The tea table was elegant with its modern ivory design. In its three coated white chairs sat Maria's three favorite dolls. They were propped against the back of the chairs, staring blankly at the poured tea in front of them.
Maria spun so quickly that the hem of her dress fluttered into the open jar of tea a couple times as it flew. She stopped spinning and faced the three dolls.
"I am Queen," She told them. "You all are my friends coming for a visit. During this visit you all shall compliment me and my lovely dresses." Maria smiled, but it vanished after she heard a thump from downstairs. "Stay," she ordered.
Maria left the attic her three dolls to creep downstairs. She slid off her small black shoes and started down the steps. She put hardly any weight on them, so they wouldn't creak and alert anyone she was coming down. Maria's eyes swept the area she was peeking at through the low banister and surveyed it.
Her eyes narrowed at the scene in front of the grand piano. It was her mother inviting a friend in. Wordlessly, Maria watched her mother invite the woman in and the woman just nodded and followed her mother into the den. The two sat across from each other and had what looked like a conversation. She strained her ears to be able to hear better, but she couldn't heard what they were talking about.
Maria glanced up at where she had just come from; the attic. She looked back and took a deep breath. With care, she placed her feet silently on the next step down, the next step, and so on. She didn't have to look because she felt when she reached the end of the stairs. Maria started to creep toward them, trying to get a better look, but at the same time, crouching so they wouldn't see her.
"Mary!" She heard her mother call.
If she hadn't heard this, Maria never would've known another was approaching the room at a fast pace. Maria beat her and managed to stay under cover by diving under the table. She saw the servant's worn shoes walk past and reach her mom.
"Yes madam?" The servant asked.
"Would you get me and Mrs. Michaels some water?"
"Certainly," The servant nodded, curtsied, and left the room.
She came back minutes later with their water.
"Thank you," My mother thanked.
"Your welcome," The response would sound kind and warm, if not for her tight voice.
Maria waited until the servant left the room for the final time until she continued her spy-like movements. She crawled forward toward the two, hiding under the piano, near where the den was. She could hear them clearly.
"Oh, dear," The visitor said, "I was so busy reconnecting with you; I forgot to ask, how is your family? Well, I hope?"
Maria's mother paused, "Yes, everything is fine here at home." Her voice went higher with her lie.
"Tsk, tsk," Her friend replied. "I know that voice. Is everything okay?"
"Like I said, I am happy. That is what you don't seem to understand, Susan," Her mother said tiredly.
"What about your daughter?" Susan continued, "Maria was it? How old is she? Six?"
"Seven," Her mother corrected.
"My!"
Maria's mother sighed, "Fine, okay. You caught me." I heard a laugh from Susan in triumph. "It is Maria. She's not sick or anything… but it's just her in general."
Maria's ears pricked at the mention of her name on her mother's lips. She listened more intently.
"I'm not supposed to feel this way," Her mother said. "I am just so fend up with it. She's like her father; bossy and has the need to be in control. It irks me to no end. I shouldn't feel like my child is a burden." Her words came out fast and high, as if she was keeping this inside for quite a while.
Maria gasped. She covered her mouth and scraped the bottom of the piano, making her presence louder.
"Now, dear…" Susan tried to comfort her mother.
"What was that noise?" Her mother said, getting up. "That gasp and that other noise; what was that?"
Maria sighed and decided to fess up. Better now than later. She crawled out from under the piano and didn't look at her mother as she stood up.
"Here," She mumbled.
Her mother gasped and blushed. Then she hurried toward Maria and rewarded her with a small slap to the ear. "Eavesdropping! Do you know how rude that is! We have a visitor! Oh dear!" She grasped Maria's ear and turned her to the steps. "Go to your room! Don't come out!" She snapped.
Maria's shoulders slumped and didn't say a word to Susan - (who remained silent the whole time) - as she headed up the stairs. As she reached the attic, she jogged to her dolls. They didn't give her comfort she wanted, and so Maria sat down on the fourth coated white chair and cried.
A/N: I wasn't sure what year Maria was when she was seven, so I tried to do a basic old-fashioned scene. I hope I did it right. Anyway, please R&R!