When He Comes A-Knocking
Both heads turned in the direction of the door. Clarice looked at the clock showing it was eight forty five, she wasn't expecting any one.
"Marie, can you get the door please?" she yelled through the open kitchen door.
"Yes!" followed by a clicking noise from her shoes walking on the floor.
Marie reached the door and always remembered to look outside before answering the door. What she saw puzzled her. A man dressed very fine in a dark blue dress shirt tucked into tan pressed trousers with a black overcoat slung over one shoulder which was hooked on one finger. The man had short hair which was brown itself and very sharp eyes. The deepest blue eyes Marie had ever seen. Then suddenly the man looked at the window beside the door as though he felt eyes on him and winked. Marie giggled and decided the man couldn't be all that dangerous if he winked at her but she still would be cautious.
Opening the door, Marie looked slightly up at the man in front of her and saw that he wasn't extremely tall like some men she had seen but he wasn't necessarily short either. But nonetheless he was taller than her mother, so she supposed that he was tall in a sense.
"May I help you, sir?", inquired Marie tilting her head.
The man tilted his head the opposite way and studied her through his blue eyes, both appeared to be studying the other. Sizing each other up, as it were.
"Yes. I am looking for Ms. Clarice Starling, Does she live here?"
"Yes, she does. She is my mother"
Interesting.
"If you don't mind my asking. How old are you?"
"I don't mind at all. I'm nine years old"
Silence. Marie smiling politely at the man while he stared down at her in curiosity. There was much the man would like to ask but now wasn't the time. He had a schedule to keep.
"Would you like to come in? My mother is making lunch, even though its still breakfast, I'm sure there would be enough for you", Marie said as she opened the door wider to reveal the whole hallway.
A variety of scents could be smelt. Spices, seafood, vegetables, fruits, perfume, and our little Marie.
The man smiled a crooked smile and replied, "Why not?"
Marie smile brightly and step aside to let the man pass through and closed the door once he was inside. The man stood there for a moment until he turned around when Marie asked, "May I take your coat?"
The girls is well mannered. Good, it wouldn't do for Clarice to have a child without proper manners. Wouldn't want to her daughter to be like her fellow white trash citizens she grew up with now would we?
"No, thank you I'm fine. Where is your mother?" the man inquired just as a door being closed was heard and the sound of footsteps approaching could be heard.
"Marie, honey who is it?"
"Dr. Lawners. Henri Lawners"
Marie tilted her head again and repeated the name to her mother who said she'd be there in a few minutes.
"I hope I'm not rude saying this Dr. Lawners but you seem as if you've been here before and seem completely unfazed by anything in particular"
Clever girl. Just like her mother. I wonder who her father is. Obviously none of those boys from the tedious sticky fumbling. No, this child was much brighter than her to be a child of those circumstances.
"No, you have a right to ask but I cannot give you a full answer though I will say that I've been here before. You see, I know your mother from her days at Quantico… an old friend", the man smile slyly.
Marie seemed to sense that this wasn't completely the whole story but left it be coming to the conclusion that it was complicated. As she learned that were many things in life that were complicated.
Dr. Lawners looked at his watch, "It seems I am running late for an appointment. Please tell your mother I said to practice what she know and it will help to make clear what she now does not know. I'm sure she is vexed by an issue at the moment"
Marie nodded, "Wasn't that what Rembrandt said a long time ago?"
The man smiled at what was suppose to be frightening but Marie thought it was a nice smile. She saw very white teeth that looked almost feral in appearance but thought she was being silly.
The man put on his coat and took from his coat pocket handed her a red thorn rose and winked, "Yes he did. You're a very smart girl. See you around…"
"Marie. Marie Starling"
"I'll see you around, Marie" and took his leave.
Marie stood there watching him leave still holding the rose. She looked down at it and smelled its lovely scent and smiled. For some odd reason, she felt extremely comfortable with Dr. Lawners although she hardly knew him. She had just met him but there was no mistaking it, she liked him.
Smiling Marie made her way to the kitchen to give her mother the rose her new friend gave to her.