The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

BED-TIME STORY

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL NAMED CINDY WHO
ALWAYS WANTED TO OWN A PAIR OF MAGIC DANCING SHOES SO
THAT SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO DANCE TO HER HEART'S CONTENT.
ONE NIGHT, CINDY WAS LYING AWAKE IN HER BED AND A FAIRY
GODMOTHER APPEARED TO HER AND GAVE HER A PAIR OF SHINY RED
DANCING SHOES, WHICH WERE SUPPOSED TO MAKE YOU DANCE
FOREVER AND EVER. THE ONLY THING WAS THAT THE GODMOTHER
SAID, "YOU MUST TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF THE SHOES, FOR IF
YOU AREN'T CAREFUL WITH THEM, THEY WILL DANCE AWAY BY
THEMSELVES AND NEVER COME BACK." CINDY PROMISED TO ALWAYS
TAKE CARE OF THE SHOES, AND NEVER LET THEM BE NEGLECTED.
EVERY DAY SHE WOULD PUT ON THE SHOES WHEN SHE CAME HOME
FROM SCHOOL AND DANCE THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ALWAYS
HAPPY AND FREE. ONE DAY THOUGH, CINDY WAS IN SUCH A HURRY
TO GET OUTSIDE AND PLAY WITH HER FRIENDS THAT SHE THREW
ASIDE THE DANCING SHOES AND LEFT THEM IN THE MUD NEAR THE
HOUSE. WHEN SHE CAME BACK, SHE FOUND THAT THEY WERE GONE
AND HAD DANCED OFF BY THEMSELVES TO THE LAND OF NEVER
RETURN. TODAY, THEY ARE STILL THERE WAITING FOR SOME
OTHER LITTLE GIRL WHO WILL LOVE THEM AND TAKE CARE OF
THEM--THE MAGIC RED DANCING SHOES.

Submitter comment: GIRL MISTREATS DANCING SHOES. THEY NOW AWAIT A GIRL WHO WILL TAKE
CARE OF THEM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW

Date learned: 03-27-1971