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Her stepmother cut off her beautiful braids out of jealousy, but she did not know it would make her stepdaughter a queen.
In a small village in Africa, there lived a girl named Lulu. Lulu was very pretty. She had long, thick black braids. Her hair was so beautiful that everyone in the village loved to look at her. All the girls wanted hair like Lulu’s.
Lulu’s mother loved her very much. Every night, her mother combed her long braids and said, “Lulu, your beauty is your light, but your heart is your real crown.”
One sad day, Lulu’s mother became very sick. Lulu held her mother’s hand and cried. She asked, “Mama, will you get better soon?”
Her mother touched Lulu’s face softly.
“Always be kind, my Lulu. That is your greatest beauty,” she whispered.
Then she closed her eyes and never opened them again.
Lulu felt very alone.
Her father, Bako, was a kind man, but he was weak and could not take care of Lulu alone. Soon, he married a woman named Neyoka.
Neyoka had a sharp tongue and a cold heart. Neyoka also had her own daughter named Tamina, who was five years younger than Lulu.
Tamina was spoiled. She never worked. She sat all day painting her nails and watching television. Neyoka loved Tamina and gave her everything.
But from the first day, Neyoka treated Lulu very badly, like a servant.
Every day, Lulu cleaned the house, washed dishes, and cooked food. Her hands became tired, and her back hurt.
One evening, Lulu finished cleaning and felt very hungry. She went to Neyoka with tears in her eyes and said, “Auntie Neyoka, I finished cleaning. Can I eat now?”
Neyoka looked at Lulu coldly and said, “That food is for my daughter, Tamina. Go outside and find something else to eat if you are hungry.”
Lulu went outside quietly. She found some old bread and ate alone under the stars.
She missed her mother and cried softly, whispering, “Mama, why did you leave me?”
One night, after all her work was done, Lulu sat in front of the mirror. She gently combed her beautiful long black braids.
As she looked at her reflection, she smiled sadly and whispered, “Mama, they can take away everything, but they cannot take my hair. This is the only thing you left for me.”
In the village, everyone still admired Lulu’s beauty.
The girls said, “Lulu, you are so beautiful. Your hair is perfect.”
Lulu smiled softly, but her heart was sad because at home, she never heard kind words like these.
Tamina watched Lulu from afar and felt jealous.
She turned to Neyoka and said, “Mother, why do people say Lulu is beautiful? I am better than her.”
Neyoka hugged Tamina tightly.
“You are the best, my dear. Do not worry. Lulu will never be better than you.”
That night, Lulu lay on her small bed holding a picture of her mother. She whispered softly, “Mama, I promise I will always keep my heart kind, just like you told me.”
Lulu closed her eyes, dreaming of happier days, not knowing the challenges waiting ahead.
As Lulu grew older, she became even more beautiful. At twenty-five years old, her beauty was so bright that even without nice clothes or jewelry, people still stopped and stared. They whispered about her beauty wherever she went.
But inside, Lulu still felt sad because at home, Neyoka and Tamina always treated her poorly.
Tamina was now twenty. She never worked. She spent her days painting her nails, watching television, and laughing at Lulu.
One day, Tamina pointed at Lulu and said loudly, “Lulu, even your beauty cannot hide the fact that you are just a maid.”
Lulu felt hurt, but she said nothing. She kept doing her chores, hoping that someday things would change.
One sunny day, a loud voice echoed through the village. It was the town crier.
He shouted, “Listen, everyone! There will be a royal dance at the palace. All unmarried girls must come. The prince will choose his bride at the dance.”
Lulu’s eyes sparkled with hope. Her heart jumped with joy. She ran quickly to Neyoka and said excitedly, “Mama, can I go to the dance too?”
Neyoka turned red with anger. Her voice exploded like thunder.
“How dare you even think about it? You are nothing but a maid. A prince would never look at you.”
Tamina stood beside Neyoka, smirking at Lulu.
She said sharply, “Look at me, Lulu. My face is fit for royalty. Your face is fit for dishwashing.”
Lulu stood tall. She felt brave.
“I will still go. I deserve to dream too,” she said firmly.
Neyoka’s eyes narrowed. She said loudly, “And how will you go? You have no nice dress. Maybe you should go ask your mother’s ghost for one.”
Lulu felt tears coming, but she remembered her mother’s words.
She softly replied, “My mother always told me I was meant for more.”
Neyoka laughed cruelly.
“You think too much of yourself, Lulu. You will never be anything more than a maid.”
That night, Neyoka stayed awake, thinking of ways to make sure Lulu could not go to the dance. Her heart filled with hatred.
She whispered angrily, “Lulu will never be better than my daughter. I must stop her.”
Lulu lay awake too, dreaming about the royal dance. She imagined herself dancing beautifully, just like a princess.
She held tightly to her mother’s picture, whispering, “Mama, I will make you proud. I will not give up.”
Outside, stars twinkled in the sky. They seemed to say, “Stay strong, Lulu. Your dreams are bigger than your troubles.”
But Lulu did not know what was waiting for her. She did not know Neyoka had a cruel plan in mind.
Neyoka’s heart was dark with jealousy and anger. She could not bear the thought of Lulu finding happiness.
As Lulu finally fell asleep, dreaming of beautiful dresses and joyful music, Neyoka smiled a wicked smile.
She whispered softly to herself, “Just wait, Lulu. Tomorrow your dreams will end.”
The day before the dance came quickly. Lulu felt happy. She smiled as she cleaned the house and cooked food. She did all the washing, sweeping, and cooking.