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Description
May 1, 1786
Claudia woke up rather abruptly this morning, I watched her in the mirror, her back curled at the awkwardness of the corset; her white powdered wig seemed to dance above her head in the candle light. The window behind the mirror pattered as the rainfall beaded against it, soon the gardens will be full of rain and the backstreets would be submerged in mud. Vienna was in utter silence. I was clenched tightly in the palm of her hand. Claudia was nervous, my delicate sides were squeezed to the brim, the lace beginning to coil, her sweat raced along my creases. She breathed heavily upon me; she was tensed, poised, and ready. At the time all I could think about was that I was only a fan used to cover her beauty or to fan her in heat, not relieve stress. Claudia had over heard earlier yesterday while standing in the pantry that her mother had been cordially asked to attend Mozart’s new opera, “The Marriage of Figaro” in the imperial court theater, the Burgtheater of Vienna. The enlightened Emperor Joseph ll had given permission for the comedic opera to be performed that day. Claudia had wished all her life that she could finally witness such grander as that of an opera.

It wasn’t until later that day that Claudia would discover her mother would be bringing her to the opera with her. Claudia would dress in her best, her maids assisted her into her most extravagant gown that flowed to the floor with elegance, and she placed me gently in the front of her within a hidden pocket. After lunch we would progress towards the theater. First Claudia would eat, she and her mother dined on the luxury of wiener schnitzel, thinly-sliced piece of round veal and a large glass of wine to wash the flavor down and to calm her of her anxiety.

Afterwards a young boy in a petty waistcoat and ruffled wig assisted her to the carriage where her mother awaited. She fanned me harshly and briskly, I could feel her hand tremble under her gentle, soft gloves. Her hat escaped from her head, revealing her wig which blew in the calm breeze like gossamer. Her face grew hot, her pale checks began to turn a shade of rose, and I could sense the intensity of her embarrassment. It all soon passed though once the young gawky boy pranced after the hat, retrieved it and placed it kindly back on Claudia’s head. She then settled herself in the carriage fanning me gently across her cheek; she patiently waited for the carriage to begin moving.

We arrived at the Burgtheater rather early. Claudia, uneasily hid herself behind me as though I would protect her from the unknowing. She walked quietly and slowly following her mother fanning me unsteadily, she was trembling she was so nervous. Her mother introduced her to a number of noble high class men and women. One young man, with a rather bluish powdered wig made his presence clear by talking rather loudly of the political issues and the male role in today‘s society, making the conversation rather awkward for Claudia and her mother. He wore a green velvet waistcoat over a silk shirt with lace trims. His blue stockings glimmered in the candle light and made it almost unbearable to look at. He was rather outgoing and forced himself into others conversations, but it would all soon be over as Claudia had heard the bell which called everyone forward to their seat. Claudia gracefully took her seat near the center of the theater with her mother. She glanced about noticing all the beautiful gowns and wigs throughout the room; she was trembling again, squeezing me tightly. I could feel the lace sown on my edges beginning to rip.

The cherry red curtain parted swiftly revealing a chalk black stage with multiple candle lights set out around it. The music quietly at first, then dominantly produced notes of such beauty that they rang out through the entire theater, it were as if the angels were singing from above. Claudia swiftly propped me open and began to fan the sweat from her brow. A man and woman walked upon the stage, both dressed in exaggerated gowns and waistcoats, one was the character, the Count whom no longer loved his wife while the other was the Countess, his distrustful wife. They sang out beautifully, their voices echoed off of the walls and roof. Then more characters began to appear on stage, it was as though they were flowing from the walls. Their costumes glimmered and gleamed on stage. As Act 1 came to a close I could feel Claudia’s breathe burning away at the back of my base, the opera would continue on for another three more acts.

As Claudia left the Burgtheater with her mother, I could sense that her mother had been rather irritated by the display seen on stage. She told Claudia, Mozart’s new opera was mocking their own upper class. She was dismayed with the opera but Claudia was rather opposite. Claudia couldn’t have been more ecstatic over the entire opera, with the costumes, the music, and the quality of it all. Claudia placed me back in her pocket as she walked towards the carriage for the return ride home.

If I would have known of the rather large puddle before the carriage I would have known to try and stay in Claudia’s pocket, but as it seemed Claudia did not even realize the puddle was there. She slipped but was able to remain standing. She lost her hat again which, the young boy again was sent to retrieve it, but she had forgotten about me. When she slipped I had fallen out of her pocket and onto the ground, submerged in mud. I watched the carriage ride away as I lay there in silence wondering if and when Claudia would realize my disappearance.

Description
May 1, 1786
Claudia woke up rather abruptly this morning, I watched her in the mirror, her back curled at the awkwardness of the corset; her white powdered wig seemed to dance above her head in the candle light. The window behind the mirror pattered as the rainfall beaded against it, soon the gardens will be full of rain and the backstreets would be submerged in mud. Vienna was in utter silence. I was clenched tightly in the palm of her hand. Claudia was nervous, my delicate sides were squeezed to the brim, the lace beginning to coil, her sweat raced along my creases. She breathed heavily upon me; she was tensed, poised, and ready. At the time all I could think about was that I was only a fan used to cover her beauty or to fan her in heat, not relieve stress. Claudia had over heard earlier yesterday while standing in the pantry that her mother had been cordially asked to attend Mozart’s new opera, “The Marriage of Figaro” in the imperial court theater, the Burgtheater of Vienna. The enlightened Emperor Joseph ll had given permission for the comedic opera to be performed that day. Claudia had wished all her life that she could finally witness such grander as that of an opera.

It wasn’t until later that day that Claudia would discover her mother would be bringing her to the opera with her. Claudia would dress in her best, her maids assisted her into her most extravagant gown that flowed to the floor with elegance, and she placed me gently in the front of her within a hidden pocket. After lunch we would progress towards the theater. First Claudia would eat, she and her mother dined on the luxury of wiener schnitzel, thinly-sliced piece of round veal and a large glass of wine to wash the flavor down and to calm her of her anxiety.

Afterwards a young boy in a petty waistcoat and ruffled wig assisted her to the carriage where her mother awaited. She fanned me harshly and briskly, I could feel her hand tremble under her gentle, soft gloves. Her hat escaped from her head, revealing her wig which blew in the calm breeze like gossamer. Her face grew hot, her pale checks began to turn a shade of rose, and I could sense the intensity of her embarrassment. It all soon passed though once the young gawky boy pranced after the hat, retrieved it and placed it kindly back on Claudia’s head. She then settled herself in the carriage fanning me gently across her cheek; she patiently waited for the carriage to begin moving.

We arrived at the Burgtheater rather early. Claudia, uneasily hid herself behind me as though I would protect her from the unknowing. She walked quietly and slowly following her mother fanning me unsteadily, she was trembling she was so nervous. Her mother introduced her to a number of noble high class men and women. One young man, with a rather bluish powdered wig made his presence clear by talking rather loudly of the political issues and the male role in today‘s society, making the conversation rather awkward for Claudia and her mother. He wore a green velvet waistcoat over a silk shirt with lace trims. His blue stockings glimmered in the candle light and made it almost unbearable to look at. He was rather outgoing and forced himself into others conversations, but it would all soon be over as Claudia had heard the bell which called everyone forward to their seat. Claudia gracefully took her seat near the center of the theater with her mother. She glanced about noticing all the beautiful gowns and wigs throughout the room; she was trembling again, squeezing me tightly. I could feel the lace sown on my edges beginning to rip.

The cherry red curtain parted swiftly revealing a chalk black stage with multiple candle lights set out around it. The music quietly at first, then dominantly produced notes of such beauty that they rang out through the entire theater, it were as if the angels were singing from above. Claudia swiftly propped me open and began to fan the sweat from her brow. A man and woman walked upon the stage, both dressed in exaggerated gowns and waistcoats, one was the character, the Count whom no longer loved his wife while the other was the Countess, his distrustful wife. They sang out beautifully, their voices echoed off of the walls and roof. Then more characters began to appear on stage, it was as though they were flowing from the walls. Their costumes glimmered and gleamed on stage. As Act 1 came to a close I could feel Claudia’s breathe burning away at the back of my base, the opera would continue on for another three more acts.

As Claudia left the Burgtheater with her mother, I could sense that her mother had been rather irritated by the display seen on stage. She told Claudia, Mozart’s new opera was mocking their own upper class. She was dismayed with the opera but Claudia was rather opposite. Claudia couldn’t have been more ecstatic over the entire opera, with the costumes, the music, and the quality of it all. Claudia placed me back in her pocket as she walked towards the carriage for the return ride home.

If I would have known of the rather large puddle before the carriage I would have known to try and stay in Claudia’s pocket, but as it seemed Claudia did not even realize the puddle was there. She slipped but was able to remain standing. She lost her hat again which, the young boy again was sent to retrieve it, but she had forgotten about me. When she slipped I had fallen out of her pocket and onto the ground, submerged in mud. I watched the carriage ride away as I lay there in silence wondering if and when Claudia would realize my disappearance.