Cinderella

My family loves Disneyland and Disney World. It has been a joy to share with my grandchildren over the years memories I will always treasure. They enjoy the rides, but they love the characters. One of their favorites is Cinderella.

I read a story the other day about an episode that once happened in Cinderella's Castle at Disney World. Families were crowded in the room waiting for Cinderella's appearance. She made a dramatic entrance and the children excitedly crowded around her. 

Whoever hired the young woman to play the role of Cinderella found a remarkable match. She was perfect. Flawless skin; beautiful face; bright eyes and smile; and, she was costumed exquisitely. She looked as if the cartoon character had come to life.

The children wanted to touch and hug her. She smiled down at them and the room was electric with excitement for everyone except two boys, apparently brothers, who stood next to a far wall, away from the other children. The older boy held the hand of the younger, much smaller boy, whose body and face were disfigured.

The look in the young boy's eyes was that of yearning. How he wanted to be with Cinderella. How he wanted to be a part of other children. But he held back, probably out of fear, because he had likely been hurt too many times before by children who didn't understand his disfigurement.

But unexpectedly, Cinderella turned and saw the boys. And she must have noticed the longing in the little one's face, for she slowly made her way through the throng, inching toward the far wall.

Then something wonderful happened. Cinderella did the most remarkable thing, something I'm sure she never learned in Cinderella Training Class. She bent down and kissed the little boy's face. He smiled a big and beautiful smile. Cinderella kissed him!

Could anything be so wonderful? Cinderella kissed him. Out of all of the children in that room, Cinderella kissed him. No matter what happens to him, he'll always have that-Cinderella kissed him.

Now when he looks into the mirror he will always see the face that Cinderella kissed looking back. Who knows... for months, for years, maybe forever stings and barbs of life will hurt a little less and he will stand a bit taller and feel a little more special. He'll never forget that something magnificent happened the day that Cinderella kissed him.