It was a quiet Sunday Morning, perfect for Georg Vontrapp to go and check up and maybe go for a ride on one of his noble steeds. He didn't get much time to enjoy himself when the children were around, so this was a perfect opportunity for him to unwind whilst the children were still visiting their grandparents.
As he was walking to the stables he sensed a movement near the lake he had an idea of who it might be and so decided to go investigate. As he expected the little girl from next door was sitting on the grass with her little feet dangling in the warm water.
"Haven't I told you before that your not allowed on my property?" Asked Georg in a stern voice.
The little girl immediately stood up and faced him.
"Ye..yes you did Sir, but I couldn't help myself it's Sunday which means daddy is home and it's not nice when he's around all the time." Said the little girl looking down and clutching the hem of her patched up dress.
Georg felt bad for the little girl but rules were rules.
"I can understand that but like I've said you have no right to be here without permission." Said Georg crossing his arms.
"Why don't you give me permission then?" Said the little girl mimicking his action.
Georg Vontrapp was thinking about her offer and decided to give her a chance, besides this could be the ideal way to find out more about her awful situation at home and maybe about her beautiful mother as well.
"Very well, but only when I'm watching you so you don't get into trouble." The little girl squealed with delight and sat back down again. Georg did the same, feeling kind of silly for sitting on the grass with his horse riding trousers, something he'd never usually do.
Both of them were quiet for a little while, but he eventually broke the silence.
"You've mentioned before that you don't like it when your daddy is home, why is that?" Asked Georg while looking at the girl.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Well my daddy gets angry very fast and he hurts mummy a lot."
"Has he hurt you before ?" Georg knew this was dangerous territory but he had to know, she could be in danger.
"Well he tried to hurt me a few days ago when I tripped because I was wearing mummy's heels, but mummy stepped in front of me and he hit her instead of me." It all made sense now, that's why she was hiding when he came home the other day and also why her mother had a large, purple bruise on her cheek.
"Little girl, I've only just noticed I don't know your name." Georg felt embarrassed at not having asked before.
She gave a little giggle.
"It's Hazel, because of my eyes, at least that's what mummy Maria told me." The little girl gleamed when she said her mother's name.
"Do you love your mother a lot?" Asked Georg smiling.
"Oh yes, very much! She plays with me, tells me stories and sings for me." Said the little girl kicking her legs in the water of the lake.
All he could do was smile and think of his late wife, she too had a strong bond with his children, he missed her deeply. While in thought, he failed to realize the little girl hugging him deeply.
"Hazel!" Called an angelic voice in the distance.
"That's mummy, I must go, but thank you for talking to me Sir." And in a flash she ran away.
Georg couldn't help but smile, he felt good but also terribly sorry for Hazel and her Mother.
Georg was enjoying his Sunday evening while having supper when he heard a frantic banging on his door. He rushed and opened the door, stunned at who he found standing there, the beautiful yet bruised woman from next door. He was snapped out of his thinking when she started going off at him.
"How dare you! I don't know who you think you are but you have no right to probe my daughter for questions about what goes on in my life." Said Maria out of breath.
"Madam, with all due respect that was not my intention, I merely wanted to know why your daughter spends most of the day on my property, which is off limits may I add." Said Georg in a firm voice and to his horror she started crying.
"No no please, I didn't mean for you to get upset."said Georg in panic.
She gave a little chuckle. "Not to worry, it's not you, I guess I'm just emotional today. I'm sorry Hazel has been disturbing you lately, she just gets bored being inside all day and we don't have any room to play outside." Said Maria drying her tears with her hands while trying to smile.
"Well there's no harm done, I rather like her company actually, she's full of love and life, she's welcome to play here in the day, if that's okay with you and your uh...husband." Said Georg feeling slightly uncomfortable at the mention of her husband. Maria looked down and started crying again and in a flash she was in his arms hugging him tightly, and to his surprise he was hugging her back.
"Thank you, thank you so much, you have no idea how much this means so to me." Maria couldn't help but sob.
They parted and Maria blushed slightly.
"Well I should probably go now, Hazel shall be looking for me. Good night." And just like that she was gone.
When Maria entered her house once more, she was confronted by an angry husband.
"Who was that man you were talking to?" Spat Sebastian.
"Oh that's our next door neighbour, I um just thought it would be best to get to know our neighbours." Said Maria nervously.
"Your not lying are you Maria? You know I hate it when you lie!" Screamed Sebastian.
"I swear I'm not, I promise." To her surprise he turned around, and she let out a long sigh of relief, only to gasp again as he turned around once more very fast and slapped her across the face, causing her to lose her balance and fall to the floor.
"You stupid woman." Said Sebastian laughing.
While lying on the ground in pain all Maria could think about was that hug she shared with her neighbour, he was different...He was warm.