The Lost Slipper – The Turkish Version of the Cinderella Story

Brief Description: The Turkish version of the well-known fairy tale about a girl who lost her slipper at the ball. A story about how kindness and belief in the best can change a life. Suitable for children.

Once upon a time, in a rich city, there lived a girl named Leyla. After her mother died, her father remarried, and a new woman with two daughters came into their house. The stepmother was a cruel woman who made Leyla work from dawn to dusk. Her stepsisters mocked her and called her a "servant."

Despite the hardships, Leyla remained kind-hearted and never complained. Her only joy was watching the birds in the garden, who seemed to understand her sadness and came to sing for her.

One day, a rumor spread through the city: the young prince was hosting a grand ball at his palace to choose a bride. All the girls in the kingdom were invited. The stepmother and her daughters began preparing for the ball, but, of course, Leyla was not invited. She was made to sew dresses for her sisters and clean the house.

In the evening, when the stepmother and her daughters left, Leyla sat on a bench in the garden and cried bitterly. Suddenly, a kind woman appeared in front of her, dressed in silver clothing. "Why are you crying, my child?" she asked.

"I wanted so much to go to the ball, but I was not invited, and now I don’t know how that could even happen," Leyla replied.

The woman smiled and said, "I will help you. But remember, the magic will disappear exactly at midnight." In an instant, Leyla was dressed in a beautiful gown, and at her feet appeared elegant slippers made of golden silk. Outside, there was a carriage drawn by horses.

When Leyla entered the palace, all eyes were on her. The prince, noticing her, immediately invited her to dance. They danced all evening, but when the clock began to strike midnight, Leyla remembered the woman's words and hurried to leave. In her haste, she lost one of her slippers.

The prince found the slipper and swore he would find its owner. He traveled across the city, trying the slipper on every girl. Leyla’s stepsisters also tried to wear it, but unsuccessfully. Finally, the prince arrived at Leyla’s house.

The stepmother locked Leyla in the cellar, but one of the birds she had befriended brought the key to the prince. He freed the girl and asked her to try on the slipper. It fit perfectly, and the prince recognized her. "You were at the ball," he said. "You will be my wife."

Leyla moved into the palace, and her kindness and modesty became known throughout the kingdom. The stepmother and her daughters stayed in their house, regretting their actions.

The Moral of the Story: Kindness and belief in the best always lead to happiness. Even in difficult times, it is important to keep a pure heart.

Questions about the story:

• Why wasn't Leyla invited to the ball?
• How did the kind woman help Leyla?
• What lesson does this story teach?