EPISODE TWO: CHAPTERS 4-8

"THE LEGEND OF CINDERSARA"

CHAPTER FOUR: THE LEGEND OF CINDERSARA The very first room that Mitzi fixes up in the new home is Randi's little alcove -- a big walk-in closet, really, but just the right size for Randi's little bed and toy chest. She puts up some wallpaper and a picture from one of Randi's favorite books.

Randi loves her new little room. Mitzi comes to tuck her in. "Look, Randi, it's Patches. I found him in the clothes hamper."

"Patches!" Randi covers him in kisses. "Thank you, Mommy. Will you read me a story?"

"What book do you want?"

"Can you read the Legend of Cindersara?"

"Again?" Mitzi has read the Legend of Cindersara many times, but it is Randi's favorite. She never seems to tire of hearing it.

So Mitzi begins the story that she has come to know by heart.

888 There was once a girl who lived in the far North. Her name was Cindersara. She was as beautiful as the Aurora, as pure as the new driven snow, and very very good. The gentle Arctic creatures were her friends.

Sometimes an eagle would follow her. She knew it was an omen when a bird follows a person. "What is it, Baldy? What did you say? I could be president? Well, all right. But what does a president do?"

Time passed. So great was Cindersara's beauty that the local villagers would have her be their queen.

Shortly thereafter, she married her prince

and they had beautiful children together, each one more remarkable than the one before.

But Cindersara was called to public service, so one day she hung up her apron. The people of Pitstop elected her to the village council and then as their mayor (they had a new queen by then). Cindersara was a maverick mayor, and she cut taxes and all the frills out of government. The people loved her and said that she was the best mayor ever, and definitely the prettiest.

777"Mommy?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Is this a fairytale?"

"Yes, honey, it is."

"Will you read more?

"A little more. Let me get more comfortable."

She slides off Randi's little bed to the floor, where she can stretch out her legs, which are starting to cramp.

888 In those dark days (for they were very dark in this northern country much of the year) all of Laska was ruled by the Good Ole Boys Club. And the three most important of all the Good Ole Boys were Donnie Old, representative to the national congress, Frankie "the Jet" Murkyski, senator-turned-governor, and Teddie Stubbins, senator for eternity.

The old boys loved to pose in front of the awesome northern scenery so the Laskans who elected them would know that they still loved Laska with all their hearts and souls.

"Hey, guys, mind if I move this prop?"

"No problem, we were just leaving, anyway."

For the truth was, the Old Boys were happy in Laundrytown (the national capital) where they had been sent by the good people back home. They hardly ever made it back to Laska. There was far too much important work to do in Laundrytown, with all the other important people, so that even Senator Stubbins couldn't keep track of who was working on his house back in the frozen north or how much it was costing him.