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Cinderella in the 20th Century |
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by Troop 1363 |
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Troop 1363 is proud to present |
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Cinderella in the |
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20th Century |
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(With apologies to the Brothers Grimm and Clement C. Moore) |
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Once upon a time, long ago and far away (well, it wasn't really that long ago. It was actually quite recent. OK, it was last week. And it wasn't all that far away. It was really kind'a close. Actually, it was in Portland.), there lived a young Girl Scout named Cinderella Jones. Her mother had named her Cinderella after her favorite fairy tale character, but Cinderella preferred to be called Cindy. |
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Cindy's mother and father were on an extended business trip and would be gone for 6 more weeks. Her dad worked for Nike and was responsible for coming up with shoe names to put after the word "Air". Her mother worked for Intel and was responsible for designing "Intel Inside" stickers that were, according to her mother, on all the best computers. Being creative people, they would occasionally go on trips to exotic places like New Jersey to do research. Cindy often went with them on these trips, but because this trip was so long and was during the school year, she was staying with her aunt while her parents were gone. |
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Cindy's aunt did not like Cindy very much. This was probably because Cindy was always polite and well mannered and always had a smile for everyone (I will do my best to be�..friendly and helpful, considerate and caring�.), while her own daughters were moody, sloppy, and only cared about themselves. The daughters were only 1 year older than Cindy, so they had many of the same interests. |
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While Cindy was staying with her aunt, she had to sleep down in the basement. It was cold and spooky down there, especially at night. The furnace made these funny sounds and there were spider webs in the corners. Now Cindy was not afraid of many things, but spiders were at the top of the short list. The thought of being in the same room with a spider was almost enough to make Cindy scream. But Cindy did not complain and slept down in the basement every night (I will do my best to be...courageous and strong...). |
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Cindy's aunt also made Cindy do chores around the house. These chores included cleaning the house, washing the dishes, feeding the dog and cat, and making the beds. It also included getting breakfast ready. And not just any breakfast. Every morning, Cindy awoke at 6:00 AM and rode her bicycle down to Noah's Bagels to get everyone a bagel and some shmear. Then she rode across the street to the Starbuck's Coffee and bought her aunt a large hazelnut latte decaf with whip. She rode back home and set the bagels on the table, usually just in time for her two cousins to come out of their rooms all sleepy eyed and complain that they had wanted a plain bagel today instead of the usual chocolate chip bagel that Cindy had bought. And they also wanted the veggie shmear, not the plain. They never once thanked Cindy for getting up early and buying the bagels. |
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This continued for several days. Then one day, Cindy and her cousins each received an invitation in the mail. It was to a Christmas party at Chuck E. Cheeses. The invitation said that there would be a very special musical guest at the party. The party would be on Christmas Eve, which was only two days away. Now Cindy was very excited about the party. She loved to sing and dance. Her cousins initially had no interest in the party, but when they thought that Cindy might get to go and they would have to stay at home, they changed their minds. |
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For the next two days, the girls planned everything that they would wear. The cousins wanted to wear these tight leather miniskirts that they had bought without their mother knowing. They also planned to wear sliver and gold sequined tube tops. Cindy's wardrobe was a bit more reserved (I will do my best to�. respect myself�.). It consisted of green knee length skirt with red ribbon at the hem. She also would wear a red T-shirt. Her cousins were jealous of her outfit, because she looked so nice in it. "You're lucky that your Mom buys you such nice clothes" they told her. She offered to help them go through their wardrobe and put together a stunning outfit too (I will do my best to�..be a sister to every Girl Scout), but they just told her to "Go mind your own business". |
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Her cousins were so upset at how nice Cindy looked that they decided to ruin her outfit. When Cindy went to finish some last minute Christmas shopping, one cousin ripped all the ribbon off the hem of her skirt while the other washed her red T-shirt in hot water with lots of bleach. The skirt looked ragged and the T- shirt was faded and had shrunk. The cousins carefully put Cindy's clothes away so that Cindy wouldn't notice the damage until it was time to get dressed. |
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The cousins then tried to get their mother to ground Cindy so that she couldn't go to the party. "She got the wrong kind of bagels this morning, and the wrong kind of shmear too!" they complained. Now their mother was in a bind. She really didn't want Cindy going to the party either, but couldn't ground Cindy because of the bagels. She had given Cindy the list the night before and Cindy had gotten everything on the list. She pondered the problem for a while, then told her daughters "I'm sorry, but I can't ground Cindy for getting what I told her to get." "Mother, please!" the cousins whined. "But," their mother continued, "she will have to finish all her chores." When the cousins saw the smirk on their mothers face, they knew that Cindy would not be going to the party. |
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When Cindy arrived home from shopping, it was nearly 4:00 in the afternoon. The party was to start at 8:00 that evening, Christmas Eve. She planned on eating a light meal to hold her over until the pizza party and then get ready to go. That was when her aunt gave her the bad news. |
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"Cindy" she said, "you know that it is your job to clean the house." "Yes I know, Auntie. I cleaned it this morning." replied Cindy. "Well you didn't do a very good job." said her aunt. "Just look at the ornaments on the Christmas tree. I want you to take each one off , wash it, and put it back on the tree before you go to the party. That includes the tinsel." |
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Cindy's heart fell. The tree was very large, at least 12 feet tall and covered with ornaments. What wasn't covered with ornaments was covered with tinsel. Now for those of you not familiar with tinsel, it is the skinny, foil-like stuff the is hung off the branches. It is sometimes referred to as "icicles". It is very difficult to put on and even harder to remove. It is usually left on the tree when the tree is taken down. And Cindy had to take it all off, clean it, and put it back on again! |
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Cindy didn't think that she could get the ornaments and tinsel cleaned in time to make it to the party. However, it was a job that her aunt had given her, so she would do the best she could to complete it (I will do my best to.�respect authority�). So she changed into work clothes and began to clean the ornaments. |
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Three hours later, Cindy was only half way up the tree. Her cousins were ready to go, decked out in their miniskirts and tube tops. They teased her as they walked out the door. "We'll save you a slice." they shouted as they climbed into the car with their mother. "Now, be nice to Cindy." their mother scolded them, but the smirk never left her face. |
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Cindy was now all alone in the house. She felt like crying, but decided to try and get the rest of the tree done so she could go to the party. It took her another two hours to finish. Then she took a quick shower and took her outfit out to put on. When she saw the T-shirt, she couldn't believe her eyes. And the skirt with its ragged hem caused her to break out in tears. She knew that she couldn't go to the party now. She had never felt so bad on the night before Christmas. |
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The house was very quiet. Here it was, the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (Good thing, because Cindy hated mice almost as much as spiders). Cindy felt very tired and decided to go to bed. So she settled down to take a short nap. |
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When all at once there arose such a clatter, she sprang from her bed to see what was the matter. Away up the stairs she flew like a flash, pulled open the curtains, and threw up the sash ( the part of the window that moves up and down is the sash). The moon was not shining because of the rain, which made seeing anything really a pain. |
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When what to her squinting eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh and nine tiny reindeer. With a little old driver, who did not pause, Cindy knew in a moment it must be Santa Claus. |
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More rapid then the recovered bald eagle his coursers they came. And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: "Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On Donder and Blitzen! And don't forget Rudolph! No! Don't forget Rudolph! We can't forget Rudolph, he's our leader you know! To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall. But don't go any higher! I don't want to fall!" |
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As wet leaves before a leaf blower won't stick (Which makes using a leaf blower really quite slick!), so up to the housetop the coursers they flew with a sleigh full of toys and Santa Claus too. And then in a twinkling, Cindy heard on the roof, the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. |
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As she drew in her head and was turning around, down the chimney Santa Claus came with a bound. He was dressed all in faux fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. |
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His eyes how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, which the Washington Park Rose Garden would love to vary. |
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The hood of his coat was drawn up with a chain, in a futile attempt to keep out the rain. A Starbuck's stirrer he held tight in his teeth, the coffee stain on his coat looked just like a wreath. |
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He had a broad face and a firm, flat belly. He likes to watch exercise shows on the telly. He was fit and firm, a right healthy old elf. Cindy gasped when she saw him, in spite of herself. |
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Evidently, Santa was not expecting anyone to be in the house. When Cindy gasp, he suck up his hands and yelled "Don't shoot!" |
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"I'm sorry, Santa." said Cindy, "I didn't mean to frighten you." Santa turned around slowly and looked at Cindy. A wink of her eye and a twist of her head soon gave Santa to know he had nothing to dread. "That's OK, Cindy." he said "With some of these new home protection systems, the police show up almost as soon as I get here." |
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Now Cindy was surprised. "You know who I am?" she asked. "Of course I do." said Santa. "And I know that you have been nice, not naughty, this year. But what are you doing home? I thought you had a pizza party to go to tonight." |
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"I did," replied Cindy, "but after I finished cleaning all the Christmas tree ornaments, I found that all my party clothes had been ruined. I don't know who would have done such a thing. And I was really looking forward to going to the party tonight, too." |
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"So, you need a party dress? I think I may have just the thing in this bag. Now lets see, where is it?" And Santa began to rummage around in his sack. He pulled out a beautiful tea length dress. It was covered in pink sequins. "I think this is your size. Please go try it on while I look in this bag some more." |
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Cindy took the dress and went downstairs to her room to try it on. When she had the dress on and looked in the mirror, she couldn't believe her eyes! The dress was gorgeous! The sequins shimmered in the light. She loved the way it looked as she danced and twirled around her room. She ran upstairs to show Santa. |
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"Doesn't it look fantastic!" she said. Santa beamed when he say her happy face. "And here is something to go with it." he said. From behind his back he produced a pair of sparkly pink boots. They matched the dress perfectly. "I was going to give these to Mrs. Claus, but I think they look better on you." |
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Cindy took the boots and put them on. They felt like wings on her feet. "I could dance all night in these" she said. |
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Santa shook his head. "Unfortunately, you won't be able to." he said. "When the clock strikes 12 at midnight tonight, the dress will turn back into you cleaning clothes. So promise me that you will be home by then." |
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"Oh, I promise." said Cindy as she twirled around the room. She stopped short. "Santa, I am very thankful for the wonderful dress and boots, but how am I going to get to the party? I can't ride by bike in this dress. And the rain will ruin my boots." |
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Santa thought for a moment. "My sleigh is only big enough for me and the toys." he said. "But, I've got an idea." He reached into his pocket. "Here is $2.90. That should be enough to get you an all zones bus ticket, there and back." |
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Cindy took the money and gave Santa a big hug. Santa was a little embarrassed by that. He turned with a jerk, and laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But Cindy heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night." |
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Cindy slowly shut the window, the one she had opened when this all started. She put her bus fare in her purse, put on her raincoat and walked down to the bus stop. Cindy didn't mind riding the bus. She thought that it was a very convenient way to get around the city. It also didn't pollute as much as a car. (I will do my best to �use resources wisely�) |
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Soon, Cindy was at Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Parlor. The place was full. She walked around and saw many people she knew. She even saw her aunt and cousins. They didn't recognize her in her wonderful new dress. |
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As she was walking in front of the stage, the music stopped and a spotlight shown on the curtain as it parted. Out steps none other than Mr. Chuck E. Cheese himself. "Merry Christmas everyone!" he shouted. "I know that you have all been trying to figure out who our special musical guest is. So without further ado, here are the Backstreet Boys!!!!" |
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Cindy couldn't believe her eyes. The Backstreet Boys were her favorite singing group. She knew all their songs by heart and listened to their CD everyday. And here they were, right in front of her! There was Brian, Nick, A. J., Kevin, and Howie. Cindy stared in shock and surprise. What a great Christmas party this was going to be! |
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The Boys started off with the song "Larger Than Life". Brian sang "I may run and hide�". His voice filled the pizza parlor. Everyone's eyes were on him. Cindy was singing the words to herself. "�But let me tell you now�" As she sang, she started to sway with the music. The next song was "Don't Wanna Lose You Now". Nick started it out. "I never thought that I would lose my mind�" Without realizing it, Cindy was now singing out loud. Softy at first, but gradually increasing the volume. Soon she was singing with her full, rich voice. And the more she sang, the more she danced. |
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A. J. was the first to notice her singing and dancing. During a break between songs, he mentioned her to Brian. "She has a fantastic voice!" he said. "She sings our songs better than we do." Brian said that he would listen to her during the next song. |
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Cindy was almost speechless when Brian came over and stood before her when the next song started. But soon, she was singing and dancing again, just like before. When the song ended, Brian motioned for her to approach the stage. "You've got a dynamite singing voice," he said. "Would you like to finish the set out with us?" |
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"Are you asking me to sing with you?" Cindy asked, not believing her ears. "You bet I am." he replied, and held out a hand to help her up on the stage. "What's your name?" he asked. "Cinderella" she replied, "but please call me Cindy." "OK, Cindy it is." Then he picked up a microphone. "Hey everyone, I'd like you to meet the newest member of the Baskstreet Boys! Her she is , Cindy!!!" |
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When Cindy's aunt and cousins heard this, they looked up at the stage and their mouths dropped open. "What is she doing here?" her aunt wondered. "How did she get to meet the Boys?" hissed one cousin. "That should be me up there." whined the other, "I'm the best singer in the family." "No your not, I am" answered the first. "Yes I am." "No your not." Pretty soon, they had forgotten all about Cindy and were arguing back and forth. "No your not." "Yes I am." Actually, both of their voices sounded like smoke alarms, shrill and piercing. |
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By this time, the concert was over. Cindy had sang and danced the whole night and was as happy as she had ever been. She said to the Boys "Thank you for everything. Tonight was one of the best times I've ever had. I'll never forget it as long as I live! Thanks again. Goodbye." |
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"Do you have to leave now?" asked Howie. "We were kinda hoping that you might join our band permanently." As he said this, the clock began to strike midnight. DONG! DONG! Cindy looked at her watch in horror. With all the fun and excitement, she had forgot her promise to Santa. "I'm sorry, I've got to go." she said and ran for the door. |
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The Backstreet Boys just stood motionless for a moment. "Come on, guys." said Kevin "We can't let someone who sings that well get away." And they all began to run after Cindy. They got out of the pizza parlor just in time to see her run around a corner about a block away. "There she goes!" cried A. J. And away they ran to follow her. |
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The clock was still ringing as Cindy ran. DONG! DONG! She had lost count of how many times it had rang. But she know that she had to get away. She ran around a corner and saw a bus at the bus stop. "If I can only get to the bus" she thought, "I'll be safe then." She ran even faster, her eyes glued on the bus. That was why she didn't see the pothole in the road. (Editor's note: I realize that the idea of a pothole in a street in Portland is totally preposterous. Please bear with me as I take artistic license.) Cindy stepped right into the pothole, and as she tripped, the sparkly sequined boot was pulled off her foot. |
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She quickly picked herself up and was about to reach for her boot, when she saw the Backstreet Boys come around the corner. "After her!" they yelled. She ran for the bus. Just as she climbed aboard, the clock struck its last note. Poof! Her beautiful dress was gone and she was again wearing the clothes that she cleaned the house in. She dropped her money in the fare box and walked to the back of the bus. As she sat down, she noticed that she still had the one sparkly, sequined boot on. She closed her eyes and whispered "Thank you, Santa". |
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The Backstreet Boys had seen Cindy get on the bus, but the bus pulled away before they could get there. "Boy, I really hate to lose her." said Nick. "She could really sing." "And I bet she could teach us some new dance steps too." added A.J. "Hey look" said Kevin bending down. "Isn't this her boot?" He held the boot up for the others to see. "It sure is!" said Brian. "I remember them from when I helped her climb up on the stage." |
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"I've got a great idea!" said Howie. "For our next music video, why don't we show the boot and ask for the owner to contact us?" "That's a great idea!" said Brian. "If she does contact us, maybe we could talk her into joining the band." |
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Several weeks pass. Cindy's parents are now home and she is back living with them. She doesn't tell them about her exciting Christmas Eve. They wouldn't believe her. She is not really certain that she believes it herself. If she didn't have the sparkly, sequined boot hidden in her closet, she would have to think that it was all only a dream. But dream or not, she does have her memories. |
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The last weeks with her aunt and cousins had not been easy. She still had to get up every morning to get bagels and coffee. Her aunt was always making her do chores. She had no time to watch any television, so she never saw the new Backstreet Boys video. So when she finally saw the video at her house, she was surprised. The song was called Cinderella's Slipper. It was sung by Prince Charming (Brian) and was about how the Prince was trying to find Cinderella, but was having no luck. But the really shocking thing was that the slipper was Cindy's sparkly, sequined boot. At the end of the song, the Backstreet Boys asked that the owner of the boot to please contact them. |
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Cindy was astonished. She wasn't sure what to do. She decided to show her parents the video and the boot and ask them what she should do. That night she had her parents sit down in the living room and told them the story about her wonderful Christmas Eve. She told them about meeting Santa Claus, getting the dress, meeting and singing with the Backstreet Boys, and about her hasty retreat. When she was done, her parents looked at her with wide-eyed wonder. They didn't know what to believe. The story was just too fantastic. |
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Her father finally said "That's quite a story, dear. But I thought you said that you had a problem. I don't see any problem so far." |
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"I was just getting to that." Cindy said. "Please watch this music video." She showed them the new Backstreet Boys video. |
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"Now I see where you got this story." said her mother. "I know that the Backstreet Boys are your favorite group. But you expect us to believe that they want you to join them? I know I named you Cinderella, but things like that don't happen in real life." |
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"But Mom," Cindy cried, "I can prove it." She ran to her room and dug the other boot out from the back of her closet. When she showed it to her parents, they didn't know what to say. "That really is the same boot, isn't it?" said her father. Her mother couldn't say anything. She just looked from the boot in Cindy's hands to the one on the TV screen. |
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"What should I do?" Cindy asked. |
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"Well, would you like to join the Backstreet Boys?" asked her mother, finally recovering her composure. |
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"Oh, yes!" answered Cindy. "I think it would be so much fun to sing with them." |
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"Then I think you should contact them and tell them that." said her father. "In fact, why don't you send them an e-mail right now." |
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They went into the den to the family computer. First, Cindy's mother scanned the boot into a Jpeg file. Then Cindy logged onto the Internet and called up the Backstreet Boys web site (www.bboys.com). She clicked on "Contact the Backstreet Boys" button and sent them an e-mail giving them her phone number. She also attached the Jpeg file of the boot. "Now we wait." said her father. |
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"I'm beginning to think that this wasn't such a good idea." said Nick as he looked at all the mail and phone messages from people claiming to be the owner of the boot in their video. "I have to agree with you." said A. J. "We've checked out every one of these claims. Most of them don't even know in which city we found the boot. The few that do, don't have a clue about how we came to find it." |
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Just then, their manager Michael came in. "You guys won't believe this one. Some girl up in Portland has gone to the trouble of making a boot just like the one in your video. She even sent an e-mail with a picture of the boot. I can't believe the trouble some people will go to just to meet you guys." |
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Brian looked up with a start. "Did you say Portland? Lets see that picture." Michael handed over a print out of the boot. They all gathered around for a look. "I've got a very good feeling about this." said Howie. "Did she say how to contact her?" |
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"Yeah," said Michael "here's her phone number." |
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Kevin grabbed the number and ran to the phone. As he dialed the number he said "Cross your fingers, guys." |
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"Hello" said the voice on the other end of the line. |
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"Hi. This is Kevin with the Backstreet Boys. May I speak with the person who claims to own the boot in our video." |
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"This is she." replied Cindy. |
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"Could you please tell me how we came to have your boot?" asked Kevin |
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Cindy proceeded to recount the story of how she sang with them and then had to run off. She explained how she stepped in a pothole and the boot slipped off and how she hopped on at bus to get away. |
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"Sounds good so far." said Kevin. "One last question, what's your name?" |
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"Cinderella. But I like to be called Cindy." |
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Kevin's heart almost missed a beat. "It really you, isn't it?" |
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"Yes it is." replied Cindy. |
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So when the school year ended, Cindy got to go on tour with the Backstreet Boys. They even sang some songs that she wrote. The CD that they made sold over 2 million copies, and was number 1 on the charts for 6 weeks. Cindy's parents even went along as chaperones. They claimed that they were doing it as research for their jobs, but Cindy thought that they really liked the music, even if they were too embarrassed to admit it. |
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The End |
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