Part 4: The Clock Strikes

“Dong!” struck the clock.

Cinderella looked up.

“Dong!” rung the clock again.

She turned to the clock.  “Oh, my!” she cried.  “It’s almost midnight!”

“Dong!” called the clock.

“Why does it matter?” said the Prince.  “The night is young.”

“Dong!” called the clock.

“Dong!” rung the clock again.

“I must go!” said Cinderella.

“Dong!” went the clock.

“But we just met!” said the Prince.

“Dong!” rung the clock.

“I must go!” said Cinderella.  She ran to the steps.

“Dong!” cried the clock.

“I cannot hear you,” said the Prince.  “The clock is too loud!”

“Dong!” rung the clock.

“Goodbye!” said Cinderella. The ran up the stairs as fast as she could.

“Dong!” went the clock.

“Please, stop for a moment!” said the Prince.

“Oh, dear!” she said as one glass slipper fell off her foot on the stair.  But Cinderella kept running.

“Dong!” said the clock.

“Please wait a moment!” said the Prince.

“Dong!” rung the clock.

“Goodbye!” Cinderella turned one last time.  She rushed out the door.

“Dong!”  The clock was quiet. It was midnight.

“Wait!” called the Prince.  He picked up her glass slipper and dashed out the door to follow her.

He looked around but could not see her blue dress anywhere.  “This is all I have left from her,” he said, looking down forlornly at the glass slipper.  He noticed that it was made in a special way, to fit a foot like none other. “Somewhere that young maiden has the other glass slipper,” he said.  “I will find her, and when I do, I will ask her to be my bride!”