Chapter One
Maria bent over to pick up Gretl's shoe, her hand on her belly. The little seven year old left her belongings all over the house. She was getting to be worse than her older sisters.
Maria shivered. Would she never get used to these Vermont winters? It had been two years since they left Austria, and she still couldn't completely adjust. Leaving the Von Trapp estate in Salzburg, and escaping to Switzerland had been hard enough. But their plight had only become more difficult from there. Americans were not welcoming of anyone who spoke German. They were all riled up about the prospect of war, when it came to their own safety. But they did nothing to help those suffering in Europe.
When they had first arrived in the states, the children had spoken no English, and she only spoke what she had picked up here and there. Thankfully Georg was fluent in the language. But finding work in this small town was still difficult. No one was above persecution. Even the German's who had been living on this continent for generations were teased and tormented. And for an Austrian family, new to America, it was even worse.
She gazed about her small home remembering the grandeur of Salzburg. Her whirlwind romance with her employer. The Baroness. Maria wondered what had become of the Baroness. Uncle Max had written of her often, until that fateful day a little less then a year ago, when they learned that Holland had surrendered to the Nazis and Uncle Max had disappeared. He had gone there, as it was presumed that Holland would stay neutral, but no such luck. It was assumed he was dead, because no one had heard of him since then. The family had lost any hope of ever seeing their beloved Uncle.
Suddenly the front door burst open, and a wall of cold winter air, filled the small house. Brigitta, Gretl and Marta came running through the door, with Kurt on their heels. He was absolutely covered in snow, and looked furious. It seemed as if the little girls had gotten the better of him.
"Mutter!" Maria headed down the hall, delighted to see the children. "Mutter!"
"Yes, darling?"
"Kurt says he's going to get me back!" Gretl bawled, crocodile tears rolling down her cheeks. And then the four of them were off, switching back and forth from english to german. Maria's english hadn't improved very much since arriving. Her main concern was her family, and they all spoke german. It hadn't taken long for the children's english to surpass hers.
She still tried to learn the language, but it was confusing. Now with the baby on the way, and the winter setting in, there wasn't any time. When she had first arrived, Maria had thought she would have become friends with some of the local woman. This hadn't really happened. Mrs. Schraknepper down the road was friendly enough. But once again no one really wanted to speak german, it brought to many glares.
The children had all rushed passed her, as she sat and pondered all of this. They were probably in the kitchen looking for something to eat. Actually it was guaranteed that Kurt was in the kitchen. At 12 he had always been hungry, at 14 he was constantly ravenous. Maria turned slowly, her hand upon her stomach, and walked towards the kitchen.
And there you have it. I hope you liked it!