Cinderella lives in a big house with her stepmother and her two not-particularly-nice stepsisters. Her father died many years ago, and her life has been hard since he passed. Her stepmother does not like
her very much, and her stepsisters follow everything she does. So for many years she has been their
servant, cleaning and cooking and making clothes for the rest of her family, while she only has one dress
that is always dirty with soot.
One day, the king of their land announces that there will be a ball so that the prince can meet all of the
eligible ladies in the land, and maybe find someone who will eventually be his wife. The stepmother and
stepsisters eagerly prepare for the ball, but of course Cinderella is not allowed to go. She is desperately
sad that she cannot go, and wishes there was some way it could be possible.