Chapter 12: Leaving
September 17, 1938
Well today has been interesting so far. Today Max took us to our dress rehearsal at the festival. That was fine, but we are all worried. Yesterday Germany took control over Austria. There was still no sign of Father and Mother by the time we were at rehearsals. The only thing that really made me mad was that I saw Rolfe. Now I know that he can't be nice to me fro his reasons, but he was so mean. This was not businesslike, this was mean. His words were stern and rude. I thought he loved me. I suppose though that things change very easily. I left to go home very unhappy.
When we drove in Father was standing there ripping down a red flag. Hmm…I remembered the talk we had with Herr Zeller about we were the only house in the area that was not displaying a third Reich flag. He said he had taken care of it. Did he dare to put one up on our house? Father covered the flag and we got out to hug him. Maria came out of the house wearing a yellowish outfit. The children hounded her with hugs and kisses. Father joined us after a minute and soon it was a big family hug again. They told us they missed us so much. Then Brigitta told them we were singing at the festival. Father got upset and told the children gifts were on the terrace for them. They raced to the backyard. I stayed with Mother. We walked inside. Maria tried to convince him to get us to sing, but was unsuccessful. Suddenly, while Max and father were quarreling, I remembered the telegram. I handed it to father and he went into his study to read it.
Mother and I walked to a couch and sat down. I told her I loved calling her Mother and that I could tell she loved Father. I asked her what you do when someone stops loving you. She told me to wait a while and then the sun will come out again. Father came in and told me he needed to talk to Mother. I walked out of the room to the terrace to see the children. After a few minutes Mother called me back inside. She and Father explained to me why we had to leave. Father gave us a hug.
"Maria, Liesl can help the children after you explain what to do to them, I want you to go to our room and get some rest okay, my love?" He kissed the top of her head and left us. I was dying of curiosity. As we walked up stairs I couldn't hold back any longer.
"Mother why is he so adamant about you resting? You are okay right?" I asked.
"Of course I am fine Liesl. He is just concerned." She said.
"Concerned? Why?" I asked.
"Well he is worried all this madness might hurt the baby or me I suppose." She said smiling.
"You are pregnant!" I cried happily. "Were going to have a new baby?"
"Yes." She said. I gave her a huge hug.
"I hope it is a girl." I said. Mother laughed.
"Me too." She answered smiling.
"Father wants a boy, doesn't he?" I asked.
"Yes he does. He said there is way to many girls in this family. I'm sure he would not mind acute baby girl though." Maria stated laughing. "Liesl we can talk later, but we need to help them pack." With that we walked into the room. The children were gathered and Mother explained to them what we were doing. I told her to go and lay down and I could handle the rest. Finally after two hours we were ready. It was hard work trying to get the little ones to leave their favorite toys etc.
We tried to make our escape, but some Nazis caught us. They told us father was going to be escorted to Germany to accept his offer to work for the Nazis. So he told a complete lie that we were all singing in the festival. Fortunately for us we got away with it. They told us we could sing, and then he would be taken to Germany. I really hope father has a back up plan. He did give Maria a wink as we were getting in the car. Oh Father wants to talk to us. I will write whenever we get out of this.
September 18, 1938
Well Father told us what or escape plan was. It was pretty good I have to admit. We went to the festival. We were the last to sing. We sang "My Favorite Things" first, followed by Do-Re-Mi. After that Father was supposed tossing Edelweiss. It worked for a while. Then he lost it. He started to cry and couldn't sing. Mother walked forward and sang as she grabbed his hand. She motioned for us to step in too. Soon we were all singing and so was the audience. It sent chills down my spine.
We sang "So Long Farewell" as an encore. Little did the audience know that in that song we were really truly saying goodbye to them and our country. As each of us left we glanced back at Father and Mother. They looked so calm like nothing was happening. We ran off stage and soon Father and Maria joined us. Father raced up to one of the people that placed in the festival.
"I heard you got third, Congratulations!" Father started. I saw him talking to a woman who was slightly older than Mother.
"I personally think you should have won, you were the very best. Even Maria should not have beaten you. I want you to go up there and take your time when you get the award. Tell the second place people that too. This is your moment of fame don't pass it up." With that he kissed her on the check and led us outside. I glanced at Mother. She was trying not to laugh as we got into the car. We pulled into the Abbey soon after that. We rang the bell and waited.
"You know that no one can ever beat my lovely wife in anything, especially singing, right?" Father asked Mother looking lovingly at her. Mother smiled and he kissed her.
Reverend Mother opened the gates and let us in. We explained the situation to her and she told us we could hide there. After a few minutes the Nazis pulled up and rang the bell. Reverend Mother took us to the graveyard to hide. She told us that she would let us use her car, but the walls have been closed in Austria. Father decided that we would head to Switzerland over the mountains on foot. Oh wow. Maria was concerned with the children being tired, but I was more concerned about her. Walking that far, pregnant with a baby? I was terrified. I was even more scared when the Nazis came in to look for us. They banged about in search. Finally after what seemed like days they left. Then one came into view. I saw it was Rolfe. I let out a loud gasp. I couldn't help it. Father gave me that very annoyed look. It seemed everyone was gone so Father got up and started to move towards the gate.
Rolfe shinned a light on us. We had been caught. I screamed.
"Rolfe Please!" I screamed at him. Father quickly opened the gate and told Rolfe to wait. Then Rolfe pulled out a gun and pointed it at us. I can't believe he did that. Father told us to leave and we did quickly. Mother nearly had to pin me to the seat. I kept telling her he would shoot, and I thought I could do something. Mother tried to calm me down by telling me Father must have been in millions of situations like that before when he was at Sea. Well from the sound of her voice she was trying to convince herself. Finally Father came running out to the car. I said thanks to God quickly as I watched Mother breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Father jumped into the car with Rolfe's gun in his hand and we quickly left for the mountains. We reached the foot of the beautiful Austrian Mountains and parked our car. We quickly got out and started to climb. I had no idea where we were going or what was going to happen to us. We were really refugees escaping the Nazis. For most of the time we walked with Father in the front caring for Gretl and Mother and I helping out Marta. Later though Mother and Father were in the back and I was in the front. Father said he was concerned about Maria, but she seemed to be doing even better than him.
As we walked we could see the sun rising through the clouds. We had been walking for hours. Suddenly Father stopped. The rest of us stopped abruptly.
"Here we are!" He yelled. "Here is the Switzerland border." The children and I practically ran to it. Then Maria and Father walked into Switzerland hand in hand. We felt much more safe as we walked to find some village. Father obviously knew where he was going so we all followed him. Eventually we came to a beautiful small town. Father met with a few people and we were escorted to a small, but lovely country home. So that is where we are right now. Nice and safe in Switzerland. However we do not know exactly how or what we are going to do. How on Earth can a family of nine going on ten survive without any money? This remains to be seen I suppose.
September 20, 1938
Today is my seventeenth birthday. It has been a very fun day. We went to eat at this wonderful restaurant. It seems that the only way we can earn money is to sing. That seems to be the only solution to the money problem. Father of course does not want his family singing in public, but it appears there is no other way. I told my family not to spend anything on me, but here they are taking me out to eat. When we got home I was given a wonderful surprise. Father handed me a box. In it was a beautiful sapphire ring. He told me it was my Mother's. I was very touched, but I was even more touched when Maria handed me a blue faded journal and another old red journal.
"Here Liesl, I thought you might need these." She said. I was delighted. How did she know I kept a journal? She just seems to know everything. The day ended with some songs. I noticed in this journal I keep calling Maria either Maria or Mother. I always call her Mother when I speak, but I sometimes I write it down Maria. Hmm. Oh well. I have been thinking a lot lately. It is strange I used to believe that a home is a place you live in. I thought for the longest time that Salzburg would be my home forever. Now though I realize that a home is not really where you live, it is more of where your family is. I consider Switzerland my home now because this is where my family is. I wonder what our future will hold. Will we stay here forever? Will we move? Will we ever go back to Switzerland? Will I see Rolfe again? I have so many questions so I am sure my future will be exciting.
I don't know though. I am not sixteen going on seventeen anymore. I am a little sad to see that year-end. I honestly think it has been the happiest time of my life. So many interesting things happened. Father came back to us, Rolfe, Maria, Father got married, and we escaped to Switzerland from the Nazis. Can you ever top that year? I guess I will have to try.
~Well should I continue on and write more? Please review and tell me what you thought.