“Be quiet, you’re going to frighten him,” said Cinderella.

“Frighten him?” screamed Drizella.

“It’s just a little mouse. See?” Cinderella scooped the little creature up in her hands and held it up very close to Drizella’s face. Drizella and Anastasia leaped from their chairs and back to their mother.

“Mama, make her take that horrible thing away!” said Drizella.

Lady Tremaine stroked her brooch, trying to find a calm, cool place in her heart so she could handle this matter without getting too angry with her new stepdaughter.

“Girls, girls, please calm down. Now, Cinderella, we can’t have you keeping mice in your pocket. They’re dirty creatures. Get rid of it immediately.”

Cinderella looked confused. “Excuse me, Stepmother, but they aren’t dirty. Look, I’ve even made him something to wear.” She held up the mouse for her stepmother so she could see the trembling creature’s smart little pair of green trousers, his dandy red shirt, and jaunty cap.

“Cinderella! Get that thing out of my face this instant! That all very well may be, but I won’t have you keeping mice in this house, clothed or not. They’re foul, dirty, diseased things! I must insist you take that mouse outside and let it free.”

For the first time, Cinderella looked insolent and was purposely defying her stepmother. “I won’t! The mice are mine and I refuse to let them go. A cat might get him if I put him outside.”

Lady Tremaine willed herself not to slap the girl. “Mice? Are you telling me there is more than this one? Cinderella, I demand you release them all into the garden.”

“No!” she said, putting the frightened mouse back into her pocket and stomping her foot.

“Cinderella! Do as I say! Take that mouse out of your pocket immediately! It’s going to make you sick.”

Cinderella shook her head. “I don’t know what mice are like in London, but they are nothing but safe and friendly in the Many Kingdoms. Now if you’ll excuse me…” she said, turning to leave.

“Cinderella! Don’t you dare walk away from me—”

And just then the mouse jumped out of Cinderella’s pocket and bolted toward Lady Tremaine and her daughters, who jumped back onto the chairs, screaming again.

“Girls! Please calm down! Cinderella, come back here this moment!” Lady Tremaine looked up to see Cinderella leaving the room, and even though she couldn’t see her face, she thought for sure that she was smiling.

“Come on, little one, we mustn’t stay where we’re not wanted,” said Cinderella as she left the room. The mouse scampered along behind her.

After Cinderella left, Lady Tremaine needed Nanny Pinch’s help to calm down Drizella and Anastasia. When they were sitting quietly again and sipping tea, Lady Tremaine took a deep breath.