Finding a Home

Georg and Maria were both early risers. Georg's time commanding a submarine had him awake at first watch; which was around four in the morning. Maria woke early too. She had been programed as a postulate to wake for first prayers; which were right before the sun rose.

They both peeked out their rooms at the same time. Georg motioned to her to come to him. He told her.

"I'll go see if I can get us coffee this early."

Maria waited where she was; she did peek into her room to see if either of the girls were stirring. She found them both still sound to sleep. In the meantime Georg had been able to obtain coffee this early; but he found more than that. He came off the elevator with a cart laden with pastries, milk and a pot of hot coffee. He took it to his room. They kept the door open.

Maria suspected Kurt and Louisa would be the first to wake. She was right. Georg heard their voices and stepped into the hall and told them.

"Please get dressed; there are pastries and milk in my room. Your Fräulein is there too."

Georg woke the others; Maria woke Marta and Gretl. And the family consumed almost all the foord on the cart. Georg and Maria laughed when they heard Kurt.

"This should last me a couple of hours." The other children snickered after Kurt comment. Liesl changed the subject by asking. "What are we going to do today?"

"We need to find us a place to live."

"Georg, before we leave here I'd like to go to the church near here just to pray.

"Thank you Maria, we do need to thank the Lord for our safe travel."

This group of nine walked to this small church and entered a dimly lit sanctuary; a priest noticed them.

"May I help you?"

"We just came to pray and thank God for our safe travel."

"Stay as long as you need to."

"Thank you."

Maria led them to a pew. Marta and Gretl sat between her and Georg; all the others were on the other side of their father. Maria didn't need a prayer book; she knew all the prayers from memory. She prayed loud enough for the others to hear. First was a prayer of thanks for safe travel and then a prayer asking God's blessings as they found a home.

Upon exiting the church all the children spoke of their excitement of finding a home. Friedrich asked. "How do you find a home in this big city?"

"I'm going to ask the desk clerk at the front desk of the hotel if knows someone who can help us."

Georg did ask and the man surprised him by telling him about a large house which his friend was selling. He offered to call him. And the children were whispering to Maria. "I can't believe we may have found a home."

"I'm excited too children."

Soon the desk clerk ended his telephone call. "My friend, David Kamer, is anxious to meet you. He's coming here to take you to see it."

"My family is anxious to see it too."

"Children let's go to our rooms and use the bathroom then we'll be ready when the man arrives."

Seven excited children hurried up the stairs. And soon everyone had returned to the lobby.