonging to the mysterious stiletto. Shelly and McKenzie decided to settle on continuing their investigation at a later time.

Following a few home run celebratory high-fives out at the ballpark, the group made their way to the music and dancing at Five Star Pub. All the while, Prince did not seem the least concerned with where this Cinderella might be. Shelly and McKenzie began to intermingle with some familiar faces around the pub while Prince went over to grab a round of drinks from the bar.

That's when they saw her.

Over by the jukebox stood a girl that was not a "regular" at the Five Star Pub scene. She was dressed in a cute, high waist red skirt, a silk beige top, and a beautiful beaded red necklace.

"I like her skirt." stated Shelly.

"Umm.. yeah it's okay," McKenzie added, "But take a look at those awful black shoes. Those sooo do not go with that outfit. That silk beige blouse would look so much better with--- Oh my gosh! With--"

Shelly knew exactly where McKenzie was going with this, "With beige, stiletto, high heel, peep toes!"

"Exactly." McKenzie agreed. "She totally looks like a size 7.5 too."

Just as Shelly and McKenzie had made this exciting revelation, it became clear to them that the girl with the clashing shoes was glaring across the bar at none other than- Prince Charming himself. Before they could make any further assumptions, an observant onlooker joined them and set the story straight.


Turns out, there was a time when Prince Charming and Cinderella were an item. Sadly, she was never to become his queen and they did not live happily ever after. Just the night before, while out with his boys, Prince had ran into Cinderella on a night he was NOT looking for her. She insisted on going back to his castle with him, in hopes that there still may be a possibility he would love her.

Now, all that Cinderella has left is a mismatched outfit and the disappointment that Prince would not be returning her lost slipper. In fact, Prince was already on the dance floor with another girl and the contents of his trashcan back at his bachelor pad were the LAST thing on his mind.

The moral of this story?

If the Prince is not searching the kingdom high and low for you, then standing outside his castle and throwing your "shoe" at him is not going to change his mind. He might invite you back to his castle for the night, but the next day, as you make your way out the door, he is going to be doing the same thing he was doing the day before- not looking for you. You're never gonna get your fairy tale ending if you try and force things to happen, especially if  you give up your shoes! There is a prince charming out there for us all- but please, just like in the fairy tales, let him come chasing after you- otherwise you may just end up in his garbage.

As for our Cinderella in this story? She needs to move to a land, far, far away. Who knows? There could be another prince charming out there who found a beautiful beige stiletto amongst the trash in a landfill and will not rest another night until he finds the Cinderella to which it belongs... After all, one man's trash is another man's treasure.

THE END.