Cid: A Fairy Tale

 I'm sure you know the maiden named Cinderella, but you may not know about her long forgotten half-brother Cid. O yes, Cid has a tale worthy of any male on earth that longs to feel like he has some purpose or meaning to this man's tormented life. Much like Cinderella living with her step mother and step sisters, Cid lived with his dad who happened to be married to the wicked step mother of Cinderella, so you could conceive the notion that Cid's father learned the wicked traits of his wife—although at one point, he was a hardworking, kind, and generous man, but that all changed once he married. The diligence turned to laziness while his kind heart turned cold, and his generosity turned to greed. All thanks to the wife: Cinderella's step mother.

Cid modeled his father's younger day industry and generosity and kindness. Cid wakes up to his duties each morning with jeans and a white t-shirt. A man of muscles for the labor and the belly for the leisure—if his father justified it. His father was aging without grace, and his white hair had lost its glory. Cid was young enough for strength, and old enough for wisdom. He had to learn quickly his place in life: a mechanic, a carpenter, a plumber, and an electrician. Everything to everyone—especially to his parents. When the roof leaked, he risked his life to patch the roof. If a toilet was clogged, Cid used his wit to relieve his step family the stench of the toilet throne—which his father loved with a newspaper. If the wooden floors were rotten with age, Cid was required to use his own money to buy new wooden broads and fix the floor himself—even though his parents were wealthy and could easily pay to fix it themselves.

Cid made himself wake up in the morning to be useful in the mines—which helped gain his muscles. Days were spent to chip and gather coal into wagons to maintain the lifestyle of his land. Overworked, and underpaid was his lot, but he could not complain about his circumstances, he forced himself to shallow his pride and tend to his duties to work and provide for his household—whatever it is. Days were spent in the perils of industry while nights were spent in the perils of family toil. Not only must he serve, but serve with vigor. Cid heard the harsh yelling from his father to serve him in his room with meats and ale to satisfy his tastes while his wife satisfied his taste in women—at least for now. Cid had no glory to appeal to any woman, and his parents made it clear his lot. Words like “No woman will love you” or “you are not good enough to make a woman happy”; the harshest of the words of his tormentors was “you are not worth marrying, so just give up hope”. As you can see, Cid's hope was all he had to keep him going, but everyday it was murdered by words, thoughts, and deeds. Eventually, when all you hear is bitter words, you lose your spirit.

One morning, he did not want to get up: the burden of words, deeds, and thoughts weighed heavily on Cid and his heart did not have enough strength to get him up and running to do his duty. As luck has it, his family were out and about and forgotten Cid altogether—to his advantage. Leisure was a necessity to Cid, so he took his rag clothes with a renewed sense of purpose, and he thought to himself: “I will go for a walk.” Cid had no opportunity for adventure, but today was the day for a man to hear the whispers of heaven to his weary heart. So, he slipped on his ragged t-shirt and ripped up jeans, He had no shoes or socks, but his feet could handle coals of burning fire on his feet from the labor on his harsh feet, so a little walk will not bleed him.

So, he leaped out of bed, and left the undisciplined bed in chaos while the birds sang to his soul. He went out of the door of his room to a silent house-- to his relief. He closed the door, hiding his excitement, and leaped out the door of the main house almost tripping to the floor. He regained himself before smashing his face on the gravel—thankfully, he returned upright. Cid carefully closed the door, and by the experience of not falling to his face, he knew that today was going to be a good day. He strolled the gravel road and risked turning aside as a deer into the family forest—this was unusual for him; for his footprints marked the road more often than not: it was his routine to walk the road to work, but not this day. The morning light dawned a new day, and the perils of toil was not on the horizon, so he went into the forest.

The snapping of twitches and his feet playing in the grass gave him a fear of being found out and scorned, but he soon pushed that aside and smiled into the mystery of the forest. The harmony of the shade of trees and the glistened light of the sun wooed his senses like an elegant woman willing to dance. This beauty welcomed him deeper into the forest. It seemed to the naked eye that the forest was full of game from deer, squirrels, turkeys, and even the sight of bears, but Cid was no hunter—even though, he could be trained in the craft. He liked more to harmonize with life than to kill it. As he strolled, he observed the life in the trees and grass playing by the creek and the twitches and logs as well as grass. The birds sang to Cid's pleasing ears, and he could not help but be enchanted by the sound of tenors in feathers. With all this innocent excitement, he found himself sitting on a stable, strong log to watch the life all around him in wonderful solitude.

Cid was enraptured by the scene of nature until a sudden whistle caught his ear. It wasn't the birds, but the song of a woman. Cid observed around to find her, but found nothing but giggling from the heavens. Suddenly, he heard the whistling again like a melody of long ago, so he listened until it stopped and giggling echoed the air. He heard branch leaves from above, and his heart was cut with fear and hope giving him an opportunity to see his admirer. With a smile, he slowly glazed up to see a roughly dressed lady standing on a thick branch whistling toward him with admiration like birds singing to each other in love.

“Do you like my singing?” the mysterious lady said with a smile,
“Enchanted, my dear,” Cid said,
“Ah yes, sounds enchanting when you say, my dear.” the lady said,
“I am enchanted by your voice.” Cid said,'

“Glad you love it, my dear.” the lady said with a chuckle, He looked up to a smiling brunette with longing hazel eyes that change with her mood—which seemed brighter blue with glee. She wore ripped up jeans, and a pink tank top that revealed a figure lovely to any good man. Her top had some stains, but her spirit remained positive. No shoes or socks like Cid keeping the pioneering spirit. She jumped up and down slightly like the wind wooing the leaves, but suddenly the branch snapped and the lady fell down to Cid's astonishment. He made haste to catch his damsel with reflexes as fast as lightning. He caught her safe and sound, and she sighed in relief.

“My savior.” the lady said with a smile, She went closer to his chest in security, and he let the stranger feel his warmth.
“What is your name?” Cid asked,
“Anna, my dear.” Anna said,
“What are you doing here?” he asked,
“Having an adventure: what is your name, my dear?” Anna asked,
“Cid” he said,
“Ah, you are Cinderella's brother!” Anna said, “She told me enough about you to keep me enchanted.”
“Really?” Cid said astonished,
Anna went off of Cid's arms, and stood upright to dust off the leaves and dirt from herself. When she was done from her task, she noticed him staring wide eyes at her with a twinkle in his eyes.
“You like what you see?” Anna said with a smile, Cid smiled with embarrassment showing his blushed cheeks, and when she saw it, she giggled flirtatiously, He nodded his approval from the sight.
“I must be going.” Anna said with a smile, “You and you only can have free view of my lustiest behind: it is your reward for saving me.” She giggled embarrassing him even more. She started to walk away, but it dawned on her to turn around to say: “Before I forget, my parent's are having a ball for dancing and celebrating their anniversary. I hope you can come.”
“Where is it?” Cid said without thinking,
“My house, of course.” Anna said, “We live in a grand house next door beyond the forest. Just go west through the forest, and you can find my house. The ball is tomorrow at eight pm: wear your best. I will be waiting for you.”

“I will be there.” Cid said with a smile, She smiled gleefully, and turned around to walk home making sure to show him her behind with sexy movements, He couldn't help but enjoy the sight, and the longing for her warm embrace lingered on until she was out of sight. When she vanished, he snapped out of his daydream, and shook his head back to reality with the realization that his vacation was over and he must return home. He stood up, and strolled back home with a brighter outlook on life. His feet seemed as lite as a deer; he gazed around the forest until he returned to the road toward the house. Cid became pale when he saw the open door to the house, and his brightness turned to gloom. He lowered his head as he strolled through the door listening to yelling of his dad against his wife: words were said that could not be uttered. Doors slammed and wailing was heard, and Cid sighed with grief from the sound.

“Cid!” His father said in fury from his room in the distance, and Cid knew he was on duty again. Cid marched in as hard as a rock neglecting the softness of his heart, and as a slave, he walked to the door of the bedroom to see his half clothed step mother putting on her clothes while Cid's father was underneath the blanket naked or in his underwear, Cid doesn't want to know, but he saw the fire in his father's eyes full of anger and fury.
“Find me a suit for tomorrow.” his father said to Cid's bewilderment, “I must look my best for the ball.”
“Have we been invited?” Cid said with a glimmer of hope,

“We, as in me and your mother, have been invited to go. You have work to do around the house that will keep you busy. The roof is leaking, and the toilet is clogged, and you have to fine the best wood to keep us warm in the winter. I'm sure this will take all day tomorrow. Convenient that you will miss the ball, huh? Now, go fetch my suit!”
Cid could not help but hold a grudge, and before he could raise his voice, he remembered to honor his father—even though his father didn't honor him. Cid grudgingly said: “Yes, sir.” When Cid walked out to search, he heard his dad said: “Give it to me good, wretch!”
Cid shivered from the thought; he made haste to get out of the house to travel into town to the local tailor. The village was walking distance from the house, and just before the mines, Cid walked through the enchanting village to reach the mines; he knew the people and greeted everyone as he went.

The afternoon sun burned his insides, and no joy brightened out of him. He managed to come to a local tailor shop just within town. There was a wooden sign over the door that said: “John's tailors” Cid knew the man well, and knew him to be a decent man so Cid walked in smoothly.
“Hello” the clerk said, “It's almost sunset, and I must—oh Cid! What can I do for you?”
“Hello John,” Cid said softly, “I came to find my dad a suit.”
“Let me guess, the ball tomorrow?” John said curiously,
“Yes, sir.” Cid said,
“Are you going?” John said,
“I was told I wasn't invited,” Cid said sadly,
'If I had a quarter for everyone who said that, I would have a quarter. Come now, everyone was invited. How could you not?” John said,
“My father said it was so.” Cid said sadly, “Plus, I have chores to do tomorrow.”
“Pish-pash! We all know your parents work you like a slave to their own enjoyment and pleasure, and you just take it like a true and honorable man. I'll make you a deal: buy one get one free. Buy a suit for your dad, and one for you with no extra charge. You deserve happiness too, my boy.” John said with a smile,

Cid stared at the old tailor in disbelief until John pointed at the suits across from him, and Cid's excitement overwhelmed him and the laughter was contagious; for the tailor laughed with him. So, Cid searched and searched from black to blue to purple: first for his father than for him. With glee, he found the best of both worlds: a navy blue suit for dad, and a light purple suit for him—the color of royalty. He tried the suit with a good button up shirt and tie: thus, he also did for his father. The best was given, and John also approved the look.
“Any lady would love to dance with you, my boy.” John said, “I see it is a little tight on the waist.”
John got a measuring tool and a feather dipped in ink, and measured carefully the waist and dotted the needed adjustments on the suit with deep satisfaction. “With some adjustments, it will be perfect. I will work on it in the morning, and have it waiting for you tomorrow before the ball.” john said,

Cid carefully took off the suit, and gave it to John with the other suit for his father. He brought some silver with him, and gave it to a caring and enthusiastic tailor man. When it was paid, Cid left his suit with the tailor with its pants, shirt, and tie, while the rest he clung all the way home. In no time, he returned home when the sun was below the horizon, and placed the suit and essentials on the wooden table in the living room. He heard the snores from his father's room, and begun to do some last minute preparations for tomorrow: he cleaned up the bathroom by unclogging the disaster toilet and wiped the room with a rag as his father commanded—even though this was his father's doing. When the task was done, he managed to exhaust himself listening to the snores, so he marched to bed.

The morning was alarmed by screaming from the living room—which startled Cid awake. It was three women screaming with delight: one, no doubt, his step mother and the other two her daughters. No doubt, they saw the suit with its magical powers. Cid sluggishly got out of bed with all his raggedy clothes on remembering that he slept in them. He heard the screams again, so he got out to see the family in the living room full of festivities. They were eating and drinking and admiring the suit like an object of worship. They did not notice Cid sneak out to find a sharp axe and wheel barrow to tend to his duties.

He pulled the wagon with a heavy heart into the forest to find lovely trees to use for fire. The sun sizzled the warm air making his sweat more burdensome for his longing heart, so he chopped a tree with all his might. Chop, chop, chop, and on he chopped until, at least, one of his creations fell to the ground next to him, but one tree was not enough, so he chopped another. He chopped, chopped, chopped as though his heart was that tree ready to fall, and it did. Thus, he had two full specimens for the winter , but his father required many and he had much to do at the house, so he stiffened his neck and chopped another handsome tree.

When this one fell, he paused and imagined the lovely lady once in his arms enjoying his company and smiling at his imperfections. Cid couldn't help but smile at the sight, yet shook the cobwebs out of his head, he renewed the work with zeal. Finally, the trees were ready to be placed on the wagon with such backbreaking sweat-- which he wiped from his brow before renewing the quest. With his fancy wheel machine to roll the logs and another machine using ropes and weights to lift them to the wagon, the engineering genius prevailed and the dead logs were on the wagon. He returned the equipment on top of the logs and with the ropes, he tied up the handsome trees and prepared to travel back to the house. The midday was well spent and there's still more to do before the ball. Cid managed to move the wagon without horse, cow, or mule—not that they were not useful for the purpose, but his father would not buy any useful animal. Thus, Cid became the animal for this purpose. It took a long and tedious struggle, but the wagon, full of logs, returned home.

When Cid returned the wagon, logs, and equipment back to the shed, he needed refreshments, but no one was at the house, and even if they were, they would not make him any lunch, so he must labor again for food and drink. He parked the wagon in the shed, but could not close the door cause of the long logs, so he wiped his brow, sighed, and left it alone to return to the house to eat. Once inside, he found a note from his father that says: “Went out with your mother,” If that were nice enough, he gave Cid a list of demands to do around the house. Cid sighed, not wanting to be angry, but felt depressed from the burden. The sun was making its circuit being on top of the world ready to come down, and Cid did not yet eat. He had to make a choice: eat or do his chores before the ball—both required energy, so with a moments notice, he chose to work hungry.

The list was long, and the day was almost done. He imagined himself in her arms again: holding her tight. He beheld her figure and her hair and her bright colored eyes, and he wanted to wake up with her in his arms, but it was just a dream. Toil awaited him, and time could not wait, so he worked. Cid ran around achieving the impossible doing his best to cross off every obstacle from the list. Unclogging toilets, fixing leaks, sweeping floors, doing a maids job by making everyone's bed, and all this without food. His mind wandered to the maid, but her image was beyond his reach and he sighed deeply. At long last, the chores were done but a new disaster came to be, the outlaws returned home.

They marched in glamorously clothed—even his father looked fancy with his suit. Cid sat down to take a break after achieving the impossible. Suddenly, he heard the rough, harsh words of his father: “Lazy bum, you left the wagon in the shed wide open, you good for nothing. It's going to rain soon.” Cid lifted his heavy head to his family, and said, “I will get to it when I can.” His father shouted: “Get to it now, you good for nothing!” Cid's eyes showed shame: “If I can close the shed, then can I go to the ball?” His father laughed to scorn: ”The ball? Who said you were invited? Go back to your work!” Cid stood up tall and straight to say: “But I was invited. Wasn't that why you sent me to buy a suit?” His father laughed again: “No, you fool! The suit was only for me. No worthless boy like you will ever be invited to dance with a princess. Get back to work!” Cid stared at him and said: “But, I am done.” His father said: “ Oh really? You haven't chopped the wood and cut it to smaller pieces, and the shed is still wide open. Get to it!” His father pointed out the door, and Cid felt more depressed—not wanting to be angry with his dad for how he's been treated, so he did what his father said.

Always the hard worker; always in toil: never in bliss. If he were bitter, no one would know; for he kept to himself. Cid's father and step family, in their glorious attire stared at the rags stained with toil with scoff and silent laughter. Cid marched passed them as they prepared for the ball, and Cid left the door wide open hoping no one will notice, but contempt made him shut the door gently, and returned to his endless chores. He marched to the shed flapping in the wind with clouds beginning to show near the afternoon sun. His eyes were dim with sorrow and sleepy hunger—after all this arguing, he forgot to eat. The choice is clear: he must work before the rain comes, so he wheeled a log to the dirt; with another invention, he got a log saw with a rope tied to a nearby pole at an acute angle then tied the other end of the rope to the saw. Cid moved a log under the saw, and with his invention, he and other end swinging on a rope to saw the wood. It was hard work, but it worked.

With the engineering wit, Cid sawed the logs in no time, but time was not on his side and the afternoon sun was falling down making sure to fall his countenance. Exhausted and hungry, and still much to do: exhaustion overwhelmed him and he couldn't help but sit down to rest: all day of work beat him still, and worse yet, he could not go to the ball: the suit had not arrived and rain was inevitable. The clouds were graying, and covering the sun that's going down below the trees. Cid was too exhausted to do anything, and the logs needed to be axed in half, but he was just too exhausted to continue on, so he just let the saw flap on the wind with logs scattered on the ground. He quickly got the saw and rope and returned to the shed leaving the wood to themselves. He finally closed the shed with some struggle, and fell on the ground with his back pressed against the door: he could not resist the exhaustion and fell fast asleep.

His eyes were heavy and raindrops fell on his head, in his dreams or reality, he doesn't know. He was far too far in dream land to notice. Then the tears got heavier on his head until he no longer could withstand the sorrow, so he woke up to pouring down rain in the midst of twilight weather, so the choice was clear, he must head indoors. Cid scrambled into the house door making sure to dry off on the couch living the peace inside an empty house. The ball was surely going on in the midst of the rain, but he had no suit and was hungry to the uttermost, so he sat in silence dripping water on the clean floor. “All that work for nothing.” he said out loud to himself. “Not in vain.” he heard from the door like a phantom in the night. Apparently, the door was wide open, and a figure stood there in the night rain soaked with heaven's tears. The voice was a lady's voice so familiar in his mind, but the darkness could not show her appearance, and the candles weren't lite.

Cid lite a candle and revealed the maiden standing at the doorway. “I saw you working in the forest and by the shed with the wood you cut down.” the mysterious maid said, “I have been toiling all day in hopes of going to the ball, but I haven't eaten anything and my suit hasn't arrived, and I went to sleep from exhaustion.” Cid said, “Poor fellow.” the maid said lovingly, She stepped into the room showing her soaked clothes and beautiful brunette hair: it was Anna. “I thought you were enjoying the ball?” Cid said sadly, “It was outdoors, and my parent's did not expect rain—even though I warned them. Every guest was soaked including your family. Your father's suit was ruined in front of everyone and he hightailed it to town with embarrassment.” Anna said joyfully, “So that's why John didn't bring my suit to me because he knew about the rain.” “His barometer was going off helping him to predict rain, and he told me and your father when we talked with him separately.” Anna said with a smile, “Where's the suit?” Cid said curiously, “Hidden.” Anna said with a smile, Anna took his free hand and purposely guided it to feel her chest. She giggled and released his stunned hand to reach underneath her overgrown shirt to get the surprise.

She struggled to bring out the carefully folded suit from her cover: it was miraculously unscathed. She gave it to him after he placed the candle on the table in the kitchen. “Put it on, my dear.” Anna said excited, Cid smiled faintly, “I see you are hungry.” Anna said, “Let me make you food for all your hard work.” Anna marched into the kitchen and her cooking genius went to work. Cid stood dumbfounded as pans and pots sizzled on the wooden strove. The smell was heaven on earth, he didn't care if the food was good, he saw and smelled her gift at work. Before long, there were two bowls of stew on the table. “It's not much, my dear, but it can wet your appetite.” Anna said jokingly, “Sit down and eat!” Cid sat and saw her sit next to him, and together they ate as one. The food was delicious, and the grin on his face overwhelmed her with joy.

“Glad you like it, my dear, now put on the suit.” Anna said, Cid hastened to go to his room with the suit, and hastened to button up and put it all on. He strolled with dignity to her in glory, and a spark glimmered in her eyes. “I love it!” Anna said, Cid held out his hand and the dried maiden accepted his hand, and the bliss overwhelmed them both as they danced all around the kitchen and living room brightening the night with their love that seemed to last forever, the song in their hearts lite the house and nothing could stop them from whirling and twirling and waltzing to dream songs. For the first time in their lives, they were content and joyful with a romance moment that'll last a lifetime. Thankfully for these two, happy endings are real.