Read Mozart's Sister for Free Online Page B

good night, and let Mama take me up to
our room. I believed what Papa said. He did want the world to hear
my talent.
    But he wanted them to hear my brother's more.

    Papa and Mama had some papers on the table between thembills. Papa tossed them into a mess and sat back with a groan.
    "You knew we would have expenses, Leopold," Mama said.
"We planned for expenses."
    "But we also planned to be paid for our services. It's been five
days since Wolfgang played before the elector, and there's been no
payment, not even a present. Do they think we can sit around for
days on end, building up expenses while we wait for them to
remember the debt they owe?"
    Mama straightened the bills. "I heard that your old violin student Tomasini performed twice for the elector, was in town for
three weeks waiting for payment, and has only just been paid-and
then, only seventy florins."
    "Ali, but did he get the usual gold watch?" He sighed deeply.
"Oh yes, this is such a charming custom, to keep people waiting for
presents so that one has to be content if one makes what one
spends."
    "We have been invited to the gala dinner given by the elector
tonight. Perhaps he will offer payment then, or request another concert."
    "I do want to play for him," I said.
    "And we want you to play for him." Papa sighed. "We must be
patient."
    His words sounded hollow-for he was rarely patient but I
held my tongue.
    Suddenly Papa stood and called to Wolfie, who was playing with some blocks in a corner. "Wolfgang, come here"

    Wolfie came close, banging two blocks together as he marched
to an inner cadence. Papa took them away and got his attention.
"Tonight at the dinner, if we have the elector's ear, I want you to
tell him we are leaving tomorrow"
    "But we aren't leav-"
    Papa stopped Mama's words with a look. "If I nod to you and
touch my cheek like this, I want you to say that aloud. Understand?"
    "Yes, Papa," Wolfie said.
    Mania straightened the pile of bills. "So you think he will invite
us to stay if he believes we are leaving?"
    "When we left the palace on the night Wolfgang performed, I
heard the elector say that he regretted not hearing our little girl."
He smiled at me. "See, liebchen? Papa will take care of everything.
Just as I promised."
    All would be well. If Wolfie remembered his line....

    We sat at a table with the elector, his sister Maria Antonia, and
the prince-man from the window My stomach was in knots wondering if everything would play out as Papa had planned. I kept
watching Papa for the sign-the tap to his cheek. And I watched
Wolfie, hoping if Papa did give the sign, he'd repeat the right words.
But Wolfie was making his fork-and mine-march across the
tablecloth like twin soldiers. If only Papa had asked me to say the
line. He could trust me.
    Suddenly I saw Papa's finger tap his cheek. I jerked my head
toward Wolfie, ready to nudge him.
    But I didn't need to. Wolfie set the forks down, smiled at the
elector, and said, "We're leaving town tomorrow and I don't want
to"
    Those were more words than Papa had told him to say, but I
didn't think they would hurt. I hoped they wouldn't hurt.
    "Well, well," the elector said. "We can't have that" Then he
smiled at me, right at me. "Not when I haven't heard the lovely
Fraulein Mozart play. I should have liked to hear her."

    I looked at Papa. The elector looked at Papa. Mama looked at
Papa.
    "Well indeed," Papa said. "I guess it would not matter if we
stayed a few more days-if it would give you pleasure"
    The elector hit the table with the palm of his hand. "Splendid."
    Oh yes. It was splendid. I was going to play.

    My chance to perform was delayed two days because the elector
had a day of hunting planned, and then there was a French play he
wanted to attend. But finally it was my night.
    And I did well.
    The applause!
    I got off the bench and offered the audience my best curtsy. But
it was Papa's eyes I sought. And there he was, to the side with Mama
and Wolfie.