[age of 9]
written by fleur
Mandolin016

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It was springtime in Monaco, and finally, after months of preparation, Morgane's piano recital had arrived. The night before, Charlotte had painted her nails light blue, and helped her to set out a pretty white Giorgio Armani dress with black Mary Jane shoes.

The little girl could barely sleep. Not only was this to be her first solo piano recital, but Charles was coming home right before the performance. With a month left before the Monaco Grand Prix, he was spending the week at the factory. Morgane tossed and turned for what felt like hours, before morning broke over the horizon.

"Charlotte!" She screamed, running into her mother figure's bedroom. Charlotte sat up, rubbing her eyes and yawning. This child had so much energy.

"Darling," Charlotte said, "I was just texting Charles. He said that he will be going straight to the recitall from the plane." Morgane smiled wide, "I am so excited Cha! But we have to get ready now!"

She skipped out of the master bedroom and down the hall, throwing open the door to her own room, and ran to toss on her dress and shoes. Charlotte combed her curly dark brown hair into a neat bun, and secured the crucifix around her neck. Morgane pushed the peridot pendants into her ears before running to the breakfast table to eat the pancakes Charlotte was making her. She stuffed them down quickly before brushing her teeth and grabbing her music book.

"Cha!" she called into the apartment as she stood by the front door, "Cha hurry up!"

"Coming!" came the response.

When Morgane arrived at the Monaco Open Air Theater, she sprinted from Charlotte's grasp into the arms of her classmate Maëlys. The two 9 year olds giggled as they embraced each other. "Maëlys, you will not believe who is coming today!" Morgane excitedly told her, "Charles, Arthur, Lorenzo, my grandparents, everyone is coming!"

Maëlys smiled, knowing how important this was to best friend, "I'm so happy for you! My momma and papa are coming as well."

"Oh nice." Morgane responded, frowning slightly. It did bother her sometimes that all the other children had a complete family with a maman and papa. Even though she had so many people that loved her dearly, the young girl couldn't help feeling a sort of jealousy. She quickly corrected herself, however, and gave her friend another small hug. "I'm happy for you as well." she said. After wishing each other good luck, the girls went their separate ways to prepare their music sheets for the show.

With just a few minutes left until the start of the performance, Morgane creeped up to the heavy velvet curtain. She pulled back a few inches to peak out as her eyes scanned the forming crowd for her family. She broke out into a wide smile when she saw Lorenzo, Arthur, Pascale, and Charlotte seated next to her father's parents and siblings in the center of the auditorium. Her eyes continued searching for Charles, yet he was nowhere to be seen. Morgane sighed in disappointment and closed the curtain. Her godfather had promised to be there, he knew how important this was. Of all things to miss, this had to be it? Charles couldn't always be there for important events, but this one he certainly had time to attend. As small tears began to fall from her big brown eyes, Morgane gently wiped them away.

"I must not cry" she whispered to herself, "I still have everyone else." She took a deep breath and, pushing away thoughts of disappointment, took her place in the line of children getting ready to walk on the stage.

Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc was hastily parking his black Ferrari 488 Pista Spider on the street nearby. He felt terrible about being late to his goddaughter's piano recital and he could only hope that he hadn't missed her solo. He quickly fixed his hair in the car window reflection before turning to look at the men who had parked behind him. "Pierre, Daniel, Carlos'' he said, "Let's go."

The four Formula One drivers took their seats next to the Bianchi family just as the curtain was beginning to rise. They had made it just in time. Charles didn't even have a chance to say his greetings to his own family before a rather short little girl in a familiar white Giorgio Armani dress walked on stage.

"Maintenant, Morgane Bianchi jouera "Für Elise" de Ludwig Van Beethoven au piano." the back-stage narrator announced.

Morgane gave a small wave to the crowd. As she turned to sit at the piano, something, or rather someone, caught her eye.

Charles had arrived!

She was both shocked and thrilled, and couldn't help but smile. But Morgane was quick to recall what she was here to do. She took a deep breath and placed her fingers on the shiny ivory keys. The notes rang out among the theater like soft wind gusts. And then it was over, as quickly as it had begun. Morgane hopped off the velvet bench and turned to face the audience as they erupted into applause. She blushed and looked down at her shoes. When she looked up, her eyes met the all-too familiar ones of her godfather. That's when she knew she had been perfect.

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