I really meant it when I told Brigitta to thank God for loud music. I couldn't sleep a wink; I felt terrible for what I had almost done. I watched the rain come pouring down and there was a few lightening flashes that blinded me. I was on guard waiting for at least one of the children to come through my door. Not a single one of them even bothered to knock. Maybe the sound of music was a comfort to them...

I must have dozed off at some point because I remember being surprised at my alarm going off. Seven-fifteen right on the dot as usual. There was nothing usual about me this morning though. Usually I would be running around like a madwoman trying to be on time but this morning I couldn't have cared less. I took my time washing my face and hair in my bathroom sink, I took my time combing my hair afterwords, I stewed over what to wear. I didn't want to wear anything that would set off the captain but I didn't want to wear my Abbey dress either. I decided to wear the dress I had fallen off the boat with, the one where Captain returned home with Baroness Schraeder for the first time. It seemed to be the only logical choice for me or so I thought.

Sure enough, everyone was there before me. The children smiled at me, though no one smiled at me bigger than Brigitta. I usually would say "Good morning", but me being the peculiar mood I was in, I didn't bother. I walked to my end of the table with a stop to rub Brigitta's head. She giggled as my eyes involuntarily turned to the Captain. He looked at me as if I were a stranger and he could very well have been right. Baroness Schraeder looked at me in a strange manner also but that was to be expected.

"Well," Baroness Schraeder piped up as I took my place at last. "Don't you look tired."

"I am," I replied back to her. I wasn't lying.

"That's rude!" Brigitta scolded. Everyone turned their eyes to her in amazement.

"Brigitta, it's okay, honey," I tell her gently. It was rather touching that she was standing up for me.

"Brigitta," Captain's voice boomed. "Do you wish to leave the table?"

"No," Brigitta said, timidly.

"Then apologize to Baroness Schraeder," he said with a swig of juice.

"Father," she was agast.

"Apologize or I will make you leave the table!" he demanded, his voice was getting even louder. Brigitta then got up, went over to Baroness Schraeder and kissed her cheek. Baroness Schraeder reacted in no such way to her kiss and with that, Brigitta ran back to her seat.

"You're a good girl," I told her.

"Don't sympathize with her," Captain hissed at me.

"Fine, I'll leave the table," I say, getting up and leaving.

"Come back!" Came the cry of not the Captain, but from little Gretl. I thought it was about time one of the other children spoke up.

"Don't you want to have breakfast with us?" Marta asked me with sad eyes.

"I'll even share mine with you," Kurt hilariously offered.

"Won't you reconsider?" Liesel asked.

"Looks like they want me to stay," I remarked to the Captain.

"Yes, father. Please say she can stay?" Fredrich pleaded.

"Breakfast won't be the same without her," sweet Louisa said.

"All right," Captain said, not pleased at all. "Fraulein, for the sake of the children, please be seated."

"Well," Baroness said as soon as I was seated and the children's smiles came back. "I all of a sudden don't feel well. I think I will have a tray sent up to me.

"All right, darling," Captain said as he kissed her hand. "I will have Cook send that up soon."

"Thank you."

The children never responded to her. The Baroness looked around and I saw hurt in her eyes. As horrible as this was, I felt no pity for her; she deserved this. As she got up she turned around and said something she never should have.

"Aren't you children going to say anything?"

"Bye!" They all screamed in unison. Oh, the glares I got from the Baroness and the Captain for laughing!