"Hello," said the man. He had a baffled look to his face as he looked down and almost tripped on Julia's mother who was on her knees trying to get to Julia to straighten up her outfit and her hair some more.
"Oh, Hello, Mr. von Trapp," Eliza said as she struggled to get up from the floor. "I was just trying to… I mean… Would you like to have dinner now or would you rather have the interview first." She said as she stood up straight to make it look as if she had excellent posture.
"We shall eat first and interview later," the captain said as he took off his hat and coat and gave them to Julia's open arms and toothless smile.
"I'm Julia, and I'm going to be six on Tuesday, and I'd like a pair of pink ballet slippers." Julia had to say her sentence in muffles do to the coat and hat covering part of her mouth. The man she noticed stood erect and his head nearly scrapped the ceiling, his clothes were perfect, everything about him was perfect, except for a coldness that he put off when he spoke.
"That's nice Julia, but you should be studying and getting ready for school. Not such frivolities as dancing should get in the way of your school learning." Mr. von Trapp said looking down at Julia and then towards the kitchen table. Julia suddenly had a flashbulb idea of kicking the man in the shin and running out into the hall of their apartment complex, but she cast aside that idea when she smelled the wonderful aroma of her mother's cherry pie now resting on the stove cooling. Her thought was cast aside with other another plan she had just thought of. It was amazing what the smell of pie could do to a little girl.
"I am so sorry Mr. von Trapp!" Eliza exclaimed as she started to wipe the mashed potatoes off of his black pants.
"Ms. Wells…" Mr. von Trapp started to say as he stood upright as Eliza got too close for comfort, wiping off the mashed potatoes. The captain shot a look towards Julia; it was her who had dropped the bowl on to his lap. She just gave him a grim look as she shoveled a mouthful of the mashed potatoes on her plate into her mouth.
"Julia, go get me a wet towel," Eliza said in a panicky voice. "I am so sorry Mr. von Trapp!" The dinner was going no where near well and Julia was proving to be a complete menace. So far she had managed to dump her drink over the green beans, fling her fork across the room, and now drop the bowl of mashed potatoes all over his pants.
"Ms. Wells, please control your self," the captain said as he brushed her helping hands aside. She slowly stood up off her knees. Her face was flustered and her blue eyes stood out from behind her red tone and her dark brown hair surrounding her face.
"Really Mr. von Trapp, she's usually much better behaved," Eliza shot Julia a glaring look, "she's just excited."
"The child has an unusual way of showing excitement," Mr. von Trapp snorted as he wiped off the remaining potatoes that he would not permit Eliza to wipe off.
"If you just excuse me sir, I'll just put her to bed and I'll be right with you."
Julia began to protest to her mother statement about bed, but thought better of it once she saw her mother's face of frustration. She finished chewing her water logged green beans and was escorted to the other side of the room behind a curtain where her and her mother slept side by side. Julia looked back at Mr. von Trapp before her mother slid the moth eaten curtains back on a shaky rod.
"What are you doing out there?" Julia's mother asked quietly, as she slipped off Julia's dress and slipped on her night shirt.
"Mummy, I'm not tired," Julia objected. The child had enchanting blue eyes, just like her mothers. She knew just how o use them against her mother to get what she wanted. It wasn't working to her advantage this time and the girl knew it. He mother just smiled and tucked her in underneath her quilt and she started to sing softly to her daughter.
"Stay awake, don't rest your head
Don't lie down
upon your bed
While
the moon drifts in the skies
Stay awake, don't close your eyes
Though the world is fast asleep
Though your pillow's
soft and deep
You're not sleepy as you seem
Stay awake, don't
nod and dream
Stay awake, don't nod and dream"
Julia could feel her eye lids getting heavy and the warmth of her quilt comforting. Her mother's voice was soothing and she drifted off into dreams. Eliza looked down at her daughter and gently stroked Julia's bangs aside and kissed her forehead lightly. She slowly got up from their bed, as not to disturb Julia from her light slumber, and she slid the curtains aside, turned around, and closed them again. She took a moment to calm her nerves before she could turn around to face the captain again.
"Amazing display of motherhood," Mr. von Trapp said to Eliza's back.
"Thank you, Captain," Eliza said realizing she still had a grip on the curtains. She turned around and walked back towards Mr. von Trapp.
"I would like to see your references Ms. Wells," he let out his hands for the papers he had requested.
"Oh, I don't ever have references; I believe they are terribly old fashioned."
"Hmm… I see… I usually require references, but I feel complied to give you a try."
"Oh, thank you, Captain!" Eliza grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously. "Now, we must discuss finance and housing."
"Right, housing… you and your daughter shall stay in my mansion, and finance… we shall discuss later, I am already late for another event. I shall see you on Tuesday then."
"Oh, yes captain! Thank you again sir! But…" Eliza had suddenly remembered her daughter's Birthday coming up on that Tuesday.
"But what?" Mr. von Trapp asked with the same baffled look on his face that he came into her home with.
"It's Julia's birthday on Tuesday, and I had something planned for that day."
"Well, Tuesday is the only day. If you want the job then I expect you to be there at 9 o'clock am. No exception, you're there or you are not, I can easily find a replacement."
"We'll be there," Eliza mumbled, feeling her heart drop for her daughter. "One more question…"
"Yes?"
"How many children of your own do you have? And what about your wife, you haven't tolled me about her yet," Eliza asked. The Captain looked towards where Julia slept, and then he looked down at his hands.
"I have six children and I am a widower."
"SIX CHILDREN! With Julia, that makes seven!" Eliza gave the Captain a worried look. "Oh… I'm sorry about your wife," Eliza was embarrassed about her outburst. She felt like she had a right too though, he hadn't specified that before he gave her the job.
"Right… I must be off; I have another engagement I must attend. I well see you Tuesday?"
"Umm… Yes, we well be there with out things," Eliza said as she got up and walked Mr. Von Trapp to the door. She gave him his coat and he left rather abruptly, a nod of his head, and he was gone. His footsteps were like a march and Eliza could still hear the thud of his shoes as she leaned against the door and let out and enormous sigh of relief.
Seven children? What's so fearsome about that? She thought as she started to clean up the kitchenette.
