Cinderella Junior Novelization by Melissa Arps Page B

the girls. She curiously watched Cinderella walk down the hallway toward her room. Cinderella was humming a sweet song about love and swaying her arms from side to side. It was as if she were floating across the floor. She was happy, and Lady Tremaine needed to know why.
    Lady Tremaine narrowed her cold emerald-green eyes and stared at the dancing Cinderella. Could Cinderella be the girl from the ball? Is she the girl the Prince loves?
    Gus and Jaq had been watching Lady Tremaine, and they grew suspicious. Staying hidden, they followed her up the stairs, then perched on top of a beam. Lady Tremaine was heading for Cinderella’s room, and she had a devious look on her face. The mice went to warn Cinderella.
    Meanwhile, Cinderella was humming as she combed her hair in the mirror and twirled around. She was so happy. She couldn’t wait for the Grand Duke to arrive with the glass slipper!
    Suddenly, Gus and Jaq stormed into her room and climbed on top of her vanity. They jumped up and down on her hairbrush trying to get her attention. They called her name, but she continued to hum and look in the mirror. She finally noticed her little friends, but it was too late. At the same time, she saw her stepmother’s reflection in the mirror. Cinderella gasped and turned toward Lady Tremaine just as she slammed Cinderella’s door shut, then used her key to lock it. The only way the door could be opened again was with that key. Cinderella ran to the door and pulled on the handle, crying when it would not budge.
    â€œOh, you can’t, you just can’t,” she pleaded. “You must let me out! You can’t keep me in here! Oh, please!” Cinderella continued to pull on the door handle, trying to get out. She was sobbing. Poor Cinderella was devastated. Her wicked stepmother had once again crushed her chance for happiness. Cinderella knew that if the Grand Duke couldn’t find her, then she couldn’t try on the glass slipper and she’d never be with the Prince.
    Lady Tremaine proudly tapped the key in her hand and then put it safely in her pocket. She walked back down the stairs feeling quite satisfied with her actions. Now there was no way Cinderella would have the opportunity to try on the glass slipper.
    Gus and Jaq crawled underneath Cinderella’s door and scowled at Lady Tremaine as she walked away. They were angry, and they knew they had to help Cinderella.
    â€œWe’ve gotta get that key, Gus-Gus,” said Jaq excitedly. “We’ve just gotta get that key!”

I t had been a long day for the Grand Duke. He had traveled around the kingdom trying the glass slipper on every maiden. He was asleep in his coach as it approached his next stop. With each bump in the road, his head wobbled from side to side. He held a royal blue velvet pillow with gold trim and tassels on his lap. On the pillow was the glass slipper. A small purple blanket covered it for protection. But the blanket slid off of the pillow due to the bumpy ride.
    The driver called for his horses to halt and the coach came to an abrupt stop. The footman sounded his horn, announcing the arrival of the Grand Duke. Startled, the Duke jumped from his seat and the pillow went flying off his lap, along with the glass slipper. But the sleepy man managed to catch the slipper in midair. He let out a huge sigh of relief and covered his face with one hand while he held the delicate slipper in the other. His daylong search had worn him down. He was exhausted, but by the King’s orders, he had to continue. He was at his next stop—the Tremaine house.
    Meanwhile, Gus and Jaq had run to the window when they heard the coach approach. The Grand Duke had arrived! The mice had to retrieve the key tucked away in Lady Tremaine’s pocket, and they had to do it quickly. Once Cinderella got out of her room and put that slipper on, everyone would know the truth: she was the Prince’s true love.
    Anastasia and Drizella ran to a