Prologue

Happiness abounded at the Trapp villa; first Maria and the children had put on a puppet show and then the Captain had been convinced to sing for them. As he sang Edelweiss, his eyes drifted to Maria. When he finished there was a few seconds of silence. It was Elsa who broke it. She asked Georg to give a party for her. Maria fulfills her governess's duties by telling the children it was their bedtime. The polite children said goodnight. Marta and Gretl each received a kiss from their father. Gretl is supper excited.

The Story Begins

Gretl went out the door backwards. "Father this will be my first party."

"Good night Gretl, sleep well."

Georg realized he was all alone; his eyes drifted to the spot where Maria had stood. He couldn't stop thinking about how lovely she looked, how loving; his heart actually started to beat a little faster as he thought about her. He sat there a few minutes; then he walked slowly past the ballroom, he reflected on the puppet show; he could still hear her voice in his head and then her absolute look of exhaustion when she finished. She was so unassuming she only had had praise for his children.

Upstairs, Maria was at Gretl's bedside. "You need to try and go to sleep Gretl. You haven't even closed your eyes once and I'm already on the second story."

"I'm too excited Fraulein Maria."

"The party won't get here any quicker if you stay awake all night."

She folded her arms around her and got into her stubborn mood that Maria had seen before. "You stay in bed; I'll be back after I check on the others."

Maria really needed time to think. The others were all quiet in their beds. She knew they would be asleep shortly.

Gretl was still wide awake. Maria had another idea. "You know this song, sing with me Gretl,"

All night, all day
Angels watching over me, my Lord
All night, all day
Angels watching over me.

Now I lay me down to sleep
Angels watching over me, my Lord
Pray the Lord my soul to keep
Angels watching over me

All night, all day
Angels watching over me, my Lord
All night, all day
Angels watching over me.

Soon her eyelids grew heavy. Maria continued to sing but very quietly. She stood at the door as she stopped. Gretl appeared to be sound asleep.

Elsa had already gone up to her room. Max found Georg in his study. "Join me for a nightcap Max?"

"Sure, why not. The children are really excited about the party, especially Gretl."

"Yes, I noticed."

Max finished his drink. "Thanks Georg, I think I'll turn in."

His room was on the third floor of the villa, it looked out over the veranda. It was a lovely night. Max decided to open the shutter like window. He stood there enjoying the view of the moon over the lake and the fresh night air.

His enjoyment of the night was disturbed by a small voice crying out, "Mama, where are you? Mama I need you." His eyes scanned the area below his window. He was startled by who he saw – little Gretl in her nightgown wandering and calling, "Mama, Mama."

Gretl was still a baby when Agathe died. Max couldn't comprehend why she would be calling for her mama. He was sure she didn't remember her. It was obvious to him that no one knew she was outside. As quietly but as quickly as he could he rushed outside.

Gretl was now crying but still calling for her mama. "Gretl, Gretl, it's me Uncle Max"

She just looked at him with a rather blank stare, "I want Mama," she said again.

"You want Fräulein Maria?"

"No, no, no, Mama, Mama," louder and louder.

Georg had just gotten to his room which also looked out over the veranda but from the second floor. He also had a habit of opening his window. The sound startled him. He could see no one.

"Who's down there?"

Max came out of the shadows. "Max, whose voice do I hear?"

"It's Gretl, Georg, I think she is sleepwalking."

Just then Gretl cried out, "Mama, Mama please come home."

"Stay right there Max, I'm coming down." He hurried to him.

"How long have you been with her?"

"Just a few minutes"

"How did she get outside? I didn't think she could open the door."

"Gretl, it's me your Father."

"No, I want Mama. Where is she? Mama, Mama!"

"Gretl you need to go inside let me carry you." He went to pick her up. She screamed. Maria's room was on the other side of the villa; she didn't hear all the commotion.

Frau Schmidt was still downstairs. She knew her voice and came running outside. "Georg, Max, what's going on?"

"It's Gretl, she's scared of me. Can you get her to come inside?"

"Gretl, will you come to me, dear?"

She had known Gretl since before Agathe died. Whimpering, she walked to her. "Where's mama? I want her."

"Let's go inside." Without a struggle she walked with Frau Schmidt.

Maria had decided to check on Gretl one more time before she went to bed. Maria looked down the hall, the bedroom door was open. She ran inside, Marta was sound to sleep but no Gretl. She panicked.

The quickest way down stairs was to slide down the banister. She landed safely on both feet as she heard voices coming from the door leading from the veranda. She could tell something was very wrong; the faces on all the adults told her and Gretl was walking like she was asleep.

Maria knew not to make any loud noise, she whispered, "What happened?"

Max answered, "We're not sure." He motioned for her to come close to him. Frau Schmidt walked on ahead with Gretl. "She got outside some how. She was calling for her mama. I think she was sleepwalking."

They both heard, "I want to go back to bed now." She turned and looked at Maria. "Will you sing that lullaby again?"

"Of course I will." Frau Schmidt and Maria put her back to bed. And then very quietly Maria sang that same lullaby; All night, all day Angels watching over me.

Maria closed the bedroom door. Georg and Max were waiting for them. "I think she'll sleep now."

"I hope so, Fräulein, please come get me if anything happens." Georg and Max left the two ladies alone.

"Frau Schmidt, has this ever happened before?"

"Not that I'm aware of, I think she will be okay now. Good night."

"Good night Frau Schmidt."

Maria had a plan. After she saw Frau Schmidt enter her room and shut the door; she went into her room and brought out a chair and sat it in the hall. She sat and waited.