Cinder-Ella

"Once upon a time, there was a girl called Ella. She was very poor and miserable because she was scared that nobody would marry her. She was too poor to own a bed, so she spent a lot of time crying in her fireplace, so everyone called her Cinder-Ella. One day there was a big chagigah in town and Cinder-Ella davened that she should meet her Chosen there. Her biggest problem (a rachmanus) was that she didn't have anything to wear. In the end, she went to the local gemach and borrowed a beautiful gown and went to the chagigah. Indeed, her soon-to-be-Chosen was there, he noticed her and sought her out via matchmakers, who in turn contacted Cinder-Ella, who agreed to go out with him and they liked each other and got married. He was the richest boy in town and after that she never had reason to cry in the fireplace anymore and started a gemach of her own.

Moral of the story: If you don't get up and do something about your sad situation, then nothing will change."

published in Mishpacha magazine

Being a realist(actually a pessimist), I have another ending to the story. The glass slipper didn't fit, so poor Cinder-Ella returned to her fireplace. As the years flew by, and her single status hadn't changed, she continually said, "I don't know why I am still single. But, what I do know is that all is according to G-d's master plan and gam zu letova, everything is for the best. I thank you, Hashem for giving me this nisayon, as it is an opportunity for spiritual grwoth."