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Goodness pays
Once upon a time there lived two ugly sisters, Maria and Sofia, with their mother. Sofia was a good girl and always obeyed her elders but Maria was just the opposite.
One day their mother asked them to fetch some fruits and groceries from the market. Maria was quick to make an excuse. “But Mom, I’m doing my homework as you asked me to do,” she said, and so Sofia agreed to go by herself.
As the market was far, Sofia sat down on a footpath on the way to rest her legs for a few minutes. Suddenly, she noticed a little girl who was crying. Shocked, Sofia turned to her. “Who are you, little girl, and why are you alone?” she asked.
“I am Hadia and I am eight years old. I am alone because my dear mother left me and this world after an accident. My step-mother and her two daughters are no different from Cinderella’s. I am merely a servant to them. Will you help me, Sofia?” Hadia asked after narrating her story.
“Of course, I will, Hadia. What can I do for you?”
“They have sent me to bring them water from the well — not because we don’t have it but just for the sake of torturing me. Will you be kind enough to fill this bucket for me?” Hadia pleaded.
Sofia never hesitated to do a good turn and thus she readily helped Hadia. Hadia was very happy and just before they were about to part, she gave Sofia a surprise. She transformed into a fairy, waved her wand magic over Sofia and said, “Sofia, I am a fairy and was just testing you. I like helpful children like you and from now on no one will dare call you ugly for I have made you beautiful. Oh, and yes, you don’t need to go to the market now.” She tapped her wand and Sofia’s basket was full of fruits and groceries. Then, before Sofia could react, she disappeared.
Sofia ran joyfully home and told Maria and her mother about the experience. Maria was very jealous and went to the market the next day. When she reached the same footpath, she waited for a fairy or a little girl named Hadia. Instead, an old woman (who was really the fairy) came to her and asked her to carry something heavy to her home. Maria told her off scornfully and pushed her roughly so that she fell down.
When the woman stood up, she was no longer the old woman but the fairy. She looked at Maria and said, “Very good. Let me give you something very good and nice.” She took her basket, filled it with stones and covered it with leaves. After that she said, “That’s not enough for you. Let me make you beautiful.” And she made her even uglier.
When Maria reached home and announced the gifts of the fairy, her mother exclaimed, “Oh, dear Maria, you are not at all a pretty sight.” When the basket of gifts was opened, there were only stones inside. Maria was embarrassed and hid her face in shame. Her mother consoled her gently. “Maria, be honest. Were you greedy for these gifts, jealous of your sister and bad to anyone?” She asked.
“I’m sorry for all this, Mama. I’ll never do so again. Oh my God, I look hideous,” she cried.
Days and weeks passed and gradually Maria left her old habits. Slowly, the beauty of goodness began to sparkle on her face and that alone made her pretty. Yes, miracles do happen.
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