Hello, Readers!
I hope you enjoy this chapter. This and the previous one were meant to be one, but I thought they would make a very big chapter. I had a nice and hard time writing them, so tell me what you think, and sorry for the delay again!
Thanks to meghankatherine, the single soul who reviewed the last chaper….what's happening with you, people?
To the chapter!
Chapter Twenty-one: Happy Christmas!
None could have been more certain had they guessed Marta and Gretl would be the first ones to wake up, but wouldn't be much right if they said the girls would go to Georg or Maria's room at once, for the two run downstairs to see what 'Santa' had left in their socks. Well, not exactly in their socks, for the presents they got were much too big to fit such a small place. Under each sock on which Marta and Gretl's names could be read were four different sized-packages. The girls took the packages excitedly and began to unwrap them, marvelling at each present they found inside the paper boxes.
"Oh, Gretl, look at this dool!" Marta exclaimed holding a doll that looked like a real baby.
"Yes, I got one too!" her sister said, showing Marta her brand new doll. "But mine has different clothes. And I got a big bear, look!"
But Marta didn't pay attention, for she had just opened a slim package containing a parasol, a pink parasol. "Oh, my God!" she exclaimed bewildered. "How did Santa guess, Gretl?"
"What?"
"He gave me a pink parasol!"
"Oh, and he knew I wanted this dool too, and a new jumping rope," Gretl said, unwrapping another package. "How come?" she asked. "Hey, look, you have a package like mine. Open it!"
The five-year girl was right. Marta found a bear similar to Gretl's but the little scarf around its neck was blue, not red.
"And this is a present from Father," Marta indicated, putting the parasol and the bear aside and grasping a soft package. "You have one too," she pointed.
The packages revealed clothes made of a thick grey fabric. "What is it?" Gretl asked, unfolding the material.
"I guess they are travel clothes," Marta replied, examining her own present. "But what for?"
"We'll have to ask him," Gretl concluded. "Come on, Marta, let's go wake the others!"
The two run upstairs again, but didn't get to reach their destiny, which was their Father's room, because someone stopped them.
"Hey, watch out!" Brigitta exclaimed after almost bumping into Gretl.
"Hi, Brigitta, Santa brought us presents!" the yougest girl said excited. "Come get yours!"
Brigitta smiled at Gretl's innocence, forgetting her annoyance. "Don't you want to call the others first?" The girl knew how much they liked to wake their siblings in the mornings of special days, like Birthdays or Christmas.
"That's what we were going to do. Come with us!" Marta called.
"Come where?" a voice asked from behind their backs.
The three turned at once, startled.
It was Maria. "Good morning, girls!"
"Oh, good morning, Fräulein Maria," Brigitta greeted, while Marta and Gretl run to hug Maria.
"What's all that about?"
"Oh, Father!" Brigitta cried, making her sisters release Maria and look up at Georg.
Soon the boys left their rooms too and were, if possible, more excited than Marta and Gretl.
"I guess there will be nobody for us to wake up," Brigitta said in a playful tone.
"Of course it will!" Gretl replied almost offended. "Liesl and Louisa are still asleep!"
Georg and Maria laughed. They were sure that Liesl wouldn't mind being awaken, but Louisa, they all knew she always complained when someone interrupted her sleep, even with presents awaiting her downstairs. Anyway, it would be no use warning Marta and Gretl about Louisa, they simply wouldn't listen. So, while the two risked their lives, the others made their way to the living room.
Marta carefully opened Louisa's door. "Come on, come on," she whispered, holding Gretl's hand and shoveling her into the room.
"Louisa, Louisa!" the youngest girl cried, shaking her sister's shoulders.
Louisa merely grunted, rolled to the other side and covered her head with a pillow.
"Louisa!" Gretl insisted, running to the other side of the bed.
"Oh, go away, live me alone!" the girl replied curtly and, unwillingly, threw her pillow on Marta.
"Hey, that's not fair, I didn't do anything!" the brunnete complained. Now she was impelled to help her sister get Louisa out off bed.
The two shook her shoulders once more, but she didn't sit up. So they decided to pull her, and, using all the strength they were able to muster, they made Louisa fall on the floor, complaining madly.
"I won't let it pass!" she warned, but Marta and Gretl were already gone when she managed to get up, holding the pillow with one hand and rubbing her eyes with the other.
"Come to Liesl's room when you are ready!" Marta cried from outside, after having slammed the door behind her.
They didn't have to awake Liesl, for she was almost ready when the two opened her door, not even bothering to knock.
"Hey, I told you you must knock before entering someone's room!" Liesl admonished, fastening the last buttons of her dress.
"Oh, sorry!" Marta apologized.
Liesl rolled her eyes. "Alright, girls. I'm glad you came here, anyway. Would you help me with our surprise?"
The two had completely forgotten about that. "Father's surprise!" Gretl exclaimed agitated.
"Of course, where is it? And what about the flowers?" Marta inquired, as excited as her younger sister.
The children had decided to prepare a Christmas present for their Father, to celebrate his 'return' to them. Louisa had the idea of collecting pictures of them and organize a photo album. They had all liked the idea, agreeing that it wouldn't be wise to include pictures of Agathe in it, for they didn't want to awake in him memories he'd rather keep aside. As much as they loved their Mother, they wanted it to be a new beginning. Besides the album, Brigitta had suggested they gave him a new pen, because she had heard him say his old one hadn't been working properly. Thus, the oldest children and Maria saved some money to buy Georg a fine brand new pen.
And then there was Maria, the children hadn't forgotten about her. Liesl asked their Father to give them some money to buy a present for her, but he had told them not to worry about that, for he had already bought her a gift. Not having another option, they saved money for another present, besides the pen they would give to Georg, and bought Maria a big bouquet of primroses.
Marta, Gretl and Liesl took the photo album, the pen and the flowers and headed to Louisa's room, since the girl hadn't come to Liesl's.
"Still in your nightdress, Louisa?" Liesl asked, entering the room with Marta and Gretl on her heels.
"I know, I know," Louisa muttered impatiently. "But I have already chosen my clothes," she added changing her tone and pointing at the yellow dress spread on her bed, as if it was a big deal. "Where is the pen?" the girl inquired, seeing only the flowers and the album.
"In my pocket," Liesl replied, uncounsciously touching the object inside the pocket on her skirt.
"Hurry up, Louisa!" Gretl exclaimed. "Don't you want to get your presents? I've already unwrapped mine," she said self-counsciously.
Louisa washed herself up, changed her clothes and took the bouquet from Liesl's hands. "How are we supposed to hide this?"
"You'll find a way, Louisa. Come on."
The four girls finally made their way to the living room, were their siblings had already unwrapped the packages they had found either in or under their socks. While Liesl and Louisa reached for their presents, Marta and Gretl wanted to see what the other had gotten. Therefore, under the eyes of Georg and Maria, Brigitta showed them a book, a blue scarf, a drawing kit and grey travelling clothes. All the children got clothes like that. Briggita had shot an intrigued look at her Father when she opened the package containing those clothes, but he simply smiled at her, saying nothing. Friedrich, besides the travelling clothes, showed them a new hat, his boots and a few pairs of socks. "These socks go with the boots," Georg had explained. When his turn came, Kurt proudly showed boots and socks like Friedrich's, as well as the grey clothes and a brand new ball, for the one he used to have had been used so much that it didn't even bounce anymore.
Then it was Liesl and Louisa's turns to show the others what they had found inside their packages. The oldest girl had gotten from her Father a delicate silver ring, to match the collar and the bracelete she had gotten for birthday. Among her gifts were the travelling clothes and a scarf like Brigitta's, but white. In her sock, near the fireplace, Louisa had found a jewel too, but hers was a golden collar with a small pendant shaped like a heart. Maria had noticed the girl seemed to want to abandon some of her tomboyish features; giving her a fine jewel was a perfect way to help her in that task. Louisa loved the gift, which was among the travelling clothes, a lilac scarf similar to Liesl's and Brigitta's and a drawing kit exactly like Brigitta's. Maria knew the girl wanted one like this, and had thought that Brigitta would want to have one too, for, when her spare time wasn't spent reading a book, playing a card game, singing or playing, she enjoyed drawing.
All the time Georg and Maria observed the excited children open or enjoy their presents, almost all of which they had chosen and bought together. Almost all, because while Maria chose Marta and Gretl's dolls, Georg went to the jewelry, where he bought Liesl's ring, Louisa's collar, and a special present for Maria. In fact, Georg had a special gift for each of his children, and he wanted to give them personally. Thus, after they all had opened and admired their presents, he spoke.
"Now, children," he started in a loud tone, making them turn to him at once, including Maria, who had encouraged him in this project, where it didn't concern her own gift, of course. "I have yet another present for each of you." Now he had created a riot.
"What is it, Father?" Friedrich managed to speak above his siblings' voices.
"Well, if you let me speak," Georg said, and some of them felt silent.
The oldest boy looked at the ones who were still talking. "Kurt, Gretl!" he cried, nudging his brother, who gave him an annoyed glance.
"Well, come here, Gretl, and outstretch your arm," Georg requested, making all the children look from him to their youngest sister.
The girl thought he was angry with her. "I'm sorry, Father."
He smiled at her. "I won't scold you, Gretl, come on."
Gretl walked to him and did what he wanted. He reached inside his left pocket and retrieved a tiny golden bracelet, which he fastened around his daughter's wrist.
"Oh!" was all she said when her Father showed her her name carved on a small rectangular plate.
"I'm glad it still fits you," Georg said to the little girl, who giggled, proud of her new gift. "We had a bracelet like this made for each of you, girls, but I'm afraid only Gretl's and Marta's will fit," he explained. "Come on, Marta, it's your turn now. Give me your hand."
The von Trapp girls didn't know about those bracelets, Georg had never mentioned them, and they had worn the jewels only when they were infants. Like all the things that brought him memories of Agathe, the jewels had been put aside, but not forever.
"Where is ours, Father, mine, Brigitta's and Liesl's?" Louisa asked after Georg had fastened the bracelet around Marta's wrist, getting from her the same reaction Gretl had showed.
"I don't have them right now. You can have it later if you want," he said.
"Of course we do!" Louisa exclaimed, and the other two agreed.
"Alright, Louisa," Georg said sighing. Considering his second oldest daughter for a moment, he spoke, "as you insist so much on having your present, I won't disppoint you. He reached for a long and slim box that laid atop of others on a small pile on a nearby table. "Here," he said, handing her the object.
Louisa opened the box. At first, she couldn't tell what was inside, but then she realized. "Oh, is it an authentic spy-glass?" she asked excited, bringing it to her right eye and spying around the room.
"Yes, Louisa, the finest of all!" Georg replied laughing. He knew the girl would like the spy-glass. It was exactly the kind of object she enjoyed dealing with.
Louisa looked at him through the lens. "Where did you find it?"
"In my own collection of old objects," he explained. "You should know that a Sea Captain without a spy-glass is like a fisher without a fishing pole."
Bewildered, the girl took the object away from her eye, and her jaw dropped open. She couldn't believe her Father was giving her such a dear belonging. "Oh, Father, thank you!"
"I'm sure you'll make a good use of it, Louisa," he said, getting from her a nod of agreement that was followed by a wide smile.
Maria squeezed his hand, telling him he had made the right choice, and, before coming back to the small pile of packages, he winked sideways at her. Then he retrieved a rectangular-shaped parcel, and turned to his eleven-year old daughter. "This is yours, Brigitta," he said, walking over to the girl.
After taking the package and unwrapping it, Brigitta stared in awe at what she had in her hands. "It's a diary, isn't it?" she asked, sliding her hand through the notebook and stopping on a small locker.
"Yes, but it's not an ordinary diary," he replied, and then his gaze went back to Maria, who already knew why the diary was so special. He didn't see pain on her expression, but a reassuring smile that could have sent away from his mind the smallest sign of apprehension. "Open it."
Brigitta gasped at what she read on the first page.
"To AgatheMay this book keep alive your dearest memories.
Your loving Father"
She tried to speak, but the words got stuck in her throat. Georg took her in his arms an let his daughter bury her head in his chest, feeling her tremble softly. He knew Brigitta was his most emotional child, thus the one who would most like to receive that diary he so much treasured.
The girl looked up at her Father. "It was really Mother's?" she stuttered.
"Yes, darling, you Grandfather Markus gave it to her when she was your age," Georg said. "But she never got to write on it," he added, letting go of the embrace but holding her shoulders. "Now you have the chance of making it up for her."
Brigitta nodded and affectionatelly pressed the diary against her chest.
Georg reached for what had been a pile of presents and now had just two packages left, and took a square-shaped box. "Kurt," he called, and the boy's face brightened when his Father gave him his present. "Open carefully."
Inside the box were several tiny tin soldiers, that had belonged to Georg himself when he was a boy. Some of them had broken, but he had managed to save the others and store them, telling himself that one day, if he ever had a son, he would present him with the soldiers. However, when the time had come and his eldest son reached the age at which a boy usually enjoys playing with this kind of toy, those soldiers had been long forgotten in the far depts of Georg's closet.
"Wow, I didn't know you had soldiers as cool as these!" the boy exclaimed excited, examining one of the toys.
"I had forgotten about them myself," Georg laughed.
"Can you believe your Father used to play with tin soldiers, Kurt?" Maria asked. "I can't!" she added playfully.
"I bet he did!" Louisa cried, making everyone look at her. The girl knew her Father couldn't have been always strict, he must have been a normal child, a happy one even. He must have been a loving man too, because she was sure her Mother wouldn't have married the man he had turned into after her death. During the past four years, it was this certainty that had kept her from going mad in her most grievous moments.
"How can you be so sure?" Friedrich teased.
"Well-" Louisa didn't want to recollect those painful years, so she made up another answer, an almost silly one. "Why else would he have them?"
"You are right, Louisa," Georg agreed. "See, Kurt," he said, taking the soldier from his son's hand. "Those little cracks don't lie."
The boy laughed and proudly put the toy back in the box, along with his companions.
Once again, Georg reached inside his pocket and retrieved something from there. "Friedrich," he spoke, and his eldest son stepped forward. His Father took his hand and placed in it a circular object. It was a silver-chained watch, which had come to Georg's hands after several generations. Friedrich held the chain and examined the watch closely. "This watch was given to me by my Father, your Grandfather Johannes, who received it from his Father, and it's been in our family for years."
"Oh-" Friedrich said, realizing the meaning of the gift Georg was giving him.
His Father smiled at him. "Thus, I want you to keep it as a real treasure, and let it stay with us for many generations ahead. I trust it will be safe under your care, son."
Friedrich looked from Georg to the watch and back to his Father. "It will," the boy assured, feeling grand.
"Now, Liesl," Georg called his eldest child, who looked at him with a smile on her face. Having all the family reunited there, truly enjoying those simply moments, meant much to her. It was something she would've never imagined to experiece just a few months ago. Every year, since her Mother died, and her Father closed himself to his children, she hoped that at least during Christmas he would show him some affection. However, much to her disapointment, and despite the expensive presents he gave them, he remained the cold man he had turned into, until Maria's arrival. Their governess - yes, Liesl, governess - had been a real blessing to them. Being together was all that mattered, and right then and there, it was made clearer than ever before Liesl's eyes. So it was with all the cheerfulness in the world that she approached her Father when he said her name.
Georg took the last box, which happened to be the biggest, and handed it to Liesl, whose eyes were fixed on him.
Liesl opened the package, which had been carefully and nicelly wrapped. "Fräulein Maria's job," she thought amused. Inside, she found a rectangular wooden box, in which were carved shapes that looked like flowers.
Georg observed Liesl's reaction, and waited anxiously while she realized what she had in her hands. After the first look, the girl examined the object more closely, and her fingers fell on a pointed edge that she discovered to be the end of a lid. The interior was covered with red velvet, what made her realize it was a jewelry box. "It does come in handy," she told herself. It was true, after all, she had just began to build a small collection of jewels, which included the collars she had gotten from Rolf and Friedrich, the bracelet Max had given her and now the ring she had just received from Georg. Liesl opened her mouth to speak, but her jaw dropped instead. She saw a name carved in a small handwriting on the inner side of the lid. It said Agathe. "Oh," the girl choked, the lid fell shut and almost caught her fingers. "Father," Liesl muttered, looking up at him, her eyes teary.
"That jewelry box was very dear to you Mother, Liesl," Georg said, his anxiety being replaced by a deep feeling of peace.
"Thank you, Father," the oldest girl said hoarsily while tiptoeing to place a kiss on his cheek.
"I know it will be very dear to you too," he whispered, softly rubbing her back.
"Liesl!" a squeaky voice broke the moment.
"Oh, Gretl," Maria admonished, holding the little girl back, but it was too late.
"Alright," Liesl nodded, turning away from Georg and smiling at her impatient sister. "We prepared something for you too," she told, looking between Maria and her Father.
"Oh," they let out, sharing an intrigued but amused look.
"Go help Louisa, Gretl," Liesl demanded.
The girl didn't need to be told twice. She followed Louisa outside the living room, where they had left Georg's and Maria's presents, and took the bouquet, trying to hide it behind her back, to no avail. When the two returned to the room Marta ran to Gretl and the two held the flowers together. Their siblings observed excited while the two approached the sofa where Maria and Georg sat.
"This is for you," Marta said, placing the bouquet in Maria's hands.
"Darlings," she replied in awe, looking at each of the children, who smiled broadly. "Hum, those primroses smell so good! How did you discover they are one of my favorites?"
"We did a little research," Brigitta grinned, winking at her Father.
"Oh, thank you ver much!"
"We wanted to buy something else, but we didn't have money," Kurt told much too honestly.
"Kurt!" Friedrich spatted, but his brother didn't even look at him.
Maria laughed. In this matter, Kurt was just like her, awfully honest. "It's alright, Friedrich," she assured. "Those flowers mean more to me than you can imagine.
"But are less than you deserve," Louisa spoke, surprising everyone. "I mean it, we can't be thankful enough for having you here with us," she added a bit embarrassed, looking down and entagling her fingers behind her back. Maria was one of the first people Louisa had chosen to truly open her heart to. The other was Liesl, and, more recently but with much more difficulty, her Father.
"Oh, Louisa," Maria said deeply touched.
"It's true," the girl replied, but quickly changed the subject, not giving anyone a chance to speak. "Oh, Father, we have something for you too. Two things, actually. Here," she said, taking a flat wrapping from beneath her coat.
Georg looked suspiciously at her, hoping it wasn't one more of their tricks. "No," he told himself. "They don't do it anymore."
"Take it, Father!" Gretl exclaimed anxiously.
Georg laughed and took the present, only half aware of eight pairs of eyes staring at him. When he ripped the paper off, though, he became completely unaware of them. He was holding an old and ragged photo album, the best one his children had been able to find. But what mattered was inside the album, which was full of pictures from times he had forced himself to forget, but had been willingly to remember lately. With Maria's help, they had carefully arranged the pictures in the album. On the first page he saw seven chubby babies, some of them sleeping peacefully and others looking at him in awe. Throughout the pages, he saw a six year-old Kurt, with ruffled hair, and a big smile on his face, showing something to whoever had taken the picture. On the next picture was a very little Brigitta, apparently angry because someone had taken her chocolate away from her. On another page Georg spoted a pram, in which he recognized Gretl, her arms outstreched as if trying to reach the camera. Marta was holding the pram, smiling with pride of her new baby sister.
Then he saw Liesl in her fisrt day of school, her hair curled up in a red lace her Mother had bought specially for the occasion. Below Liesl was a picture of a very blond Friedrich, his blue eyes shining in the sun, his smile broad. The boy was five years old in the picture, which had been taken on their terrace while he played with his sisters, in a sunny Sunday of June. Louisa's freckled face was there on the following page. The girl wore a dress that made her look like a little dame, and a delicate hairdo that could have fooled anyone about her personality. The only sign of her tomboyish manners were her dirty hands, which couldn't hide the fact that she had just been playing with mud instead of dolls. Their pictures were all over the album, and he examined each of them with nostalgia, hoping that he hadn't come back to them too late. The last picture told him that maybe it wasn't so. There was their most recent picture, but they weren't only seven. Maria was there too, and everyone was smiling broadly at the camera. They had taken that picture on a street of Salzburg, giving a hard time to the photographer that had been trying to arrange them in a fine position.
"How did you like the surprise, Father?" Marta asked happily when Georg finally closed the album.
He couldn't find words that would describe what he truly felt. He couldn't even distinguish the feeling, but knew it was a good one. "It was certainly a surprise," he started.
"But did you like it?" Kurt asked impatiently.
"Yes," Georg replied, his eyes not on Kurt, but on Maria. He knew she had something to do with that, and couldn't be more right. Felling her squeeze his hands, he spoke, "The album is lovely, you can be sure it will have a place amongst my most valuable belongings."
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Liesl cried, startling the others, who apparently had also forgotten whatever it was. "There is something more," she added, reaching for a pocket on her skirt. "Here."
Georg opened the small wrapping that contained the pen bought with their own money. "How on Earth did you know I needed a new pen?" he asked playfully.
"A green bird told them, darling," Maria replied, winking at Brigitta.
"I see," he said puzzled, taking mischievous grins from each of them, including Maria. "Well, thank you, anyway." Georg carefully placed the album on the table where other presents had just laid. Then, for the last time on that night, he took something from a inner pocket on his suit. It was a small box made of black velvet, his present to Maria. "Maria, I want you to receive this gift as a simbol of our love for you," he declared, surprising everyone, even the children.
"Oh, Georg," was all she could say while taking the present. Inside the box she found a silver ring with a white brilliant.
"I would say it's our engagement ring," he said to a wordless and actionless Maria. "Let me do it," he asked, taking the ring from the box.
Maria gave him her right hand, letting him slide the ring on her finger, watching in awe while he did so. Georg held her hand and admired the perfect combination the ring made with her soft and delicate skin.
"Thank you, darling," she muttered, letting herself get lost in his arms, unaware of her surroundings.
As the children observed them, rather than being embarrassed, they felt extremely gleeful and lucky for being able to experience such wonderful moments.
The Christmas morning wore off in the von Trapp Villa, and only when lunch time came they realized they hadn't had breakfast. The family spent the rest of the day at home, enjoying their presents and, most of all, being together.