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» SHORT STORY «

Once upon a time, there was a lovely little boy named Howie. Howie lived all alone with his mother in a lovely, luxurious mansion. Howie and his mother were very close.

One day, upon arriving home from work, Howie's mother brought home a man with her.

"Howie, this is Kevin Richardson. I'm going to marry him," Howie's mother announced.

Kevin and his familiy moved in with the Doroughs. Kevin had two sons. One was very handsome. His name was Nick. The other son was quite ugly. His name was Brian. They treated Howie horribly.

One day, Howie's mother died. Howie felt as if the unbearable loneliness would never go away.

The Richardsons treated Howie horribly. They made him do all the chores, do all the shopping, make all the food, everything under the sun. They wouldn't allow Howie to even eat. They began calling him "Howardella", like the classic story book character.

"Howardella! I can't see my gorgeous face in this spoon! Shine it, before I tan your hide!" Kevin yelled.

"Yes, Step Father," Howardella said, rushing over to polish the expensive silver spoon.

"Howardella, my mashed potatoes are cold. Warm them up," Nick ordered.

"Yes, Nick," Howardella said. He accidently dropped the spoon he had polished.

"You little gnat! You did that only because you knew it would anger me! How dare you!" Kevin bellowed.

"I'm sorry, Step Father," Howaredella said, picking up the spoon and wiping it off.

"Howardella, my nose is bleeding. Get me a tissue," Brian said, his index finger up his left nostril.

"Maybe if you stopped picking it, it wouldn't bleed," Howardella muttered under his breath.

Every day of Howardella's life was similar. He even considered suicide, but then realized he wouldn't go to heaven, for he was certain that's where his mother went.

One day, an invitation arrived in the mail. It read:

"Dear Richardson/Dorough family,
You are cordially invited to attend a ball in Princess Buttercup's honor. The ball will be held Saturday evening, from 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM.

R.S.V.P. 1-800-354-2969

King Mylo and Queen Darla"

Wow! A ball! Howardella thought. He ran up the marble staircase to give Kevin the invitation.

"Can I go?" Howardella asked as Kevin folded the invitation back up.

"May I go," Kevin corrected.

"May I go?"

"No, you may not. Get to work on new suits for my sons. They must look their best for Princess Buttercup," Kevin ordered.

"Yes, Step Father." Howardella trudged out of the room.

The night of the ball arrived. Howardella waved sadly out the window as his step brothers and step father drove away to the ball he would not attend.

"Guess I'll just sit in my own little corner, in my own little chair," Howardella sighed, sitting in a small wooden chair.

"Goodness gracious, child! I haven't seen that long of face since Princess Diana died! Whoo!" said a voice.

"Who's there? What do you want?" Howardella asked, looking around the room.

"It is I, child. Your fairy godfather."

"What is your name?" Howardella asked, as the godfather appeared.

He was quite handsome. He wore dark sunglasses and a leopard spotted fedora. He was dressed fashionably, not sensibly.

"AJ's the name, Howardella," the fairy godfather replied.

"Why are you here, AJ?" Howardella asked.

"Why, I'm going to take you to the ball!"

"Oh, would you? Could you?"

"Bippoty boppity boo!" AJ said, and with a swirl of his magic sunglasses, Howardella was changed. Instead of the rags he usually wore, he was wearing a sharp new tie-less tux. His hair was neatly combed, and his face wasn't covered with soot. His feet were no longer naked. They were clothed in leather loafers.

"Whoa! Phat threads, dude!" AJ said, stepping back.

"I am something, huh?" Howardella said, looking at his new appearance in a dirty, broken mirror.

"Now you are ready for the ball. Just make sure to be back by midnight."

"Why? What happens at midnight?" Howardella asked.

"Everything will be the way it was before."

Howardella hurried to the castle. Everyone stared as he entered the ballroom.

Princess Buttercup looked up. To her, the man who had just entered was the most handsome man she'd ever seen in her life (Author’s Note: She obviously hadn't seen Nick yet.) She rushed over to him. A slow song began, and they danced.

They danced the night away, and before Howardella could say anything, the clock struck midnight.

"I have to go. Bye!" Howardella said, and dashed out of the castle, leaving behind only a leather loafer.

"Wait!" Princess Buttercup called, chasing after him. She tripped on a leather loafer. She picked it up and realized it must have been the "mystery man's".

"What are we to do, Princess Buttercup?" a servant asked.

"Find the owner of this leather loafer," Princess Buttercup ordered, "Search the entire land. Try this shoe on every young man."

And so the search began.

"Howardella! Shine the silverware!"

"Yes, Step Father," Howardella replied, hurrying to please Kevin.

There was a knock at the door. "Howardella, answer the door!" Kevin yelled.

"Yes, Step Father," Howardella said, rushing to the front door.

There was a man at the door. Howardella recognized him as the messenger that delivered the invitation to the ball.

"Yes?" Howardella asked.

"Hello. I'm George, Royal Messenger to Princess Buttercup. I am here on her business," said the man.

"Come in," Howardella said meekly, opening the door wider so George could enter. Kevin, Nick, and Brian came into the foyer.

"Yes?" Kevin asked George.

"I'm am Princess Buttercup's Royal Messenger. I have come to try this leather loafer on every man in the land," George said.

"Me first!" Brian said, rushing over to a big lounge chair, removing his shoe.

George went over to Brian and tried on the shoe. Brian's foot was much too small. Shaking his head, George went on to Nick. Nick's foot was much too large.

"Thank you. Howardella, show the man out," Kevin said.

"Wait a minute. Would he like to try on the shoe?" George asked, looking pointedly at Howardella.

"No, he's just a servant," Kevin said quickly.

"The Princess' orders, Sir," George said, trying the shoe on Howardella.

A perfect fit!

Howie and Princess Buttercup were reunited. The love was stronger than ever. They were married, and had five children.

And they lived happily ever after.

¤ THE END ¤
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