Marie Claire

On the outskirts of a bustling city, in a large residential building with a hundred tiny apartments, lived a humble taxi driver with his younger sister. These two young folks had no one else in the world, and the diligent taxi driver worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk, in rain and snow, so that they could both live a decent life. He was a quiet and calm man, but with a scar on his face, and she... She was called Marie Claire.

She was a stunning, dark-haired girl, always wearing sneakers, ripped jeans and an irresistible smile on her face. Guys were crazy about her, but she paid no attention to that. She had just finished acting school and was eager for global fame.

By a chance or not, exactly on her birthday, she got a role in a small unknown theater. It was a gloomy building covered with graffiti and located in a dangerous part of the town. Cats roamed around the trash cans, and rats scurried along the walls, but… right at the entrance, there stood a beautiful poster featuring Marie Claire in a charming pose. She was clad in a beautiful white dress with red flowers, red high-heeled shoes and her irresistible smile. To top it all off, the poster proudly proclaimed in large letters: Sensational Marie Claire!

The brother was immensely proud. He boasted to everyone: “My sister is an actress, you see? Have you seen her on stage? It’s a must! She is fantastic!”

One day, a famous film producer happened to sit in the back seat of his taxi. He was a distinguished older gentleman with a stern demeanor and an impeccable hairstyle. This producer had created numerous successful movies, based on even more exceptional books, and he had amassed great wealth.

The young taxi driver, eager to make an impression, promptly gestured towards a theater flyer he had proudly pinned to his car’s rearview mirror.

“My sister is an amazing actress!” he said. “Mark my words, if you cast her in your movie, with her talent, she will turn even the lousiest book into pure gold!”

“Hmm, interesting, interesting,” the producer muttered. Then, using his pinky nail, he smoothed his freshly dyed hair above his ear. “If she’s as gifted as she is beautiful,” he said, “bring her to my mansion tomorrow at seven-fifteen. I need to see that for myself.”

All day long the girl bounced with joy on her bed. In the late afternoon, she got ready in five minutes, but since she didn’t have any fancy clothes, she borrowed the white dress with red flowers and red high-heeled shoes from the theater.

Precisely at seven-fifteen, the taxi carrying the young actress stopped in front of the grand white mansion. The charmingly tanned producer greeted her warmly and treated her with utmost hospitality. They enjoyed dinner on the terrace next to the pool, under the glow of a hundred small candles. After dinner, they sipped their drinks, chatted, cracked jokes, and laughed heartily at everything and everyone.

Finally, the producer kissed the girl’s hand and said, “Young lady, it’s time to show you my library.” He gently took the girl by the hand and led her into a spacious room. There, three walls were entirely covered with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with a vast collection of books. On the fourth wall stood a large mirror.

The man brought the girl to the center of the room, then pointed towards the shelves and exclaimed, “Isn’t it magnificent?” When he turned to face the girl, his eyes sparkled with excitement. “Here you go, my dear,” he said softly, “get to work because I won’t let you leave until you turn all these books into gold!”

The girl was puzzled. “Excuse me?” she smiled weakly.

“You’ve heard what I said!” snapped the producer. He turned around, left the library, and locked the door behind him – Clunk!

The poor girl didn’t know what to do. She had no clue how to turn books into gold. She felt deceived and cheated. First, she raged around the room for a while, than she tried to break the door. Finally, in a state of despair, she sat on a chair and bitterly cried, “Waaah!...”

She cried for a long, long time on that warm autumn night. Then she felt someone placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. She turned around and… There stood a strange woman, somewhat disheveled, with a single gray tuft in her hair and a few extra pounds. The woman was barefoot, wearing a beautiful silk nightgown, though it seemed a bit too short for her age.

“Good evening, Marie Claire,” the woman said gently. “Why are you crying so much?”

“Ah!” sighed the girl. “I have to turn all these books into gold, and I don’t know how to do it.”

The woman then placed her hands on her hips and looked at the girl with a sidelong glance.

“And what will you give me if I do it for you, huh?” she asked.

“Anything you want!” the girl quickly replied. Her eyes filled with hope.

“That’s exactly what I thought,” said the strange woman. “So, let’s see, what could you give me?” She walked around the girl, examining her from all angles, then she put her finger to her lips as if in deep thought. “Hum! Hum! Hum!” she hummed and finally said, “I want your shoes!”

The girl didn’t hesitate for a moment. She immediately took off her shoes – Slip! Slip! – handed them to the lady, and said, “Here you go! They’re yours.” She shivered a bit as she placed her bare feet on the cold marble floor, but she didn’t want to show any sign of discomfort.

Meanwhile, the woman had slipped the red shoes onto her plump feet – Plop! Plop! – and looked at herself in the mirror. “Oh, la, la!...” she was delighted. Then she just sighed, ” My, my, how the times goes by!... Now, let’s get to work!”

And then, – O, my goodness! – that strange woman, who was neither thin nor young, spun around herself so skillfully and gracefully, like a ballet dancer – Swish! – She whispered a weird word, waved her hand, and – Poof! – a book on the shelf turned into gold.

The utterly amazed girl sat on a chair – Thud! – while the woman kept up her magical dance. – Swish! Swish! Swish! – she was spinning like a whirligig, and with each turn, one of the books turned into gold – Poof! Puff! Pop!... It went on until dawn.

Early in the morning, the producer cautiously opened the door and peeked into the library. The barefoot girl was curled up, sleeping on a chair next to the mirror. There was no one else in the room. The producer curiously looked up at the shelves, and... – Wow! My goodness! – his heart almost stopped from excitement because all the shelves of that large library were filled with books made of gold. He reached for one of the books, opened it, and, – You wouldn’t believe it! – he started moaning with pleasure, “Mmm!.. Oh!.. Uhh!...” because every page of every book was made of pure gold.

But this is not the end of our story. When the man realized how much gold he had now, he craved for more. He roughly grabbed the girl’s hand and pulled her along with him. His face turned red, his eyes were bloodshot with passion, and his hair fell messily onto his forehead as he hurried through the corridors. He held the girl’s hand painfully tight, and her bare feet followed him with small taps on the cold marble floor – Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!...

At the end of the long hallway, the man opened the large door and forcefully pushed the girl into an even larger library. Here, five walls were covered with books, and the sixth had a large mirror.

The girl fell to the floor – Thump! – and he stood over her, threatening, “By tomorrow, all these books better be made of pure gold, or you’ll be gone forever!” He adjusted the mischievous lock of his hair that fell on his forehead, straightened his tie, and quickly left the room. He locked the doors behind him twice – Clunk! Clunk!

The girl remained lying on the cold floor, crying, “Waaah!...”

At midnight, the same strange woman appeared wearing the same short nightgown and red high-heeled shoes. She placed one hand on her hip, lifted her hair with the other and winked.

“Hey, dear! It’s me!” she said. “What will you give me this time if I help you, huh?”

“Anything you want!” the girl sobbed. “Just help me, please!”

“That’s exactly what I thought,” replied the woman. “So, let’s see, what could I take from you this time?” She strolled around the girl, tapping her finger on her lips as if thinking, “Hum! Hum! Hum!“... She finally made a decision. “I want your dress!”

What else could the poor girl do? She swapped clothes with the witch and slipped into her nightgown. She felt incredibly embarrassed because she couldn’t pull the wretched nightgown past her knees, but she didn’t dare say a word.

Meanwhile, the witch had a blast in front of the mirror in that rose-patterned dress and red high-heeled shoes. The stretchy material of the dress clearly revealed that the woman had a few extra pounds, but she didn’t seem to mind one bit. She twirled and posed in front of the mirror like a young girl, “Oh, la, la!...” Finally she sighed, ” My, my, how the times goes by!... Now, let’s get to work!”

The woman twirled around and started her magical dance – Swish! Swish! Swish! – One by one, the books on the shelves turned into gold. – Swish! – the first book, – Swish! – the second, – Swish! – the third, the fifth, the fiftieth...

The girl squatted on a chair, hugging her bare knees, and watching the enchanting dance of the witch with utmost admiration. Before dawn, she fell asleep, the woman vanished, and every book on the shelves shimmered with a golden glow.

In the morning, the girl was awakened by strange sounds. She opened her eyes and saw the old producer flipping through golden books, writhing with pleasure, “Mmm!.. Oh!... Uhh!“... The man moaned with each golden page.

Unfortunately, all that pleasure fueled his passion even more. When he got tired of flipping through the books, he fixed his hair, grabbed the girl’s hand and dragged her into an even larger library. This one had shelves with books spanning across seven walls. On the eighth wall, there was a mirror.

This time, the producer wasn’t rough. He gently caressed the girl’s face with the tip of his middle finger and said, “Darling, turn all these books into gold for me and I will make you the most famous actress in the world.” He pinched the girl’s cheek, winked, and left. But he didn’t forget to lock the door behind him three times – Clunk! Clunk! Clunk!

The girl almost retched from his touch. In complete despair, she threw herself on the floor and began sobbing, “Waaah!“...

At midnight, the strange woman appeared for the third time. She was still wearing the white dress with red roses and the red high-heeled shoes. The woman spread her arms in greeting, twirled them through the air, and elegantly bowed. “Hey, dear! It’s me again!” she said. “What will you give me this time if I help you, huh?”

The wretched girl didn’t get up from the floor. “Other than my pure soul, I have nothing else to give you... “Waaah!“... she sobbed miserably.

The woman clapped her hands and said, “Fantastic! That’s exactly what I need!” She knelt beside the girl, gently pushed her hair away from her face, and softly said, “Darling, promise me that you will give me your soul when I ask for it!”

The girl didn’t know what to do. She wanted to be an actress, she wanted to escape from all her misery, and she wanted the all of that right now. “I will give you everything you want,” she said softly.

“Ah, marvelous!” the woman exclaimed, jumping to her feet. “So, let’s get to work!”

Once again, the witch began her magical dance, and the old books turned into gold one after another – Poof! Puff! Pop!... – The poor girl huddled in the corner of the room, watching with wide-open eyes the beautiful dance of the witch. Before dawn, she fell asleep, and the witch was gone as if she had never existed.

In the morning, the producer slowly cracked open the door, cautiously peering into the library, and... – Wow! Oh, gosh! – he froze completely as he beheld a sight that took his breath away. Beneath the large mirror, on the luxurious marble floor, lay a beautiful barelegged girl in a short silk nightgown. But what pleased him most was the sight of all the books in that enormous library which had all been turned into gold.

Once the producer was certain that all the pages in every book were made of the finest gold, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers – Tick!

In that instant, the room was flooded with maids and servants, hairdressers and pedicurists, experts in clothing, shoes and jewelry, fitness and nutrition assistants, manicure masters, makeup professors, doctors of depilation, gurus of silicone, botox, and cellulite. And this whole colorful entourage rushed towards the bewildered girl like a whirlwind – Swoosh! – and whisked her away – Whees!..

When the producer found himself alone, he pulled out his smartphone, dialed a number, and mumbled some words. The very next morning, Marie Claire became the most famous actress in the world.

Movies, television series, magazine covers and interviews followed one after another. She rushed to exotic dinners, attended fashion events, each time belated to charity galas, smiled at poolside parties and wellness retreats, posed for pictures on yachts and beaches. In short, parties, money, and all possible luxuries showered upon the girl from every direction.

A fair amount of time had passed, and Marie Claire no longer thought about the witch. Then, on a warm autumn evening, just as she was stepping out of her golden bathtub, she was startled by a voice, “Happy birthday, my dear!”

The actress looked up and saw the witch striking a charming pose in the open bathroom door. She was wearing the white dress with red roses and the red high-heeled shoes.

“Here I am!” the woman smiled. “I’ve come to collect what’s mine!”

Marie Claire felt a chill down her spine. For half an hour, she offered the woman all the treasure she had ever acquired, all her precious jewelry, real furs, designer dresses and handbags, but the witch just shook her head. “No, no, no, no, my dear! A human soul is more valuable to me than all the treasure in this world,” she said.

The actress threw herself onto the bed and began crying. She cried like no one had ever cried before. It lasted for a long, long time.

So long that the strange woman finally rolled her eyes and said, “Okay, okay, dear, calm down! Here’s the deal: If you can guess my name in one hour, you can keep your soul. In the meantime, I’ll be in your bathtub. I adore golden bathtubs. They relax me splendidly. Bye-bye, dear! See you soon!” The witch said that in singing voice, waved goodbye, and closed the bathroom door behind her – Click!

At that moment, the actress stopped crying and grabbed her laptop. She flipped through the websites, searching for the most unusual names that ever existed. She was certain that the dreadful woman must have an equally dreadful and unusual name. Frantically she scanned the pages. Ann, Betty, Cindy... “Oh!” – she fumed. Each of those names sounded so ordinary and silly that it couldn’t possibly be the name she was looking for.

The time was ruthlessly passing. The hands of a clock were ticking fast. – Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock!

The actress now leaped to the phone. She called her brother. She called everyone she knew. She asked if they knew of any unusual name, any name that a silly witch could have. Everyone laughed. They thought she was drunk.

And time was ticking faster and faster – Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock!

The famous actress was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. “Fools” she screamed. “In five minutes, I’ll lose my soul, and they’re just laughing at me.”

And then, her brother appeared at the door.

“Did you find out the name?” she screamed.

“No,” replied the gray-haired taxi driver.

“Then let it all go to hell!” cursed the actress and collapsed onto the couch. She pulled out a bottle of cognac that was hidden between two pillows, threw the cork over her shoulder and drank straight from the bottle.

The brother remained silent. For a while he was just watching his younger sister.

Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! – the clock’s hands raced like crazy.

Then, the taxi driver calmly spoke, “Yesterday, I passed by your old theater. Do you know that there are still cats jumping on the trash cans? And rats are still sneaking along the dirty walls.”

“So what!” muttered the actress, wiping her mouth with her hand.

“I saw a poster outside the entrance,” the taxi driver proceeded. “It seemed somehow familiar, so I went inside. There were a lot of torn seats in there and a couple of filthy drunkards.”

“Why should I care?” the actress snapped.

The taxi driver calmly continued, “There was this strange woman on the stage. She was disheveled, with a gray tuft in her hair. She wore no makeup, and in my opinion, she was a bit overweight.”

His sister looked at him astonished.

The man persistently continued his story, “She was in white dress with red roses and wore red high-heeled shoes. Haven’t you worn such clothes before?”

“Oh, my God, that’s her!” the actress exclaimed. “That repulsive woman! In my dress and my shoes! Quickly, tell me her name!”

“This is the flyer I picked up from the floor at the theater,” said the taxi driver, taking out an old theater leaflet from his pocket. “Take a look!”

“Give it to me and get out!” hissed the woman. She snatched the flyer from his hand and started pushing her brother towards the exit.

“But, sister!...” protested the taxi driver.

“Beat it! I have work to do!” growled the actress. She pushed her brother out of the apartment and slammed the door behind him – Bang!

At the same moment, the bathroom door swung open – Creak! – There stood a witch wrapped in a towel. “So, my dear!” she said. “Have you found out what’s my name?”

The actress let out a tired sigh and leaned against the entrance door. Her neatly manicured fingers, hidden behind her wide hips, nervously crumpled the old theater flyer, turning it into a small colorful paper ball.

For a few moments, the two women locked eyes. Then, the actress averted her gaze. “I don’t want to tell you, and I don’t want to see you again!” she said. At the same time, she discreetly dropped the colorful paper ball onto the floor.

The witch calmly rubbed her wet hair with the towel. “You owe me! You owe me so much!” she said.

“Get lost and leave me alone!” the actress exploded. “Buzz off!”

“I can’t, my dear, I can’t until you tell me who I am!” the witch defended herself.

“I won’t! I won’t!” the actress screamed and lunged at the woman.

On the fluffy white carpet in the luxurious apartment on the penthouse of the skyscraper, two women rolled around and fought. Everything fell off them. In that tangle of naked bodies, it was impossible to tell who was who until the witch slapped the hysterical actress – Smack!

The actress held her hand to her cheek and fell onto her back. For a while, both women just lay on their backs, staring at the ceiling.

“So, what’s my name?” the witch spoke first.

“You are Marie Claire, just like me,” the actress finally uttered.

The witch smiled, turned towards the actress, and gently said, “You see, my dear, it wasn’t that hard.” She stood up and offered her hand to help the actress get up. “Here’s my hand. You’ve won.”

The actress took the hand and got up. For a moment, the two women stood face to face. Then the witch gently stroked the woman’s hair and said, “Congratulations, my dear! You can keep your soul... If there’s anything left of it... Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!” The witch twirled around the room and called out, “Goodbye, my dear, goodbye!” She blew a kiss to the actress – Mwah!... – and spun even faster – Whoosh! – Then with a long, elegant leap, she dove straight into the mirror – Plop! – She disappeared into the other side as if she had plunged into water.

Marie Claire continued to gaze at herself in the mirror for a long time. She stroked the first gray tuft of her hair and observed the unforgiving traces of her excess weight. Then, there came a knocking on the door – Knock! Knock! Knock!

A nervous maid burst into the room. “Madam, your young producer sent you this dress for your birthday,” said the maid as she placed the package on the table and rushed to tidy up the room. “And the journalists have been waiting outside for a long time. They are very impatient. What should I tell them?”

“Tell them they’ll all get their turn as usual,” the actress calmly replied.

“And what should I do with this clothing in the bathroom?” the maid asked, holding the red shoes and the white dress with red roses in her hands.

The actress gently waved her hand. “Throw it away,” she said. “It’s all long gone out of style.”

That same evening, the world’s most famous actress welcomed the journalists, sprawled on a crystal-white couch in her luxurious apartment on the penthouse of the skyscraper. The cameras clicked incessantly, and with each flash, she moved from one pose to another, skillfully and gracefully, as if dancing. She wore a new dazzling dress, and her old irresistible smile.

Needless to say, the colorful paper ball was swallowed by the vacuum cleaner, and no one ever mentioned it again.

Marie Claire is a fairy tale from a collection of fairy tales Sprites in Jeans by B. K. De Fabris.

The book is available on Amazon.