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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Kids
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Childhood / Youth
- Published: 07/22/2012
Ella and the Girl in the Mirror
from Brooklyn, United States“Rise and shine sweetheart! It’s time to get dressed for school!”
Ella groaned and snuggled deeper into her blanket. “Come on mom, gimme five more minutes, puhleez….”
“Oh no, you don’t!” said Mom as she dragged Ella out of bed. “It’s Friday morning sweetheart. One more day, and then you have your long weekend remember?”
Ella struggled up in bed, and pried open one eye, “but I’m sick! I have a stomach ache mama.”
“It’s OK, Ella. I’ll get you some medicine after breakfast. You’ll feel better. I promise.” replied mom as she struggled to hide a smile.
Ella and her family had just recently moved to a new neighborhood. She was still trying to adjust to the move and her new school. Third grade was hard enough as it was. Then, to have to leave all her friends behind, and to start having to spend almost half a day with a bunch of strangers was just worse! To top it off, Ella felt like no one liked her, let alone wanted to be her friend. She was beginning to feel like she was a little green man, with horns on his head.
“Mo-om…do I really have to? What if I throw up in the bus, and die? Please Mom? Just this one day?”
“That’s enough Ella. You know you’re just wasting time. You have to go to school and try to have fun with all your new friends!” mom said firmly.
Ella went to get dressed, grumbling and mumbling all the way. She hadn’t mentioned to anyone about her ‘Friend Situation’ in this new school. She thought it was too embarrassing, and if she kept quiet about it, no one would make fun of her!
As the recess bell rang, Ella followed Lucy, one of the “popular” girls, and her friends, into the lunch room, hoping to catch their attention, and make some new friends.
Just as she was about to sit on their table, Lucy said in a cold tone “What do YOU think you’re doing?”
Ella’s face turned bright red and she started stammering “I..I..I th-thought I c-could…..”
“You could what? Be our friend? Have you even looked at yourself in the mirror? You’re not pretty enough to be our friend!” Lucy laughed out loud.
Ella wished the ground would come up and swallow her right then and there, and before she knew it, she rushed out of the lunch room, and hid herself in the bathroom until it was time to go home.
On the way home, Mom noticed that Ella was quieter than usual. She chose not to point it out, and decided to give her some time to speak up herself. All throughout lunch, and then dinner, Ella did not once look up. It was as if she was ashamed to face the people around her. Mom waited and waited for Ella to share her thoughts but poor Ella just didn’t seem to get out of her misery.
Finally, when it was time for bed, Mom followed Ella to her room, to tuck her in bed with her good night story. As Mom was about to pick their story for the night, Ella asked, “Mama, is it OK if we skip the story tonight and go straight to sleep?”
Mom paused for a minute, and asked quietly, “What’s wrong sweetheart? Is something bothering you?”
Ella’s big eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and she hid her face in her mother’s lap.
Mom gave her a minute to calm herself, and then asked again gently, “Why are you crying angel? You know Mama’s going to try to make you feel better…….”
Ella finally looked up and wailed, “Why am I so ugly mama?”
For a second mom paused, surprised. Then she quickly composed herself and asked, “What makes you think you’re ugly?”
“No one wants to be my friend mama! They said I’m not pureetty enough to be their friend!” Ella sobbed.
“Now, now, Ella, those girls who think you’re not pretty, don’t know what pretty is!! Do you know when I held you in my arms for the first time I thought you were the prettiest thing in the whole universe? In my eyes, you still are!! You’re my little angel sweetheart! Have you ever heard of an ugly angel?”
Ella shook her head no.
“See? It doesn’t matter what a bunch of mean girls said. Their saying you’re not pretty doesn’t change anything. Here’s what I want you to do. Tomorrow night, before going to bed, I want you to stand in front of the mirror, and take a good long look at the girl in the mirror. Then I want you to come and tell me exactly what you saw! OK? Now, let’s get you back in bed sweetheart, and I’ll read you one of my favorite stories as a little girl!”
That night mom read Ella the story of Cinderella. And as Ella finally fell asleep, she mumbled “I wish I had a fairy godmother………who would turn me into a princess too……” Mom kissed her little Ella on her forehead, with an odd smile on her face.
The next morning, soon after breakfast, Ella ran to the mirror in her room. She stared into it, and saw a little girl with big blue eyes, dressed up in overalls (like the tomboy she was), with untidy hair, and misery on her face. She stared at the little girl for a long, long time, hoping that somehow she would become a princess like Cinderella had. Suddenly, she saw the little girl raise her eyebrows at her questioningly!
“What do you want?” she asked.
Ella stared at the reflection dumbfounded. It was talking to her! How could that be? She walked up to the mirror, and poked it with her little finger. Yup, the mirror was still there.
”What is it Ella? Why are you staring at me like that? You know who I am, don’t you? I am YOU! And I know why look so sad. Listen, all you have to do is gain some confidence. Learn to feel good about yourself. Smile a little bit. You’ll see, the minute you smile, the world will change!”
The next thing she knew, Ella heard her mom calling out to her. “Ella!! Come on sweetheart, get dressed, and come down. We’re going out.”
Ella quickly got dressed, and ran down the stairs. As her mom put her seat belt on her, Ella told her about the little girl in the mirror.
“Mama, is it true? Will the world change if I smile?”
“I definitely think so Ella. Why don’t you try it when you go back to school on Monday?”
“OK………Where are we going mama?”
“That, my angel, is a surprise!”
Ella’s mom drove into the mall parking lot, and parked their car. Then she took Ella to this huge store, which was filled with big chairs and huge mirrors. All around, she could see girls and ladies cutting their hair, putting on nail paint. Ella looked at her mom with big round eyes!
“What are we doing here mama?”
Ella’s mom smiled. “Just close your eyes and wait.”
Ella’s mom lifted her onto one of those big black chairs, and this pretty lady came up to her, and tied up a white cloth around her neck.
“I’m scared mama!”
“Don’t be scared Ella. Just close your eyes, until I tell you to open them.”
Ella tightly kept her eyes closed, all the while the lady cut her hair. Finally, her mom got her off the chair and they were ready to leave the store. Their next stop was a clothing store where Ella’s mom bought a pretty blue dress for her. Then it was time to go home.
When they went home, Ella’s mom told her not to look at the mirror until she got dressed for school the next day. Ella did as she was told “What’s there to look at anyway? It’s still going to be ugly little ME!”
After Ella brushed her teeth the next morning, mom came to her room. “How about if I get you ready for school today Ella? Would you like that?”
“Sure mama! That’ll be fun!”
Ella’s mom put the pretty blue dress they’d bought the previous day on Ella. Then she combed her hair, and finally asked her to look in the mirror. “Now tell me what you see sweetheart.”
Ella slowly turned and looked at the mirror. The girl had the same blue eyes, except her untidy hair and overalls were gone. In its place was the cutest little girl, who looked almost like a princess. The girl in the mirror smiled and winked at her. Ella couldn’t believe her eyes. She turned around and jumped into her mom’s arms. “Oh mama, you are my fairy godmother! You made me into a little princess, just like Cinderella!” Mom smiled at little Ella. “You were always my little princess sweetheart! You’d just gotten lost in your overalls!”
Ella skipped all the way to school. When she entered her classroom, she smiled. Instantly, she saw many girls waving at her. In fact, the mean girl from the lunch room patted the seat next to her, asking her to sit with her! But, guess what Ella did? That’s right! She completely ignored her, and went and sat next to another girl. 'I love you mama' she thought. 'The little girl in the mirror was right. Smiling does change the world!' Ella smiled to herself.
Ella and the Girl in the Mirror(Sabrina Zaman)
“Rise and shine sweetheart! It’s time to get dressed for school!”
Ella groaned and snuggled deeper into her blanket. “Come on mom, gimme five more minutes, puhleez….”
“Oh no, you don’t!” said Mom as she dragged Ella out of bed. “It’s Friday morning sweetheart. One more day, and then you have your long weekend remember?”
Ella struggled up in bed, and pried open one eye, “but I’m sick! I have a stomach ache mama.”
“It’s OK, Ella. I’ll get you some medicine after breakfast. You’ll feel better. I promise.” replied mom as she struggled to hide a smile.
Ella and her family had just recently moved to a new neighborhood. She was still trying to adjust to the move and her new school. Third grade was hard enough as it was. Then, to have to leave all her friends behind, and to start having to spend almost half a day with a bunch of strangers was just worse! To top it off, Ella felt like no one liked her, let alone wanted to be her friend. She was beginning to feel like she was a little green man, with horns on his head.
“Mo-om…do I really have to? What if I throw up in the bus, and die? Please Mom? Just this one day?”
“That’s enough Ella. You know you’re just wasting time. You have to go to school and try to have fun with all your new friends!” mom said firmly.
Ella went to get dressed, grumbling and mumbling all the way. She hadn’t mentioned to anyone about her ‘Friend Situation’ in this new school. She thought it was too embarrassing, and if she kept quiet about it, no one would make fun of her!
As the recess bell rang, Ella followed Lucy, one of the “popular” girls, and her friends, into the lunch room, hoping to catch their attention, and make some new friends.
Just as she was about to sit on their table, Lucy said in a cold tone “What do YOU think you’re doing?”
Ella’s face turned bright red and she started stammering “I..I..I th-thought I c-could…..”
“You could what? Be our friend? Have you even looked at yourself in the mirror? You’re not pretty enough to be our friend!” Lucy laughed out loud.
Ella wished the ground would come up and swallow her right then and there, and before she knew it, she rushed out of the lunch room, and hid herself in the bathroom until it was time to go home.
On the way home, Mom noticed that Ella was quieter than usual. She chose not to point it out, and decided to give her some time to speak up herself. All throughout lunch, and then dinner, Ella did not once look up. It was as if she was ashamed to face the people around her. Mom waited and waited for Ella to share her thoughts but poor Ella just didn’t seem to get out of her misery.
Finally, when it was time for bed, Mom followed Ella to her room, to tuck her in bed with her good night story. As Mom was about to pick their story for the night, Ella asked, “Mama, is it OK if we skip the story tonight and go straight to sleep?”
Mom paused for a minute, and asked quietly, “What’s wrong sweetheart? Is something bothering you?”
Ella’s big eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and she hid her face in her mother’s lap.
Mom gave her a minute to calm herself, and then asked again gently, “Why are you crying angel? You know Mama’s going to try to make you feel better…….”
Ella finally looked up and wailed, “Why am I so ugly mama?”
For a second mom paused, surprised. Then she quickly composed herself and asked, “What makes you think you’re ugly?”
“No one wants to be my friend mama! They said I’m not pureetty enough to be their friend!” Ella sobbed.
“Now, now, Ella, those girls who think you’re not pretty, don’t know what pretty is!! Do you know when I held you in my arms for the first time I thought you were the prettiest thing in the whole universe? In my eyes, you still are!! You’re my little angel sweetheart! Have you ever heard of an ugly angel?”
Ella shook her head no.
“See? It doesn’t matter what a bunch of mean girls said. Their saying you’re not pretty doesn’t change anything. Here’s what I want you to do. Tomorrow night, before going to bed, I want you to stand in front of the mirror, and take a good long look at the girl in the mirror. Then I want you to come and tell me exactly what you saw! OK? Now, let’s get you back in bed sweetheart, and I’ll read you one of my favorite stories as a little girl!”
That night mom read Ella the story of Cinderella. And as Ella finally fell asleep, she mumbled “I wish I had a fairy godmother………who would turn me into a princess too……” Mom kissed her little Ella on her forehead, with an odd smile on her face.
The next morning, soon after breakfast, Ella ran to the mirror in her room. She stared into it, and saw a little girl with big blue eyes, dressed up in overalls (like the tomboy she was), with untidy hair, and misery on her face. She stared at the little girl for a long, long time, hoping that somehow she would become a princess like Cinderella had. Suddenly, she saw the little girl raise her eyebrows at her questioningly!
“What do you want?” she asked.
Ella stared at the reflection dumbfounded. It was talking to her! How could that be? She walked up to the mirror, and poked it with her little finger. Yup, the mirror was still there.
”What is it Ella? Why are you staring at me like that? You know who I am, don’t you? I am YOU! And I know why look so sad. Listen, all you have to do is gain some confidence. Learn to feel good about yourself. Smile a little bit. You’ll see, the minute you smile, the world will change!”
The next thing she knew, Ella heard her mom calling out to her. “Ella!! Come on sweetheart, get dressed, and come down. We’re going out.”
Ella quickly got dressed, and ran down the stairs. As her mom put her seat belt on her, Ella told her about the little girl in the mirror.
“Mama, is it true? Will the world change if I smile?”
“I definitely think so Ella. Why don’t you try it when you go back to school on Monday?”
“OK………Where are we going mama?”
“That, my angel, is a surprise!”
Ella’s mom drove into the mall parking lot, and parked their car. Then she took Ella to this huge store, which was filled with big chairs and huge mirrors. All around, she could see girls and ladies cutting their hair, putting on nail paint. Ella looked at her mom with big round eyes!
“What are we doing here mama?”
Ella’s mom smiled. “Just close your eyes and wait.”
Ella’s mom lifted her onto one of those big black chairs, and this pretty lady came up to her, and tied up a white cloth around her neck.
“I’m scared mama!”
“Don’t be scared Ella. Just close your eyes, until I tell you to open them.”
Ella tightly kept her eyes closed, all the while the lady cut her hair. Finally, her mom got her off the chair and they were ready to leave the store. Their next stop was a clothing store where Ella’s mom bought a pretty blue dress for her. Then it was time to go home.
When they went home, Ella’s mom told her not to look at the mirror until she got dressed for school the next day. Ella did as she was told “What’s there to look at anyway? It’s still going to be ugly little ME!”
After Ella brushed her teeth the next morning, mom came to her room. “How about if I get you ready for school today Ella? Would you like that?”
“Sure mama! That’ll be fun!”
Ella’s mom put the pretty blue dress they’d bought the previous day on Ella. Then she combed her hair, and finally asked her to look in the mirror. “Now tell me what you see sweetheart.”
Ella slowly turned and looked at the mirror. The girl had the same blue eyes, except her untidy hair and overalls were gone. In its place was the cutest little girl, who looked almost like a princess. The girl in the mirror smiled and winked at her. Ella couldn’t believe her eyes. She turned around and jumped into her mom’s arms. “Oh mama, you are my fairy godmother! You made me into a little princess, just like Cinderella!” Mom smiled at little Ella. “You were always my little princess sweetheart! You’d just gotten lost in your overalls!”
Ella skipped all the way to school. When she entered her classroom, she smiled. Instantly, she saw many girls waving at her. In fact, the mean girl from the lunch room patted the seat next to her, asking her to sit with her! But, guess what Ella did? That’s right! She completely ignored her, and went and sat next to another girl. 'I love you mama' she thought. 'The little girl in the mirror was right. Smiling does change the world!' Ella smiled to herself.
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