First Published in Spellbound - A Fantasy Magazine for Children
The elf sat at his cobbler's bench every night. He had made
shoes with laces, buckles, and bows. He made and repaired shoes for gardening,
dancing, and running with friends. This was the first time that he had only one
thing on his workbench. He had heard the legends about it. He hadn't believed
that it really existed.
It was an open box. In the box surround by silver packing
grass was the glass slipper and a note. The note said to take out the tiny
tubes and jars. Very carefully he dug around in the box and picked out a small
tube of gold paste, another tube of silver paste and six tiny jars of sparkling
stardust. There was also a purple silk cloth, a blue fuzzy brush, and a spray
bottle that just fit in his hand.
The elf went back to the note and read the directions
through twice. He needed to do this perfectly so that it would maintain its
magic. He picked it up and studied it. It was dusty, had cobwebs, scratches,
and a small chips in the heel. He sighed and began to carefully dust it off.
Once clean the magic could begin.
He began by mixing the red stardust with the silver paste
and rubbed it into all of the scratches and small cracks. He read the chant
over and over again as he worked. He was amazed at how fast the rough spots
became smooth. Next he picked up the yellow stardust and added it to the gold
paste and pushed it into the hollow chips in the heel. He could feel it sealing the chips, smoothing
them out using the pressure of his fingers wrapped in the silky purple cloth.
Time flew by. He suddenly felt tired. The glass slipper was
repaired but still looked dull. There was no sparkle. He opened up the
remaining jars of stardust and added them to equal amounts of silver and gold
paste. Carefully he brushed them on to the shoe. He reread the directions and
let it sit for ten minutes as he repeated another set of magical words.
Finally he grabbed the spray bottle and sprayed it all over
the slipper inside and out. A stream of watery rainbows circled the slipper as
it began to sparkle. He let it sit for another five minutes. Finally he began
to carefully polish the glass slipper uttering the last set of magical words.
He carefully put the glass slipper in the box just as the
sun was beginning to rise and warm the windows. He was surprised that the
darkest corner of the room was also beginning to glitter. The shimmering sphere
got brighter and brighter. Eyes wide he saw a set of luminous wings attached to
the shoulders of a beautiful lady. Her voice was musical and filled him with
joy.
She inspected the slipper turning it over in her hands. Happily
his work was done and her magical work had just begun.
