The Pianist

Chapter Four

Everybody tells a little white lie every now and again. They're harmless. They don't get anybody murdered. They don't ruin anybody's lives. No. Little white lies are innocent, and when used in moderation, can prove to be the most practical solution to an impractical problem.

Molly had never really lied before, until today. That didn't really mean much, because she's never really done anything she's needed to lie about. Today, however, that would change. She woke up that morning knowing that she was going to have to break some rules in order to be around that wonderful man, and breaking rules was not an idea she was familiar with.

Anyway, Molly hadn't found it hard to come up with a suitable alibi for her whereabouts of the day. She had originally cringed at the idea of lying to her nanny, but as she stood before her, pale chin jutted out, Molly found the simple slip of a lie off her tongue one of the easier things she has done in months.

"Nanny?" Molly chirped, standing in the entryway by the door. Her nanny was dusting a bowl of golden apples, which her father was rather proud of so he was sure to display them in the entryway where every human being who had ever entered the skyscraper would be sure to notice. Her nanny turned around, blinking over thick, golden goggles with slides of glass over her eyes which magnified them and made her look much like an extraterrestrial being. "I-I am going out today... I don't know when I will be returning."

So far, so good. Molly nodded rather awkwardly towards her nanny, turned completely around, and began to leave when her nanny's loud voice interrupted her. "OH WAIT, DEARY!" She yelled, her golden heels clanging on the white floor as she hastily left the room then re-entered and hurried over to Molly. Molly flinched, waiting for an interrogation. She was surprised when the nanny threw a thick, black fur coat at her. "You'll be needing this. The air is rather crisp this morning."

Molly sighed silently, instantly relieved she wasn't going to play twenty questions with her nanny. She slid the coat on, letting her guard down. She thought she was in the clear and home free to spend as much time with the pianist. Maybe she wouldn't have to lie. Molly was nearly out the door when her nanny spoke again.

"Wait! WAIT! You can't go into the city alone! It's dangerous for such a wealthy, young woman!" The nanny yelled, grabbing the door and holding it open as Molly stepped down the black, slushy steps. The morning doorman, stood by the double door, turning his head back and forth, hopelessly confused. He had never once seen Molly out so early. In fact, he realized he had never seen her the whole time he had worked there. She was always locked away in her room. The other maids talked about her. How needy she was. How much she sulked about the skyscraper. How she was such a spoiled, rotten brat.

"Look, Nanny," Molly flared, turning around in the slush, raising an eyebrow, "I'll be fine. He only lives two streets over!" She stopped suddenly. The look of anger faded dramatically and was replaced by pure dread. That was something she just shouldn't have said.

Her nanny, tilted her head, curious and suspicious now. "Who are you going to go visit, Molly?"

Molly did some quick thinking. Which of her suitors lived closest? She bit her lip, and then it suddenly occurred to her. "R-Raymond! The Toivonen's skyscraper!" She replied, lying directly to her nanny. The woman who had raised her from an infant. Molly couldn't help but think about how easy that was; It felt great to be a liar.

"Oh!" The nanny exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly and blinking her alien eyes in approval, "Oh! I just KNEW you would choose the Toivonen's son. Oh! He was certainly the best choice, yes. I mean, sure, he's somewhat of a weirdie, but... OH! MOLLY! YOU FINALLY HAVE SOMEBODY!"

Molly simply nodded her head, muttering, "Yes. Yes. Yes." over and over to please her suddenly talkative nanny. She began to turn, anxious to get away from something that could go so sour so quickly.