A Fucked Up Fairytale

The cobbled-stoned streets were covered in crystalized snowflakes, icy, and treacherous for passers-by yet full of excitement as the New Year festivities began. The Little Matchbox Girl, named after her long passed Grandmother Ella had been forced out into the gaiety of the holiday to sell matches, barefoot and without a coat by her brutal, drunk of a father; not to earn money for shoes, even used ones, or too big would have pleased the bashful, impoverished child. But for more ale for his drunken pleasure.

People looked at her with pity yet none bought any matches.

In despair she found her way to an alley where some beggers and homeless had a bonfire. They welcomed her to warm her feet and one of the women had an uncanny resemblance to her dear grandmother. The toothless women wrapped Ella's feet in wool scarves offered to her by the other's with big hearts. Around her neck she placed an old stringed key, “it’s magic,” she grinned as she whispered her secret. “But only one wish will be granted before sunrise, choose carefully,” she warned Ella.

Back at the two room cottage Ella's Pappa began to grow in his rage, soon his jug of ale would be empty. Where was this no good child?

Ella thankful for the kindness of strangers made her way home thinking about what she should wish for. She was hungry and fruit and bread would be nice, she was freezing, shoes and going to school like the other girls would be even better. She could see in the window her bearded father, pacing by the fire, his face twisted with rage. Without thought she said out loud, I wish Pappa was dead. As she opened the door there lay his lifeless body.

As she began to roll his body into the fire, the key around her neck began to tremble. Ella cried out, startled, as several gold coins fell from Pappa’s trousers.

Ella ran to the alley and ushered the toothless woman and her friends for the biggest feast they had ever seen. Turns out, pappa had a good side after all, and it was tender and juicy, best served with cranberry sauce.