Time passes

The older children had progressed in learning to speak and read English enough to be advanced to a mathematics class. All the younger children were also doing well in learning to read and speak English.

And the three Navy men now had their United States Navy uniforms and continued their daily trips to the Navy building and assisted the President and his cabinet in decisions needed to help the United States from becoming involved with the threats and actions of the man Adolph Hitler. And they didn't share much with their families.

The men preferred to listen to their children who all spoke only good things about school. But school wasn't all about learning; they did attend the very first football game and saw the girls called cheerleaders leading the crowd in cheers to encourage the team to play well.

This prompted Louisa to ask her parents. "May I try-out for the Junior-Varsity Cheerleader team?"

Without hesitation Georg answered her. "Of course you may." And Maria added. "I'm sure you will be selected."

Louisa and her friend Audrey practiced every day after school. They were rewarded by being selected. They cheered at the first football game on the Junior Varsity Football team. The family was in attendance. Geog and Maria were very proud of their daughter.

The month of September went by quickly. The calendar now said October and soon the children would learn about Halloween.

Kurt had asked one of his classmates to tell him about it. "Kurt, it's a fun day. It began when people were afraid of evil spirits. They would dress up in costumes and make noise in the streets in order to make the spirits go away. Now children dress in costumes and go door-to-door to have candy dropped in their basket. People also take a pumpkin and take out all the seeds and with a knife they carve a face into it. A candle is put inside and when lit they have the name Jack-o-Lanterns."

"Sounds like fun now I'll tell my parents so we can join in the fun."

That's exactly what Kurt did. Everyone went to the town's Pumpkin Patch and selected a rather large pumpkin for the family's first Jack-o-Lanterns. The children watched as their father and Uncle Max carefully cut around the top of the pumpkin and then held the stem and removed the piece they had cut.

With their hands they scooped out the seeds. Now they cut openings for eyes, a nose and a large mouth with jagged teeth. Finally a candle was placed inside. The Jack-o-Lantern was placed on the porch. When evening came the candle was lit and everyone stood outside and had a good look at their first Jack-o-Lantern.

When Halloween night came, each child was in costume and the parents walked with them as they went to each house. When the door was opened, the children all said. "Trick or Treat." And candy was dropped into the bags each child carried.

They had received so much candy; it lasted until another new holiday was celebrated in November.

Marta and Gretl greeted Maria after school one day with this from Marta. "Gretl and I are going to be Indians in the school's Thanksgiving play."

"That's wonderful girls. Now tell me about Indians."

"We don't know. Maybe we will learn tomorrow."

When the other children came home, she asked them if they knew anything about Indians. Brigitta told her.

"Mother, they were people who were living in America when it was first discovered by Christopher Columbus. We live in the state where an explorer, Captain John Smith, established what was soon named a colony; or a settlement of people who lived together. Eventually other people came to America and established other colonies.

"All these people had one problem in common; the people were dying because of lack of food. In a northern colony in what is now the State of Massachusetts, the Indians there became their friends and taught them how to grow food.

"They celebrated together and over time that celebration became known as Thanksgiving. It soon became a holiday all Americans celebrate in November. Marta and Gretl are the Indians in their play."

"I suppose you will be told soon when your play will be preformed. Your father will be as anxious as I am to see it."

"Franz, will you tell us when it's time for father to come home so we can wait outside with you?"

"Of course I will."

The girls went inside to do their homework assignment; reading a story and writing a short sentence telling one thing they liked about it.

Soon Franz came into the room where the girls had just finished their homework. "Is it time for father to come home."

"Almost girls, we can wait together."

The girls had their eyes looking down the street. They spotted their father's car at the same time Franz did. They had to wait for him to park the car and turn off the engine.

Then they rushed to him. "Father, father, we're going to be Indians in our school play."

"My goodness you both sound very excited. Does your mother know?"

Just then he saw Maria; she held a broad smile. They're really excited Georg."

"I see that they are." They shared a kiss. "Do you know what this play is about?"

"Brigitta told me it an American holiday in November which celebrates the Indians teaching them how to grow food which saved them from dying from starvation."

"Seems we learn things about America everyday; I wonder what will be next."

"Something wonderful, I'm sure."