Despite the millions of thoughts running through my head, I must have fallen asleep eventually because before I knew it, I was being shaken awake by someone.
"Annie, good morning. It's time to wake up", a gentle voice spoke to me.
"Miss Farrell?" I squinted as my eyes adjusted to being open. The room was still dark but there was a crack of light coming in from the hallway.
"Yes, it's me. Come on dear, Mr. Warbucks is getting ready to leave. We've got to find you something warm to wear, it's going to be quite cold where we're going today."
I sat up and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. Getting up so early in the morning was usually something I dreaded but today it felt like an adventure was about to take place.
Miss Farrell picked out some clothes for me with extra layers underneath so I would be warm. I could see that she too was dressed very warmly. I was so intrigued about where we were going.
We walked downstairs together. The house was quieter than I'd seen it. Only Mrs. Pugh was awake and she'd prepared us some breakfast to take with us. Big bowls full of oats and cream and milk as well as a flask of orange juice for me and one full of coffee for Miss Farrell and Mr. Warbucks.
Mr. Warbucks met us at the door and Mrs. Pugh waved us goodbye cheerfully as we left the house. It was a little after five in the morning when we left the house and it was freezing!
The three of us climbed into Mr. Warbucks' Bentley and Mr. Warbucks drove us out of Manhattan, over the Brooklyn Bridge and through the borough of Brooklyn until we reached the seaside.
We got out of the vehicle and stretched our legs. Miss Farrell and Mr. Warbucks brought our breakfast down to the beach while I raced off ahead of them, too excited to see the ocean for the very first time.
"Wow", I breathed, looking out over the great expanse of the water. "So this is what the ocean looks like." I was amazed.
"You mean you've never seen the ocean?" Mr. Warbucks asked me incredulously.
"No Sir", I answered him, not taking my eyes off the horizon. "It's even more beautiful than I'd imagined it to be."
"It is, isn't it?" Miss Farrell agreed with me, placing her hand on the small of my back.
"One of God's great wonders. Terrifying and terrific in equal measure", Mr. Warbucks said philosophically.
I looked over at him inquiringly and he tilted his head to a nearby bench. "Let's sit down." We all went and sat on the bench together and ate our breakfast while Mr. Warbucks told me about the many well-known shipwrecks that had occurred in the ocean we saw in front of us. Looking out onto the waves it seemed so peaceful and I couldn't believe it could also be the cause of such great destruction.
As we finished our breakfast, my face lit up in wonder as the sun began to rise before our very eyes. It was absolutely magnificent, so big and bright and full of such astounding color. Color I'd never even dreamed of before.
As entranced as I was with the view, out of the corner of my eye, I did happen to see Mr. Warbucks reach down to the bench beside him and place his hand on top of Miss Farrell's. I guess they were both as overwhelmed by the sight as I was, or perhaps the view was just so awfully romantic that they had to share a moment together. Of course, I had to remind myself of what Miss Farrell had told me the previous evening about conjuring up fanciful ideas of the two of them being together.
I turned my eyes back to the horizon and watched intently. Just as the display of light seemed to fade away, a giant ball of fire appeared out of the water. I gasped and pointed, turning to look at Miss Farrell and Mr. Warbucks whose faces were serene and engaged in the sight as well. Mr. Warbucks had his arm around the bench behind her shoulders and his other hand still resting on hers. They looked so content themselves, the light of the sunrise setting their faces alight, making them both glow. I couldn't help but think that they were just as beautiful a sight as the sunrise itself was.
I turned back to the ocean, completely entranced as the sun splayed out ahead of us, seeming to rise straight out of the water and into the sky. We sat for what must have been over an hour, just staring at the water and the sky.
"Well, that was quite something, wasn't it?" Mr. Warbucks eventually spoke.
"It was glorious, thank you, Sir", Miss Farrell told him, her voice sounding kind of croaky.
Mr. Warbucks laughed. "Well, I'd like to take the credit, but you know, I didn't personally arrange all of that."
I giggled at his comment and Miss Farrell shook her head at him. "No, but you brought us here, and for that I thank you."
"For that you're most welcome", he told her softly and then looked over and winked at me. I gave him a big smile in response.
"OK…well, I think it's about time for the next surprise", he said, giving me a look of significance.
My eyes widened in delight. "You mean there's more?"
Mr, Warbucks and Miss Farrell glanced at each other and grinned. "Oh yes. Much, much more", he told me. They stood up and turned to walk away, but then Mr. Warbucks suddenly turned back and pointed to the bench. "Annie, stand up there, on the bench."
I blinked in uncertainty. "OK…" I did what he'd asked but wasn't at all sure why, not until Mr. Warbucks turned around and backed up to the bench, reaching behind himself to pull me up onto his back. I yelped in surprise and then laughed as he hoisted me up more and I wrapped my arms around his shoulders to hold myself in place.
He strolled down the promenade with me on his back and I felt as if I was flying. I couldn't stop giggling, I was feeling so overjoyed. Miss Farrell couldn't help but hold back her laughter too and there were several times when I noticed her hand coming up to rub my back, and a couple of times, Mr. Warbucks' arm as well.
As we walked, I began to see some incredible things ahead of us. I wasn't even exactly sure what I was seeing, but it absolutely took my breath away.
"Annie", I heard Mr. Warbucks speak to me. "Welcome to the amusement parks of Coney Island."
I thought I was going to faint as my eyes darted left and right so quickly, trying to take everything in. There was a real life castle stretched out before us with turrets and flags and everything! Plus, a moat with a big arched bridge over top and so many wondrous things I'd never even imagined before.
"Sir, I think you ought to set her down now, before she passes out from the excitement", Miss Farrell warned him with a nervous chuckle.
"Oh, indeed", he said quickly and bent his knees so that I could slide off his back. I immediately reached for his hand instead. It was so natural, I did it without thinking because it made me feel safe and because if I did in fact faint, at least I knew Mr. Warbucks wouldn't let me fall. I looked up at him to make sure he was OK with it though. He gave me a toothy grin and tilted his head towards the park. "Come on, there's so much to see."
I reached back for Miss Farrell's hand and the three of us ran into Luna Park. I soon found out that the parks were actually technically closed for the Winter, but Mr. Warbucks had paid the owners a significant amount of money to open them up just for us on that particular day.
We rode the carousel first, which had the most beautiful horses and carriages. I chose a Chestnut colored horse, Miss Farrell picked a Palomino and Mr. Warbucks rode in a chariot behind us and then kept complaining that we were winning! Silly man.
Next, we rode on the Wonder Wheel. The view was amazing, we could see so much from up there. We looked down and could see people standing outside the gates to the rides looking up at us.
"Mr. Warbucks?"
"Hmm?"
"Could we invite those people in to enjoy the rides too?"
I was sitting in between him and Miss Farrell and I saw him glance at her inquiringly. She gave him a smile and shrugged.
"Well, sure. Why not?" He said in a jovial tone.
"Come on in, everything's open and free today!" He called down to the people below who looked up at us in disbelief and then excitedly ran into the park.
There weren't many people at Coney Island on that chilly Winter's Day but the ones who did come to enjoy the beach and the site of the famous landmark found themselves the lucky recipients of a free entry into the amusement parks.
They joined us as we played games on the Boardwalk and rode the Midnight Express. I knew how privileged I was that Mr. Warbucks had opened the park up just for me, but it was so much more enjoyable sharing the experience with other folks, especially other kids who probably wouldn't have been able to afford to come.
I made new friends, some around my own age. We rode the helter skelter one after the other and Dragon's Gorge all squished into the carriages together, all of us hopping excitedly between the different parks and attractions.
When it came time for the rollercoasters, I was both scared and exhilarated. Miss Farrell however, was terrified! I sat right at the very front with a boy who was a little younger than me - he wasn't scared at all. Miss Farrell and Mr. Warbucks sat in the carriage behind us. Mr. Warbucks had to try fairly hard to convince Miss Farrell to come on the ride with us. Eventually, he took her shaking hand and managed to pull her onto the carriage next to him.
I smiled encouragingly at her as I climbed in ahead of them. "Don't worry Miss Farrell, it's gonna be fun!"
She nodded her head but looked like she wanted to cry. Mr. Warbucks laughed at her and I think she whimpered, "Oh please don't make fun of me, Sir. I'm frightened out of my wits."
He chuckled at her again but grabbed hold of her hand tightly with his own. She reached across and gripped his arm for dear life. I grinned at them as I took my seat in the front row.
The ride began and Miss Farrell was already squealing before we'd even begun the ascent. When we dropped, I heard her scream loudly. My stomach lurched violently and I screamed and laughed at the same time. The kid next door to me woo-hooed and Mr. Warbucks shouted, "Open your eyes, Grace!"
It was the absolute happiest I had ever felt in my entire life.
As soon as I felt that feeling of immense joy however, a feeling of utter despair overtook it. A feeling of sadness that my own folks weren't here enjoying all of this with me, and a feeling of guilt that the happiest moment in my life was one without them.
I was so incredibly grateful to Mr. Warbucks and Miss Farrell for all of their kindness and generosity. Miss Farrell's warm hugs and kisses, Mr. Warbucks letting me piggy back earlier, all these gifts and treasures, I was so fortunate, and in a lot of ways, I could very easily get used to this and think it was the best a kid could ever want. At the end of the day though, what I really wanted, what I really needed were my parents.
I couldn't help the mixed emotions that surged through me, but I tried to push them aside and enjoy being at Coney Island and spending this wonderful day with Mr. Warbucks and Miss Farrell and my new friends because I knew that it was unlikely I would ever get to have this experience again.
After we rode the Big Dipper, The Thunderbolt and The Cyclone all in quick succession, we all started feeling a little dizzy, but Miss Farrell had begun to enjoy herself a lot more though. We stopped for lunch and Mr. Warbucks bought everybody a footlong hot dog!
After lunch we took a gentle stroll back down the boulevard and hopped on the Babbling Brook gondola. The punter reached for me with a smile as Mr. Warbucks picked me up and lifted me on to the bow end of the canoe.
The punter then took Miss Farrell by her hand and helped her onboard followed by Mr. Warbucks.
I went to the far end and sat in the side-facing seat while Miss Farrell and Mr. Warbucks sat together, facing front ways. The ride through the man-made canal was so peaceful and relaxing. A perfect activity after the high-speed roller coasters.
I turned towards Mr. Warbucks and Miss Farrell and saw that he had his arm around her shoulders and she was leaning slightly against him with her eyes closed and a contented smile upon her face.
I couldn't help but grin at the sight of them looking so peaceful and relaxed together but I didn't want to pry so I turned around in my seat again to look the other way.
When the ride was finished, we all hoped out and thanked the Punter. Mr. Warbucks got off first and reached for me as Miss Farrell and the Punter pushed me up. Then Miss Farrell stepped up and Mr. Warbucks reached for her hand to pull her onto the dock but she must have slipped because she went tumbling forward and straight into Mr. Warbucks' arms!
"Whoa, easy now, I've got you", he told her as he stumbled back but managed to stop her from falling.
"Oh, oh I do apologize Sir", she said shakily, still holding onto him tightly.
"Well that's quite alright, just as long as you're unharmed", he told her caringly.
"I'm fine thanks to you", she chuckled before they both seemed to realize they were still holding each other.
They released each other and took a step back, both of them looking bashful.
I couldn't help but shake my head at them but then I did ask Miss Farrell if she was OK.
"Yes thank you dear", she smiled at me and my eyes flicked to Mr. Warbucks and then back to her, a knowing look on my own face. Her eyes widened at my suggestive expression.
"Well, we'd best be getting back to the car. Coney Island is just the first surprise today, there's more yet to come but we'll have to go home and change first." Mr. Warbucks' voice saved me from further admonishing looks of Miss Farrell's.
"Really?" My attention snapped to him. "Wow. I've had so much fun already today. Gosh Mr. Warbucks, I sure am spoiled."
"Well, we have to make the most of your time here with us, don't we?" He gave me a rather tight smile.
I bowed my head slightly, realizing again that this wonderful time wouldn't last forever. "Yes, Sir", I sighed.
I saw Miss Farrell narrow her eyes at him and he grimaced in apology.
I truly didn't want Mr. Warbucks to feel bad. He really had been so kind to me.
"Come along then, let's get going. We don't want to be late."
My ears pricked up. "Late? Late for what?"
"Oh, you'll see", he told me mysteriously, grabbing my hand and pulling me along with him back up the boulevard.
When we arrived back at the mansion, Cecile was already upstairs waiting for me next to my bed, on which there was a beautiful bright gold dress. "Oh my gosh, Cecile, this is the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on", I told her in awe as I saw it for the first time.
Cecile helped me put the dazzling dress on and Mrs. Greer helped me do up my hair. When I was dressed, I made my way carefully downstairs, careful not to trip on my gorgeous floor-length gown.
Mr. Warbucks was waiting downstairs already, wearing a tuxedo. He looked so smart and refined.
"Well, don't you look lovely?" He smiled charmingly in my direction as I met him by the door.
"It's the most beautiful dress I've ever seen, Mr. Warbucks, Gee, we must be going some place real fancy to be dressed up so beautifully like this. You look lovely too!"
He chuckled and bowed his head. "Why, thank you." He straightened back up and glanced toward the stairs and at that moment the smile on his face completely fell away, replaced by an absolutely awestruck expression. I turned to see what had caught his eye and saw Miss Farrell descending the staircase, dressed in the most glorious, sleek, long black dress. Her shoulders were uncovered, showing much of her beautiful, glowing skin, and although the dress itself was stunning, I think that's the part Mr. Warbucks couldn't stop staring at.
As she came to stand before us I could see she had a shy smile on her face because of the way Mr. Warbucks couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Grace, you look…" he shook his head, seeming to lose his words.
"Beautiful Miss Farrell, you look beautiful", I finished for him.
She tore her own eyes from his to look at me and give me an appreciative smile. "Thank you Annie, and you look delightful yourself." She blinked apprehensively and shifted her gaze back to Mr. Warbucks. "Both of you do."
He smiled at her in a way that seemed nervous. "Thank you", he said, his voice sounding sort of croaky.
"Have a wonderful time", Drake told us cheerily as he wrapped a white shawl around Miss Farrell's shoulders.
"Thank you, Drake", she smiled at him and at Mrs. Pugh who gave her a wink and a grin in reply.
We were driven in Mr. Warbucks' limousine to an old but grand looking building. We went inside and I was amazed as I looked up at all the architecture. It was so intricately and beautifully designed.
There were crowds and crowds of people, all dressed in their finest. Miss Farrell took my hand and we walked behind Mr. Warbucks and went to take our seats inside a magnificent theater.
Mr. Warbucks handed me a program which had the words "La Traviata" written on it. "This is what we've come to see, Annie. It's an Opera."
"An opera? Wow! I've heard opera music on Miss Hannigan's radio but I never thought I'd get to actually see one."
"Well, I do hope you'll enjoy it. It's going to be a long performance."
Mr. Warbucks was right, the opera did go on for quite a long time, but I was fixated during every single moment of it. The voices of the singers were divine and the music, the way it swelled and dimmed like waves was simply magical. Even though it was all in Italian and I couldn't understand any of the words that were being sung, I could feel the emotion behind every single one and I couldn't help but be moved by it
In the final act, the character Violetta was dying and I could see Miss Farrell on the other side of Mr. Warbucks was getting quite upset. I could hear her sniffling. Mr. Warbucks lent her his handkerchief so she could dry her eyes. When Violetta died in Alfredo's arms, a surge of emotion pulled at my own heart and I couldn't help but cry a little myself, even as the music crescendoed and made my heart sore at the same time it broke.
The audience around us burst into rapturous applause and I stood up out of my chair, overwhelmed and overcome and clapped as loudly as I could. When the performers came out to take their bows, I clapped even harder. I was totally in awe of them all.
After we left the opera house, we went for dinner at a place nearby. Mr. Warbucks said it would be in keeping with the origin of the opera itself. It turned out what he meant was that it served Italian food.
Mr. Warbucks ordered lasagna, Miss Farrell had tagliatelle and I had spaghetti, and we all shared some bread and butter between us. The meal was so filling but then afterwards Mr. Warbucks asked me if I'd like to try some tiramisu and I could see some nearby in the cabinet and decided it looked too delicious to pass up!
Mr. Warbucks ordered just one serving for the three of us to share.
Miss Farrell closed her eyes in bliss and made a low moaning sound as she tasted it. She opened her eyes again and blushed self-consciously because we were both looking at her. I was smiling at her because she seemed to be enjoying it so much, Mr. Warbucks was staring at her with the same dumbfounded expression he'd had on his face earlier when she'd come downstairs wearing her dress.
"It's delicious", she shrugged and took another bite.
When we'd finished eating, we all sat back in our chairs, too full to move for a while.
Eventually though, Mr. Warbucks reached for both mine and Grace's hands to help us up and we walked up to the front counter hand in hand. Mr. Warbucks paid for dinner and we left the restaurant. All the way home, I couldn't stop chattering about how marvelous the opera had been. I was so inspired by it all - the story, the music, the performers, nothing had ever moved me more in my whole life.
Mr. Warbucks and Miss Farrell must have got sick of hearing my voice by the time we reached the mansion but they just smiled at me and agreed with all my enthusiastic statements.
When we reached Mr. Warbucks' home, Drake and Mrs. Pugh met us at the door and I started rattling off every little detail about the opera to them.
"I think she may have enjoyed it, it's hard to tell", Mr. Warbucks said teasingly while giving me a sideways look. I grinned shyly and the adults all laughed.
I begged Mr. Warbucks to please let me listen to some more opera on his record player. He'd told me at dinner about his extensive collection of operatic, orchestral and jazz. I hadn't realized that Mr. Warbucks was such a lover of music.
"In fact", he stated proudly as he put a record on the victrola, "The composer of this particular operetta, Franz Lehar, performed this very piece for me in a private audience at my birthday five years ago."
"Wow, really?"
"Yes…It was Miss Farrell who arranged it, knowing how much I loved his work. I still don't know how she managed to pull it off", he looked at Miss Farrell with a raised eyebrow but she merely tapped her nose and took my hands to dance with me around the room, twirling and spinning with me as the opening bars of "The Merry Widow Waltz" began to play.
We laughed as we danced around Mr. Warbucks' sitting room. I began to get a little bit dizzy but it only added to the fun. Hearing Miss Farrell's laughter made me laugh even more.
After a little while, I glanced over and saw Mr. Warbucks watching us fondly. He was leaning back on his settee, one leg over the other, looking content. I giggled as I spun towards him. "You too, Mr. Warbucks!" I grinned, reaching out and grabbing his hand, pulling him to his feet.
"Oh no I don't think so Annie. I've got two left feet and I've left them elsewhere."
His joke made Grace laugh and he grinned at her in response.
"That doesn't matter, we're just being silly anyway!" I encouraged him and he began to shuffle left and right and then spun me a few times just as Miss Farrell had.
She was looking at us with her hands clasped and a big wide beam on her face. I got a good idea in my head and I span around in circles, holding Mr. Warbucks' hands, inching closer and closer until we spun right into Miss Farrell. Then I quickly let go of Mr. Warbucks and chirped, "Now, you two dance."
Their eyes lingered on one another uncertainly for a moment before Mr. Warbucks reached out for her right hand with his left while he carefully and delicately placed his right hand on just above her waist and she raised her left hand to his shoulder.
Their eyes remained locked as they danced a slow, elegant waltz.
"Two left feet, huh?" Miss Farrell murmured, smiling at him teasingly.
"Well it's only that my partner is so good", he replied charmingly.
"Oh, I see", she rolled her eyes at him with a bashful grin.
I took a seat on the settee and smiled at them with a sigh.
At the orphanage, Miss Hannigan loved listening to romance stories on the radio. She got so invested sometimes in the stories and her reactions were so loud that us kids couldn't help but pay attention too. Sometimes when we were working, we would all add our own parts to the stories we'd heard, all tales of tragic and forbidden romance. We'd all become quite well attuned to recognizing the signs of people who were in love.
I just couldn't understand why Miss Farrell and Mr. Warbucks hadn't confessed to it yet when they had such obvious love for one another. I know Miss Farrell had said there were reasons why they couldn't be together romantically, but there had to be a lot more reasons why they should…surely.
He twirled her out of his arms and then back again, causing her to giggle in enjoyment. I swear when she came back into his embrace, they were much closer than they had been before.
The piece of music came to an end, yet they remained in each other's arms before realizing that I was still there.
Miss Farrell detached herself from him and turned to face me, curtseying playfully while he bowed.
I stood up and cheered for them and they both smiled at me graciously.
"Well now, Miss Annie. It's been a very long and exciting day and I think now is about time for you to get ready for bed."
"Do I really have to?" I wined, even though my eyes were feeling quite heavy.
"I think it's a wise idea, sweetheart", Miss Farrell said kindly.
Mr. Warbucks gave me a warm smile. "I tell you what though, anytime you'd like to listen to some music on the record player, you can come in here and play anything you choose, provided you have someone to help you put it on."
"Really? Oh, thank you Mr. Warbucks", I ran to him and embraced him tightly, smiling when I felt his large hand come up to cradle the back of my head. "Thank you for everything today. It's been so wonderful and I'll never forget it."
"You're most welcome, Annie", he murmured softly, then pressed his lips to my hair.
I held onto him a moment longer, feeling so safe and warm in his arms. He pulled back and tugged gently on my hand. "Come on."
We swung our arms, still sort of dancing all the way until we reached my bedroom. Once I was dressed in my nightgown, Mr. Warbucks picked me up and placed me on my bed. I tittered in delight. He bent down and kissed my head again. "Goodnight dear girl."
As he stepped back, Miss Farrell came forward and kissed me as well. "Sweet dreams, Annie."
The two of them left my room quietly, side by side and I sighed happily as I closed my eyes, my dreams coming easier than they ever had before.