"I am not finished yet, Captain!" Maria shouted as she was trying to put
some sense into the man before her. "Oh I think you are, Captain!
Er...Fraulein." Captain von Trapp stood before Maria, boiling with anger.
Fraulein stood still for a moment, a bit startled and triumphant at catching a
so-called high-ranking sea captain at fault. "Now. You will pack your bags
this minute, and return to the abbey." Turning to go to the house, he was
stopped by the sound of beautiful voices coming from his villa. He turned
back to Fraulein Maria."What's that?" Sounding a little harsher than
intended. "It's singing." Maria replied facetiously. What is the matter with
him? Who else could it be? The Captain looked back, surprised at the
revelation. "The children?" He whispered. He walked into the house quickly.
As he peeked into the living room, he was touched to see his children, all of
them, standing in their rows, singing one of his favorite songs, The Sound of
Music. They sing so well! Oh, how it brings back those beautiful memories
back when Agathe was still alive. I want to join them in their singing. No! I
mustn't. I must remember that reliving those memories would only harm me.
I must not……..oh its so hard! I can't do this anymore; I've got to sing it
with them. "To sing through the night, like a lark that is learning to pray. I go
to the hills, where my heart is lonely" I watch the children look at me in
astonishment. "I know that I'll hear, what I've heard before." Slowly, the
children join me. "My heart will be blessed, oh-oh, with the Sound of mu-
sic. And I'll sing, once more. "Slowly, the Captain walked to his children,
unsure of what to do, to show his children that he was willing to show
affection again, to show how sorry he was. Hesitantly, he drew out his arms,
as if asking for a hug. Brigitta was the first one to take him in for a hug. The
other children soon followed suit. Fraulein Maria had seen this, as she had
heard the sound of someone joining the children. Smiling, she looked down.
After a while, the Captain noticed his children looking at something- or
someone at the doorway. Turning, he saw Fraulein Maria peeking through
the doorway. Seeing that this was her cue to leave, Maria quickly left to go
to her room and pack her bags. The Captain immediately went after her.
"Fraulein." Maria stopped moving, and turned to face him. "I….behaved
badly. I apologize." The Captain said apologetically. Fraulein said, "Oh, I'm
far too outspoken. It's one of my worse faults." "You were right. I don't
know my children." The Captain said, musing. Fraulein Maria, not at all
used to the way the Captain was acting, started walking again. "Fraulein."
Again, Maria stopped at his voice. "I want you to stay. I…ASK you to stay."
"If I could be of any help." She said, with a look of hope written on her face.
"You have already, more than you know." The Captain said. Then he walked
back to where his children were waiting for him, leaving Maria behind with
her thoughts. Fraulein Maria stood there, shocked at what she had just heard.
After his words begin to sink in, she clasped her hands in delight, and went
to her room to get changed.
Captain Von Trapp stood, looking at his children with awe. They were so
forgiving, he mused. He was eternally grateful for the chance that his lovely
children were giving him, despite all he had done to them. Thank you, God.
He whispered. "Father, " Said Leisl, breaking his thoughts. "Yes, Leisl?" He
replied. "Where is Fraulein Maria? I thought she would be down by now."
She asked, worriedly. "I'm sure she's fine, Leisl. Do you want to go get
her?" "Yes, Father. I'll be right back." Leisl said, jumping out of her seat.
Running up the stairs, Leisl went up to her fraulein's room, and knocked on
the door. "Come in." Said Maria. Leisl poked her head in the room.
"Fraulein, why are you still inside? Shouldn't you be downstairs, for
dinner?" The governess smiled at her concern. "I'm fine, Leisl. I just fell
asleep, is all. I'm sorry to keep you all from eating your dinner."
Leisl, relieved, said, "Oh no trouble at all, Fraulein. I was just worrying."
"Well, thanks for your concern. We should probably go downstairs now. I'm
sure Kurt is getting more impatient by the second!" Fraulein said smiling.
Laughing, the two women went downstairs, arms linked.