Finding Cinderella

Chapter 4: David's Solution

David was earnestly scurrying around  his place, shoveling food down his throat.

"The one day." David grumbled as he hopped into his jeans. It only made him look like he was doing some weird funky chicken dance.

David cursed himself for allowing himself to finish his Sharknado movie marathon. David didn't even finish the fourth movie before he fell asleep on the couch. Consequently David didn't turn on his alarm, causing him to over sleep by a half hour.

"Hello? Who's there?" A voice called out from around the corner.

David sighed as he zipped up his dress pants. "It's me, Mama."

David's mother entered the kitchen, rubbing the bridge of her nose where her glasses lay usually.

"Where are you off to? Do you have a date?" David's mother asked wearily.

David smiled. "Not a date, Mama. I start work today and I forgot to turn on my alarm." David said as he checked his appearance.

His blonde hair brushed over neatly (somewhat), his acne was flaring up, and his eyes looked a bit blood shot.

Oh God I look like I got wasted last night! David thought in horror.
David knew that didn't happen the night before. David had never had sip of alcohol in his life. Hopefully his boss would believe that too.

"Oh right, Disney World." David's mother mumbled and nodded.

David gave his mother a kiss on the forehead, grabbed his keys and toast, and walked out the door.
************************************

"You're five minutes late!" The bird lady from earlier said as David sprinted down the hall.

David looked at his watch.

"Nope ten minutes early!" David called back to her as he entered the room.

Mr. Pershiro turned around and smiled at David. "Five minutes late, Mr. Koppelberger."

David once again looked at his watch. "My watch says I'm ten minutes early sir." David said, carefully wondering his words so he didn't get fired on the first day.

"Don't you have a dash clock in your car?" Mr. Pershiro asked, raising an eyebrow.

David fiddled nervously with his tie. "The clock in my car said it was currently 4:37 when I ran in here."

"Did you know your watch was slow?" Mr. Pershiro asked.

David shook his head no. "The battery must be dying." David tried.

Mr. Pershiro looked David square in the eyes.

Oh no. David thought as he felt his heart begin to race. I'm going to get fired on the first day!

"You do know there isn't a Disney Prince with blonde hair?" Mr. Pershiro said.

What did he say? Those hadn't been the words David had been expecting.

"N-no s-sir." David stuttered out. In all honesty, David had never watched a Disney Princess movie in his life. He read about them on Wikipedia so he knew the back stories.

In David's opinion, there were way too many Disney Princesses.

Mr. Pershiro chuckled at David. "You may need to dye your hair."

I-I'm not fired? David thought in relief. "Kristoff was blonde." David said, trying to hide the relief in his voice.

"True that maybe. However the outfit that Kristoff wears is quite uncomfortable for Florida weather. Plus, we already have someone as Kristoff." Mr. Pershiro said.

"Do you guys just rotate people monthly or weekly as princes?" David said, trying to help forget the fact he was late.

Mr. Pershiro ignored David's question. "For now we will have you be Prince Philip, from Sleeping Beauty." David was informed. "How you'll change your hair is beyond me."

"Don't the princesses wear wigs?" David asked.

Mr. Pershiro picked his head. "Pardon?"

David quickly repeated what he just said. "People like Rapunzel and Elsa and Ariel. There is no way that hair is their real hair. It's a wig. Do we have any for the princes?"

Mr. Pershiro pursed his lips together. "That is true. We use wigs sometimes."

David smiled slightly.

"If I have to dye my hair I will, but for now if I can be a prince who we have a wig for. That'd be preferable." David said.

Mr. Pershiro motioned for David to follow him as he led David to a room. When the light was turned on David gasped. The room was filled with costumes, wigs, make-up.

"Wow." David said. He was very impressed by the amount of things needed to put all of this on.

"Here we are!" Mr. Pershiro said in triumph.

David drew his attention back to Mr. Pershiro. Mr. Pershiro held up a wig with short brown hair. "This should be the right size." Mr. Pershiro said mumbling to himself.

"Someone should be able to help you with the costume. What we want you to do is to interact with Elizabeth, who will be Aurora, and you two will go to the children. Interact with the children together as a couple. The children may ask you to kiss each other." Mr. Pershiro suddenly gave David a serious look. "You are comfortable with that right?"

David felt his cheeks flush. Kiss a girl who would be pretty as a princess? Kiss a princess? "S-sure." David said, feeling a stupid grin engulfing his face.

"Do you know the song 'Once Upon a Dream' from Sleeping Beauty?" Mr. Pershiro asked.

"I actually do. My mom would sing it to me as a child." David said with a small sad smile.

"Right then, let's get you ready." Mr. Pershiro said.

Right like that a knock came to the door.

"Ah, must be our costume stylist." Mr. Pershiro said. He walked over and opened the door.

"Beatrice, lovely to see you."

"Thank you, Billy."

David felt his heart rise into his throat. Beatrice was none other than the bird lady from before.

"This is David Koppelberger, he will be Prince Philip." Mr. Pershiro said introducing the two of them.

The two shook hands.

"We've met." Beatrice said, distaste obvious in her voice.

David tried his best to wave it off with with a smile.

"I'll leave you two to it then." Mr. Pershiro said. He gave a polite nod to the two of them.

"Beatrice." A nod to her. "David." A nod to David. With that he was off.

"Sit down, young man. We don't have much time." Beatrice said.

David nodded and gulped.

David did exactly as he was told as Beatrice did his make-up and put the wig on. She even had to (Beatrice said she had to) assist him in putting on the costume.

When they were done, David didn't even recognize him.

"I-I'm a prince." David said in awe.