The Lion Comes Home

After Liesl left her, Maria got ready for bed. She knelt by her bed and said her prayers. Her light was off; she slid under the covers and closed her eyes. But sleep did not come; her mind was much too active.

Maria wondered why Rolf hadn't tried to come see Liesl; and why was he standing with those boys in those Boy Scout look-alike uniforms. She recalled her first conversation with Liesl. She had asked her about Austrians who wanted to be Germans.

And now that she wasn't living at the Abbey she sometimes heard the news on the radio and had begun to read the newspaper. She remembered reading about a German Youth Army. It occurred to her that those boys they saw in those Boy Scout look-alike uniforms could be in that Youth Army.

All of this was a mumble-jumble in her mind; a question kept coming forth. Was Rolf in this Youth Army? She said a quick prayer. "Please God, for Liesl's sake, don't let it be true."

Maria knew she had to get some sleep. She recited a Latin Mantra several times and finally she lost her thoughts and fell asleep.

The next day, English, spelling and writing kept the children busy all morning. By lunch time it was raining again. Maria had found a supply of clay. She covered their tables with brown paper and they made what they wanted from the clay. There was no kiln; the creations were set in the sun to harden. And a few days later, they painted them.

The next day was the same. But this time Maria had them put on short plays, many from nursery rhymes. Ellen helped them sew together simple costumes. They gave a performance for Frau Schmidt; even Franz sat and watched. And of course they continued to sing. They were always ready to learn a new song.

This pattern of being nice and sunny while they did their lessons and raining in the afternoon went on for another day. Finally, Kurt had had enough.

"Fräulein Maria, can't we switch our schedule and get some fresh air in the morning and do our lessons in the afternoon?"

"Of course we can. But you need to promise me you will do your lessons in the afternoon. No telling me you're too tired."

"It's a deal, Fräulein."

That became the routine. Just like it was routine for Liesl to visit with Maria at night after the others went to bed. They chatted about all kinds of things.

Maria had learned a great deal about the Captain's wife. Liesl had remembered seeing them sit for hours discussing their future together.

And one night she spoke about her death from Scarlet Fever. Liesl told her. "My mother nursed all of us back to health: ignoring the possibility she could get sick too."

Maria tried to show her understanding. "Mothers are like that. They will do anything for their children."

"After her death, Father began to take long trips. I know now; he couldn't bear to look at us. Each of us has some feature which reminded him of her. And he didn't allow us to sing; he could hear her voice."

"Is your mother's portrait downstairs?"

"Yes, a friend painted it before Gretl was born."

"Even I can see how much you children resemble her. Liesl, everyone takes a different amount of time to move on after the death of a spouse. I remember being sad a long time after my parents died. Maybe I thought I never wanted that to happen again. Maybe that was why I found being a nun my calling."

"I respect you. But I do wish you weren't leaving us in September."

"Something good will happen, Liesl; I'm sure."

Another day, Maria overheard a conversation between Frau Schmidt and Franz. "A month has almost past; I suppose we can expect the Captain and his guests any day now. I should be ready, Franz. I'll prepare the largest room for Frau Schraeder and the room down the hall for Herr Detweiler."

"He must be living in Vienna now. It's been a while since I've seen him."

"It's been the same for me."

Maria was thinking. Hmmmmn, a lady friend, maybe she's the woman Frau Schmidt thinks he might marry before the summer is over, Now she was really glad she had a song the children could sing when she arrived.

After a couple of days of all day long rain, Liesl saw that it wasn't raining and suggested her brothers and sisters put on their play clothes. Then she went looking for Maria.

"Can we go outside today, Fräulein? It's nice and sunny."

"Of course, I have cabin fever too. Let me see if the cook could put together a lunch basket. We could eat in the park."

Maria received the answer she expected. "Of course I can Maria, Give me about thirty minutes."

They had been gone about two hours when Franz heard voices outside the front door. "Welcome home, sir."

Franz greeted the man who stepped out of the car. "You haven't changed a bit Herr Detweiler."

"How many times do I need to tell you, Franz? My name is Max."

"It's a habit, sir. I'll try."

Franz offered his hand to Georg's lady friend. Georg spoke. "Let me introduce you. Please meet Frau Schraeder." And he turned to the woman. "My butler, Franz."

"Pleased to meet you, Georg tells me you were with him in the navy."

"Yes, I was his orderly. Go on inside Captain, Frau Schmidt is waiting for you. I'll get your bags."

"This is the lady who runs the house, Frau Schmidt, the housekeeper."

"Hello madam, do you have help running the house?"

"Yes, mam, I have two excellent housemaids."

"Frau Schmidt, we'll be on the terrace. Please tell Franz."

"I will, sir."

Frau Schmidt was thinking to herself. She's not at all like Agathe. They're not even holding hands. I know they've been seeing each other for a time; I remember taking a telephone call from her before he came home to replace the last governess. I don't hear wedding bells.

She didn't see them on the terrace; nothing spoke of a pending marriage. When Franz came to the terrace with a tray of cookies, he found them on opposite sides of the fountain.

Georg seemed to be in his own world; his arms were folded around him. He was almost statue-like. He asked Franz if Herr Detweiler knew they were on the terrace. He was told he was still on the telephone. Georg moved to the other side of the terrace. There he resumed his statue-like stance.

Georg refused a cookie from the tray Franz offered to him; as Elsa had done. "Have you seen the children, Franz?"

"Not yet, sir." Georg returned to his pensive posture.

Elsa began a conversation. "Georg, these mountains are beautiful."

Georg told her these mountains were not like other mountains; they were friendly. A simple conversation continued. Georg continued to stand with his arms folded; no hand holding; no arm around Elsa's waist. His face was stern and his eyes were searching. He couldn't help but wonder where his children were.

Elsa subtlety compared him to a cold stone mountain. She paused. "But you keep moving."

Elsa wondered. "How do you leave here so often?"

"Maybe I'm looking for a reason to come back here and stay."

"I really like it here, Georg."

"So you like here."

Still the Captain showed no affection and asked questions as if he was on his first date with her. Her responses were similar.

"Yes, but I will need to spend some time in Vienna. I have the corporation to run; I'm the president now."

"You're the president?"

"I knew long before my husband died, I would take over one day. It happened sooner than I expected."

Franz interrupted. "Excuse me Captain; Herr Detweiler would like his coffee now."

"While he's still telephoning?"

"He just finished, sir."

Max ventured to the terrace already bemoaning the difficulty he was having finding acts for this year's music festival. He made-up some excellent choices, which Elsa would love to hear. Then confessed he had but one little act, a barber.

Max had never been to Georg's home here in Nonnberg. The gong of a bell drew a reaction from Max. "Georg, is there a cathedral near-by."

"Yes, at our Abbey, Nonnberg Abbey."

"Do they have a choir?"

"A beautiful one."

"As a government official, I need to visit all the places around here for the next few days listening to various kinds of singing groups."

Georg chided him, "You'll be here for meals."

Max's response changed the subject. "Who lives in that dilapidated castle down there? Rumpelstiltskin?"

"Baron Eberfeld, the oldest family in the valley."

Elsa entered the conversation. "I'd like to meet him. I want to meet all your friends. Georg, why don't you give a dinner while I'm here?"

"I wouldn't know who to invite. Today it's hard to tell who's a friend and who's an enemy. I can't understand where the children are. Let me go look for them,"

After he was out of ear-shot, Max asked. "Elsa, is Georg going to marry you?"

"Yes, there seems to be something standing in his way."

Max gave her a funny reason. "You're both too rich."

They began to sing a silly song about how rich people have many obstacles to find love forevermore. Georg returned. "I can't find them anywhere." His eyes continued to search for them.

Elsa and Max finished their song. The Captain's attention was distracted by voices and footsteps. He soon saw a young man; he had no idea he was Liesl's boyfriend. He was accompanied by two other boys who happened to be dressed in those Boy Scout look-alike clothes.

Georg immediately got out of his chair and firmly inquired. "What do you want?"

Rolf was stunned to see anyone and definitely not the Captain. He was tongue-tied; he mumbled. "I didn't know you were…" Then, raised his hand and shouted. "Heil!" The German greeting was copied by the other two boys.

Now Georg was alarmed. He walked closer. His face taunt and his eyes glared at them. He yelled. "Who are you?"

"I have a telegram for Herr Detweiler."

Max got out of his chair and took it from the boy. Georg watched him; his face fixed and his eyes burning with fire. As soon as Max took the telegram from him, he shouted at him, with vile in his voice.

"You've delivered your telegram, get out."

"Georg, he's just a boy." Elsa said in the boy's defense.

He was quick in his response to her. His voice was stern and forceful. "I'm an Austrian, I will not be heiled!" He was lost in his own thoughts. I can't believe she said that; I wonder where her allegiance lies.

Elsa was rattled; this was a side of Georg she hadn't seen before. She had no idea Georg was a staunch Austrian; she wasn't. In the business world you straddled the fence when it came to dealing with Germany.

Max left the terrace to take a telephone call. Georg was now alone on the terrace, deep in his thoughts. Suddenly, he heard voices and laughing.

He saw his children had entered the terrace playing a game of leapfrog. They didn't notice Max walk by them; he didn't speak to them. Although, he did notice their clothes.

Maria saw the Captain and shouted. "Your father's home."

Seven excited and happy children rushed to him; Gretl and Marta had their arms around him; the others had surrounded him. "We missed you."

Georg immediately returned to military mode; his hand couldn't find his trusty whistle fast enough. He blew it in their ears.

They moved away from him; they were in shock. They stood there staring at him. When they didn't move, he screamed, "straight line."

His voice scared them; they moved as if they were shot out of a canon. He walked behind them. "Get cleaned up and back in your uniforms, at once!" The lion roared.

Georg had no idea how their faces looked. Each one stared straight ahead; each stifled tears which were about to fall. But for Kurt and Brigitta it was almost a lost battle.

They didn't move. He whistled the march-cadence as he walked behind the single file line. All seven of them marched by Maria; Marta looked at her as she went by; her eyes wide open, glossed over with tears. Her little mouth was turned down like an exaggerated clown's sad mouth. Her's wasn't funny; it was pitiful.

Their tears were shed as soon as they were out of his sight.

The Captain turned his attention to Maria who was about to follow the children into the house.