Maria's POV
This morning Maria woke Liesl up first. When Maria went to wake up Brigitta, Maria was surprised to see Brigitta up and reading. Maria asked "What are you doing up so early?"
Brigitta said "I wanted to talk to you before the others woke up".
Maria asked "About what?"
Brigitta asked "Did father yell at you?"
Maria said "Not really. Why do you ask?"
Brigitta said "Because father was mad".
Maria said "Well it was late. Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?"
Brigitta said "No that's all".
Maria said "Since you're the only one up would you like to help me?"
Brigitta said "Sure" and put down her book. Maria thought no questions? It's another start.
Maria said "We're ready, okay Brigitta can you get the tape measure off the desk".
Maria continued measuring Liesl with Brigitta's help. Brigitta asked "Fraulien Maria why are we measuring Liesl?"
Maria said "I'm going to make you children something you can play in".
Brigitta asked "What are we going to play?"
Maria said "You'll see soon enough".
Brigitta said "But how soon".
Maria said "Just as soon as I finish making clothes for everyone".
All three of their thoughts started wandering. Liesl thought When will Rolfe come to deliver my telegram. Brigitta thought why is fraulien Maria so different from the other governesses. And Maria thoughts I wonder why the captain left so early and so close to Marta's birthday.
What brought them back to reality was when someone knocked on the door. Maria said "Come in".
Frau Schmidt opened the door and said "Good morning fraulien Maria and- Brigitta, Liesl? What are you doing in here so early?"
Liesl said "Fraulien's taking my measurements".
Frau Schmidt asked "Measurements for what?"
Maria said "I'm making them some play clothes".
Frau Schmidt said "You spoke to the captain?!"
Maria said "Yes he wouldn't give them to me and since these curtains are in perfect condition and are getting replaced it'd be a waste to throw them out and while the children are in my care, they will have fun".
Frau Schmidt said "Well I do miss the laughter. The curtains have been delivered and men are about to put them up".
Maria said "Okay Liesl we'll continue in you room and tell me your design".
Liesl said "I have a better idea come on".
Maria asked "Where are we going?"
Liesl said "In the attic mother wanted to be a fashion designer".
Brigitta asked "She did?"
Liesl said "Yeah but father put all her stuff in the attic. We should probably wake up the others because there's pictures and other stuff they'll want to see too".
Maria said "Alright Liesl wake Louisa, I'll wake up the little ones and Brigitta wake up the boys" and they left.
Liesl said "We'll meet you back here".
Maria woke Marta up first. Maria put on Marta's slippers. Maria said "Go in Liesl's room". Marta didn't ask any question but obeyed.
Maria walked to Gretl's side of the room and heard Gretl say "Roses on raindrops".
Maria said "Gretl wake up sweetheart".
Gretl slowly opened her eyes and said "Fraulien".
Maria said "Yes".
Gretl said "I was dreaming about my favorite things".
Maria chuckled and said "Go in Liesl's room". Gretl obeyed with no questions either.
Brigitta's POV
By the time, Brigitta got Kurt & Frederich out of bed everyone was already waiting in Liesl's room. When they walked in, Maria said "Now that everyone's here today we'll be going in the attic".
Kurt and Frederich shared a confused look. Gretl said "We have an attic?"
Liesl said "Yes".
Louisa asked "Why are we going in the attic?"
Fraulien Maria said "Because Liesl has something up there that will help me".
Louisa said "None of us has anything in the attic".
Frederich said "And father wouldn't approve of us snooping through his stuff". Maria thought Frederich definitely likes to be approved by his father.
Liesl said "We're not snooping beside there's other stuff up there besides father's stuff".
Louisa whispered "But we're supposed to be scaring her off not making her feel wanted or welcomed".
Liesl said "Well I've had a change of heart".
Louisa said "Overnight doesn't make sense".
Brigitta said "Let's take a vote".
Liesl said "Yes, all in favor of trusting fraulien Maria raise your hand.
Liesl, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta & Gretl's hand went up. Liesl said "All in favor of not trusting fraulien Maria".
Louisa & Frederich's hand went up. Liesl said "Well it's settled we'll trust fraulien until we have a reason not to".
Kurt said "I'm hungry".
Brigitta said "But you're always hungry".
Maria said "Well let's not stand here with our stomachs grumbling" and they went downstairs.
While we were eating, Maria said "Today we're going to get to know each other a little better".
Kurt asked "How?"
Maria said "By going through the alphabet naming 1 thing from every letter that we like. Fo example for A I'd say apples, now you go Marta".
Marta said "Addition".
Liesl said "Apple pie".
Kurt said "Appetizers".
Brigitta said "Authors".
Gretl said "Apple strudels".
Maria said "Okay B. Brigitta or Brown paper packages".
Marta said "You forgot to say tied up with strings".
Liesl said "Boys".
Louisa said "Bedrooms specifically mine".
Liesl said "Do you have to ruin everything fun?"
Louisa said "I do like my bedroom".
Brigitta said "Ignore her and she likes bugs".
Marta said "Baby dolls".
Gretl said "I was going to say that".
Maria said "Well it's okay if you like the same thing".
Kurt said "Brownies".
Maria asked "What about you Frederich and Louisa?"
Frederich said "I don't know".
Maria said "Louisa?"
Louisa said "I don't know either and you shouldn't care".
Maria said "And why shouldn't I care?"
Brigitta and Liesl looked at each other knowing their thoughts were fraulien's different. Louisa said "Because you shouldn't".
Maria said "Okay C. Chocolate".
Kurt said "Cake".
Marta shyly asked "Can I say chocolate too?"
Maria said "Of course".
Frederich said "Champions".
Louisa elbowed him. Frederich said "That hurt".
Louisa said "Serves you right making friends with the enemy".
Liesl said "Louisa give her a chance".
Louisa said "I don't recall you giving her a chance last night and now you're all buddy - buddy with her and considering it was your idea to put leaves on her bed".
Liesl said "I already apologized for it".
Louisa said "Why? It was your idea to get rid of the governess".
Liesl said "Fraulien Maria's different".
Louisa said "I don't care just finish up your little game so we can go for our walk".
Maria thought Louisa will be the hardest one to earn trust from. Maria said "Anyone else? Okay D. Dreams".
Gretl said "Dolls".
Kurt said "Donuts".
Liesl said "Dancing".
Frederich said "Dummies".
Gretl said "I got one for E".
Maria said "And what might that be sweetheart?"
Gretl said "El- e- phant".
Maria said "My, my that's a big word".
Kurt said "Eggs".
Brigitta said "Ecosystem".
Maria said "No one else? Alright F. Frederich".
Kurt said "Fries".
Marta said "Favorite things".
Gretl said "Fraulien Maria".
Frederich said "Funny stuff".
Maria said "Alright G. Gretl".
Kurt said "Gritts".
Marta said "Girl dolls".
Frederich said "Grey".
Maria said "H. Hills".
Brigitta said "Harry James an author who wrote Love is its Own Story".
Liesl said "Handsome men".
Gretl said "Holidays".
Kurt said "Ham".
Marta said "Hats".
Maria said "I? Anyone?"
Marta shyly said "Igloos".
Gretl said "J for jumping".
Kurt said "Junk food".
Brigitta said "Jokes".
Maria said "No one else? Okay K".
Brigitta said "A knitted scarf".
Gretl said "Kites".
Marta said "Knots".
Liesl said "Kisses".
Maria said "Anyone else? Okay L. Lakes".
Liesl said "Love".
Frederich said "Lizards".
Kurt said "Lemons".
Gretl said "Lemonade".
Maria said "M. Mountains".
Brigitta said "Moby Dick".
Marta said "Melons".
Kurt said "Marbles".
Maria asked "Anyone else".
Frederich said "Magnets".
Maria said "Okay N. Nonberg abbey".
Liesl said "Necklaces".
Gretl said "Nice people".
Kurt said "Noisy days like today".
Maria said "Anyone else. Okay O. Outside".
Frederich said "Octopuses".
Marta said "Oranges".
Gretl said "Oreos".
Kurt said "Oatmeal".
Maria said "P. Picnics".
Marta said "Princesses".
Gretl said "Ponies".
Brigitta said "Ponds. Q".
Maria said "Quilts".
Gretl said "Queens".
Louisa said "How about some quiet".
Liesl said "Quit being stubborn. R. Romance".
Maria said "Roses".
Gretl asked "What about the raindrops?"
Maria said "I like those too".
Gretl said "Raindrops".
Frederich said "Reptiles".
Marta said "Rabbits".
Maria said "S. Singing".
Marta said "The sun".
Kurt said "Snakes".
Liesl said "Salmon. T".
Marta said "Turtles".
Frederich said "Tarantulas".
Brigitta said "Thanksgiving".
Gretl said "Today".
Maria said "U. Anyone?"
Marta said "Uncle Max" and the children were all talking over each other about him.
Maria asked "Who's this uncle Max you're all so fond of".
Louisa said "Obviously he's our uncle".
Kurt said "He's a musical talent seeker".
Brigitta said "He's really fun".
Liesl said "And funny".
Marta said "He always brings presents".
Liesl said "He's everything father once was outside of a musical talent seeker".
Maria thought the captain telling jokes? That's not the one I met. Liesl said "I know what you're thinking fraulien and yes father was funny when mother was alive".
Frederich said "Liesl we shouldn't be telling father's business".
Maria said "Well shall we go to the attic" and we left.
Kurt's POV
When they got in the attic Frederich and Louisa decided not to go even after Liesl said we'll see pictures of mother before we were born but they didn't want to go because they don't like fraulien. Fraulien asked "Liesl what does the book look like?"
Liesl said "Brown and dusty".
Fraulien said "Kurt Brigitta check those boxes, Marta and Gretl check over there and Gretl you'll check over here with me".
Marta said "Look Liesl".
Brigitta asked "What is it?"
Liesl said "It's mother and father at their wedding. Too bad the others had to miss this".
Kurt said "It was their choice; they chose not to come".
Marta said "Look fraulien doesn't father look handsome".
Maria thought heavens yes. Liesl said "Marta you can't ask fraulien that".
Marta asked "Why?"
Liesl said "Because she's a nun and can't have an opinion on men".
Maria thought but I do. But why? Maria said "Well I'm a postulant".
Gretl asked "What's a posulant?"
Brigitta said "It's postulant and it's a nun in training".
Marta asked "What do you think fraulien?"
Fraulien said "Well I think your parents made 7 great children".
Kurt said "You mean 5".
Fraulien said "No I mean 7 just because Louisa and Frederich are downstairs doesn't mean they aren't great children".
Marta said "But they don't like you".
Liesl said "Marta! Don't say that or you'll hurt fraulien's feelings".
Marta started crying and said "I'm sorry fraulien I didn't mean to hurt your feelings".
Fraulien said "It's alright Marta".
Marta said "No it isn't, I hurt your feelings".
Fraulien said "No you didn't".
Marta said "But Liesl said I did".
Fraulien wiped away Marta's tears and said "Well she meant well".
Brigitta said "Yeah she was just looking out for fraulien like she looks out for us".
Marta said "So, I didn't hurt your feelings".
Fraulien said "No and even if Louisa and Frederich don't like me it doesn't mean they're not great kids".
Marta said "Okay".
Kurt said "I found it".
Liesl said "Let me see" and flip through the pages.
Liesl said "This is it".
When we got down, fraulien said "Alright Frederich you next".
Frederich asked "Next for what?"
Fraulien said "To be measured".
Frederich said "I'm 5'9".
Fraulien said "I meant for play clothes".
Frederich looked intrigued and followed. Fraulien said "Liesl while I'm measuring Frederich-".
Liesl said "I know pick out a design".
Kurt asked "What are we going to do?"
Louisa said "We're going on our march".
Fraulien said "Nope while you guys are in my care you'll have fun, look through the book with Liesl and pick out a design".
The children went in the other room to look at the book they found in the attic.