The yellow taxicab screeched to a halt. Cindy handed the driver a twenty-dollar bill and jumped out. Wow! New York! She searched for her fairy godmother’s location on the address board. The elevator took her to the fortieth floor. Goldie Maxi-Mum, Romance Counsellor in large gold letters. This must be the place!
The receptionist greeted her with a red lipstick smile and ushered her into the office. Was that really her old benefactor behind the desk? Gone was the white gauzy gown, the rhinestone tiara and the flowing golden hair. Instead, a well-coiffed brunette in a tailored black suit rose and wrapped Cindy in a warm embrace.
“Dear girl, it has been so long. I got your email. So it didn’t work out?”
“Fairy godmother! I hardly recognised you! I always thought of you as being the traditional type. The real McCoy.”
“Cindy, please call me Goldie. I have moved on. This is the twenty-first century and I have discovered Prada, the only way to dress for success. Now how can I help you?”
“I was devastated to find Beauregard’s single-shoe collection in his dresser’s secret drawer. Souvenirs from his many affairs.”
Golda keyed in Beauregard: his file came up. “Yes, Cindy, he has an incurable foot fetish. You are going to have to go independent. Seek a career. It‘s your best choice.”
“I had hoped to find a new partner. I thought that you could help me. You got me into this mess in the first place.”
“Cindy, I only did my part. You were a willing participant. A naive young girl who believed that the Prince would bring you everlasting joy. Fortunately, the myth lives on. And you can turn it to your advantage!"
“I am flat broke. Beauregard squandered his money on his lady loves.”
“Cindy, the experience made you wiser. I see possibilities in you; it just so happens that I need an executive assistant. Now first, you will need a complete makeover. You have let yourself go. I am shocked with your appearance.”
“I fell into a depression when I discovered the awful truth.”
“We are going to change all that. I am willing to finance your makeover and provide you with a suitable wardrobe. Then we will take it from there.”
“I knew that I could count on you. They didn’t call you “fairy godmother” for nothing.”
“Please, my dear, Goldie is the name. Take a look at these files. All these women are searching for true romance.”
“Amazing! I mean like thousands of them!”
“Yes, Cindy, the magical belief in Prince Charming never goes out of style. Clients can connect with us via Facebook, Twitter or through our website. Hey girl, have you caught my midnight special on Fox? Technology makes it easy. No need to wander around in the dark looking for a rotting pumpkin to transform into a glass coach. Glass slippers are so passé. A click of the mouse has taken on a different meaning. Not the real live ones, often so reluctant to be coachmen. Dear Cinderella, the times, they are a-changin’. Glad to have you on our team. This new partnership calls for martinis—nothing but Grey Goose will do.”
