(Child's POV)
My name is Genevieve de Changy. I am five years old and want to be a doctor when I grow up. Papa is off on his naval ship, again, and Mama is at the Opera rehearsing. My Governess gave me this diary to help me with my penmanship. After this we sewed, (which is important for doing surgery,) then we took my sketchbook to the park, parc de l'île Saint-Germain, it is so pretty there when the sun is out! If only that rabbit would sit still for me! My Governess taps me on the shoulder,
"Time to go in."
It is so hard to get up with my corset squeezing me, hard to get up without getting my dress dirty, it simply will not do! I take my Governess' hand, and she helps me up, together we walk back across the street meeting Mama on the way home for tea. We play Mad Tea Party to help me remember my manners. Papa says he doesn't know how that helps, but when he's home he is glad to be the Mad Hatter!
'I sewed a straight line of stitches today." I proclaimed!
"I'm very proud of you sweetie" affirms Mama
"When Is Papa coming home?" I ask.
"Your Papa comes home today," she smiled.
"He loved getting a letter from you," My Governess reminded me. My penmanship was illegible!
"I hope he stays," I pout.
"I know you love him… Presents cannot make up for lost time... " Mama sighed.
I didn't mean to make her sad!
"I- I'm sorry Mama"
Just then there's a clattering outside. Papa's home!
I ran to the door, "Papa!" I squeal.
"I missed you.." Papa hugs me without looking at me, he stands up and kisses Mama.
The manservants carry his steamer trunk they grunt and groan making me believe it's too heavy!
"There must be a pony in here!" they jest.
"Let Me see what I have here" Papa opens the trunk rummaging as if he can't find what he's looking for… I hold my breath.
"Here it is," he announces, handing me the book of Grimms Fairy Tales"Want to hear about my battle with the Cracken?" He picks me up and I giggle.
"Oh My…" my Governess rolls her eyes.
He showed me during the story his heroics, swinging his sword wildly, "Can I try?" I asked.
"The sword is too heavy," Papa worried, "I love you I can't let anything happen to you" He looked me in the eye and tore me up, I hugged him... He holds me tight. I wonder why I make him sad.
"I wish I never had to sleep!"
"Why?" Papa asks with concern.
"Because Ihate the dark!" my lip quivers.
"It's OK, you're safe… I'll sleep in the chair" Papa always did… when he was home.
Mama tells me one of her Daddy's stories, it makes her smile, She sings an old Swedish Lullaby, her voice is the most beautiful in the world.
"Misour, you need your rest, let me stay with her," offers my Governess.
"I have slept in less comfortable places than a rocking chair as of late" He replied crispily.
My Governess and Mama go to bed.
Papa reads me The Sleeping Beauty, and afterward, I stare at the picture of the Prince fighting the dragon intensely!
(Papa's POV)
"She just stared at the prince until her eyes closed," I told my wife.
"Maybe she thinks he's handsome" Christine didn't see how the stare was!
"I don't think that's right it's only a drawing…?"
"Maybe if I took her to the Opera, women play boys there." What on earth did that have to do with this?
"It is too dangerous!" I barked, "I agreed to let you perform so you didn't have to ask for money when I didn't have the time to give you some, but Genevieve is a child!"
I worried after Erik… After Philippe… I knew my daughter was strange.
"What if I tell her about La Sorelli before I take her? "She looks more like Philippe to me"
"You think I don't know that? I mean It's getting to where it makes me sad to look at her!" I exclaimed.
Genevieve had heard every word, for when I turned around, she looked half-asleep.
"I don't belong to you?" bursting into tears she ran from the room.
(Child's POV)
Where was my real Papa? And my Mama was another Woman? Why did she not want me? I had cried all I could. I went to the music room.
"Who are you? If you are not my Mama?
"I'm your Aunt," said the only Mama I knew. "Genevieve, I love you" She flung her arms around me.
"My Papa?' I asked.
"He drowned before you were born. Your Uncle Raoul felt devastated… He has something to show you " I strolled to my Papa's study, at least that is who I thought he was…
I knocked.
"Come in Geneieve"
I walked in. He was looking me in the eye!
"What should I call you?" I asked.
"I love being your Papa… Now You know the truth… Would You like to see a picture of him"?
I nodded.
He showed me a photograph "He has straight hair like me" I noticed.
"And you have his smile and his laugh… Your imagination must have come from your mother."
"And Aunt Christine" I sighed.
"What is it?" Papa asked.
"I want to call you my Papa" I flung myself on his lap.
"That's okay… the important thing is we are a family"
I sighed this time with relief.
"Do you know why I call you Miricle?"
"Why?" I smile
"Because when I lost Phileppe I was devastated when we found out about you, it was like God had given me the chance to make things right because he died trying to save me.."
"I love you Papa" I hug him tight.
"Why do you want to be a doctor?" Papa asks.
"Because I want to," I say.
When my birthday arrived three months later, I rushed down our spiral staircase, my tights made that more manageable, even if my high heels did not. I'm wearing a hoop skirt like Cinderella in the book of Fairy Tales Papa reads me. That is why my legs are hurting. I don't care. It's my Birthday!
"Happy Birthday Angel!" Papa picks me up and trails me around.
"Happy Birthday Darling" Mama kissed my cheek.
"May I please open my presents now?" I asked.
Mama and Papa laughed, "Of Course!"
My new sketchbook was covered in red leather and engraved "To My Little Miricle, Love Papa" I read it all by myself! We had a six-layer almond cake with vanilla butter-cream frosting, I was not tall enough to blow out the candles without Papa lifting me! When the doorbell rang, the maid went with Mama to the door…. And my real Mama came in!
I wanted to run over and hug her and shout "I love you!" but I waved instead.
"Geneive gets her shyness from Raoul" My Aunt patted my real Mama on the shoulder.
"She gets a lot from Raoul," My real Mama said, cooly.
"That's why we invited you here, you can give Geneive something we can't," assured my Aunt.
"Sor-Sorelli how nice to see you," I could tell from how my Papa blushed that he did not invite her.
"Hello, Genevieve" my real Mama whispered, her cheeks turning red. She said the name she had given me, before handing me over to the sisters at Hospice des Orphelins my most secret longing had been fulfilled.
"Hello" I could not help smiling, she was so beautiful! Her long blonde hair was straight like mine, her eyes were emerald green, then I noticed the small box tied with a ribbon she was trying to hand me.
"For me?" I said trying to be polite.
"Go ahead open it," smiled Papa.
After pulling at the knot holding the gold bow together and finally getting it loose, I pulled off the top of the flat burgundy box… Inside was a pair of ballet slippers!
"Go ahead honey try them on" coaxed Mama.
I slipped the slippers onto my tiny feet and my new Mama tied the ribbons.
I twirl and leap gracefully around the room.
"She's a natural," says my other Mama.
"You are performing in Swan Lake, aren't you? Little Jammes is performing the role of Price Siegfried, I hear she is wonderful," said Mama, looking expectedly at Papa
"Christine I forbid you to take her! Is to Dangours!," Papa exclaimed.
As Mama puts me to bed, she whispers" I bought tickets. The next time Papa goes away with the navy we're going!"
Can a girl be a Prince? My most secret birthday wish had come true!