Thank you all for the reviews I have received! Enjoy chapter 4.
Chapter 4
Hedwig and Erica woke up early in the morning to prepare everything for the day out with their grandmother.
"Oh my God, how long are you going to be gone? For a week?" Christine asked with her eyes opened wide when she saw the big portion of sandwiches the two girls were about to bring along for the picnic.
"Grandmother has always had a good appetite and we don't want to starve." Erica replied.
"Mother? Will you lend us your car? The walk might be too much for grandmother." Hedwig said.
"What might be too much for me???" Maria asked suprized as she entered the kitchen.
"Oh, grandmother.... I just asked mother if she could lend us her car, so that we won't have to walk all the way to the lake. It's about 2 miles away." Hedwig responded.
"Oh, my poor dear. Does your leg hurt? Do you have an injury?" Maria laughed.
"Mother, they only want to spare you from the long and exhausting walk." Christine laughed in response.
"Me? Listen girls, if my doctor hadn't advised me, I would climb up as high as the top of the Untersberg or at least I would take you to the mountain where I taught your aunts and uncles how to sing." Maria laughed and the other three joined her in the laughter. "And besides, I'm a danger on the road when it comes to driving." Maria laughed even harder.
"You? Who told you that?" Christine laughed.
"Who? Your father used to tell me that. So girls believe me, having me in your company walking is the safest way to get anywhere." Maria kept on laughing.
"Grandmother we are all set. So if you think we could leave now. The weather is so nice outside, I cannot wait to take a good swim in the lake." Hedwig said excitedly.
"Let's go then!" Maria instructed and the three of them were heading their destination.
Their walk was leading them on a secluded road surrounded only by nature. The two girls fully enjoyed their time out and also their grandmother's cheerful company.
"Okay, girls. There is no one around. Why don't we sing?" Maria offered.
"To sing what?" They both asked.
"Wait let me see... you surely know a few songs.... "Maria said and burst into the tune of "Edelweiss". The two girls looked suprized at first, but then quickly recalling the words of the song, they joined Maria. The lovely nature path was echoing with their cheerful voices. Their repertoire went from Edelweiss to other songs such as My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, that the girls had learned from their mother.
"Grandmother look... we are here!" Hedwig exclaimed pointing at the lake.
"Wow, that's pretty." Maria stated and the three of them went close to the shore and spread out the blankets.
"Okay, let's go for a swim first." Maria suggested and quickly, quicker than the girls she changed into her swimming suit. Before the two girls could think twice, their grandmother was in the water inviting them to join her.
"The water is nice and refreshing. Come on girls." She laughed. She didn't need to instruct them twice, the two girls followed her quickly into the water taking their ball with them. For a while they played a ball game in the water before Maria decided on going for a swim.
"Grandmother, I'm cold, can we go back to the shore?" Erica asked.
"Okay, I'll be with you in about 15 minutes, but I need to take a good swim if you don't mind." Maria said and started swimming to the middle of the lake. The two girls left the lake in the meantime and started drying off on the blanket.
"Look, she is a good swimmer. I cannot believe that she is our grandmother; she is so full of life. Very often I'm jealous of our aunts and uncles for having her as a governess." Erica said looking into the direction where Maria swam.
"Oh, yes she is so cool." Hedwig confirmed. "It's hard to believe that she wanted to become a nun."
"What a life she had." Erica added.
In the meantime Maria decided to join her granddaughters. When reaching the shore the sight of the two of them made her smile.
"It was so good and refreshing." Maria stated while taking a towel to dry herself off. "And what about you, are you all warmed up now?" She asked and took a seat next to them on the blanket.
"Yes, it's much better. Can we get something to eat now? I'm starving." Hedwig said eagerly and opened the basket where they had all the delicious treats.
"Now that was a good idea to come here today. I like it here." Maria stated with delight when she finished her sandwich. "And the food you prepared, now that was delicious. And the dinner last night, girls, I must admit that as much as you take after me, you are lucky for not having inherited my cooking talent." She laughed and the two girls slightly blushed upon hearing their grandmother's compliment.
"I like it here, too. That's why I suggested we come out here today." Hedwig said while giving a sideward glance to her younger sister.
"I'm sure the other place would have been perfect, too." Maria said in order to protect her other grandchild.
"You know grandmother, this is my favorite place. It's so peaceful and quiet here. When I look up at those gorgeous mountains, I simply feel like climbing to the top of them. But mother won't let me go on a hiking on my own." Hedwig let out a deep sigh. Maria started laughing from her heart. "But you know grandmother, and please don't tell it to my mother, one day I'll go up there on my own. I will find the highest tree to climb and I will enjoy the view from up there. I want to be free to travel all around the world, to climb the highest mountains." Hedwig added with dreamy eyes. Maria's laughter became even harder.
"It's amazing. I mean you remind me of the younger myself. This is exactly what I had been dreaming about. I'm not telling you these to follow me, but when I was at your age, I would often climb up that mountain and I climbed all the tress up there." Maria said with nostalgia in her voice.
"You, grandmother? You did all those things?" The two girls asked suprized.
"Oh, yes I did. I was a little tomboy to say the least and I was constantly in trouble even when I lived in the abbey." Maria said with a smile. The three of them started laughing from heart, especially the two girls imagining their grandmother's troublesome behavior.
"You know, you are the coolest grandmother." Hedwig said and softly patted Maria on her shoulder. "Now what about another swim before we go back to your house?" Maria asked and the three of them jumped into the water.
Maria and the girls returned to the house a few hours later before it was getting into the late afternoon hours.
"Christine, can we go into town this afternoon? I have a suprize for you and the girls. A place that I want to share with you." Maria said excitedly. The three others complied eagerly and with anticipation of what Maria's suprize was going to be.
Maria kept on giving driving directions to Christine without telling her where exactly they were going.
"Where are we going? Please grandmother, tell us!" Curiosity took over on all the three of them.
"You'll see soon. As I said it's going to be a suprize." Maria said with a huge smile on her face.
Christine kept on receiving the instructions from her mother until Maria told her to stop when they reached Nonnberg Abbey.
"Here we are." Maria said and looked up at the building her heart beating rapidly. Christine recognized the location immediately, since she had already been to this place.
"Is this the abbey, grandmother?" Erica asked.
"Yes, this is the place where everything started and led me to the von Trapp family." She said with wonderment in her eyes. "Okay, let's go inside." She said and got off the car.
"Mother, do you think the nuns will let us in?" Hedwig whispered into her mother's ear.
"I'm sure of it darling. There is no one who could stop your grandmother if she sets her mind on something." Christine stated quietly, her voice just a touch above a whisper. She took both of her daughters by the hand to follow Maria who was already waiting for them at the gate.
Maria rang the doorbell and her face lit up when she saw a nun approaching the door.
"Is there anything I can help you with ladies?" The elderly nun asked them friendly.
"Good evening sister. My name is Maria von Trapp, and this is my daughter Christine and my granddaughters, Hedwig and Erica. We don't want to disturb your sisters' daily routine, but I was hoping to be able to have a short visit in the abbey." Maria said. The expression on the nun's face told Maria that she didn't understand the reason of her inquiry.
"You know, more than 50 years ago I was a postulant and lived in this abbey for a year. This place is very special to me, because it helped me find my place in the world. I want to show my daughter and grandchildren where I came from." Maria said. The elderly nun nodded in understanding and let them in.
"I will have one of our sisters accompany you in the yard and then you are welcome to visit our chapel if you wish." The elderly nun stated.
"Thank you so much. You know, my husband and I got married in the chapel." Maria said softly.
„Grandmother, this place looks so strict. How could you live here for a whole year?" Hedwig whispered.
„Oh, as I said earlier I was constantly in trouble." Maria said with a smile.
After the little tour in the yard the four of them were left alone to visit the chapel. Maria was left breathless upon entering the old church. An ocean of memories came back to her as she looked up at the altar in the front. The four of them slowly walked to the front altar and admired the beauty of the interior.
"Grandmother, this is so beautiful. I want to get married in this church, too." Erica exclaimed.
"Grandmother how was your wedding gown like?" Hedwig asked curiously while Christine couldn't help rolling her eyes.
"It was long and white, classic but simple with long train. I had an ivy wreath on my head that held the long veil. I had a bouquet of white roses." Maria recalled.
"Oh, I'm sure you looked like a princess in it." Hedwig said.
"No, sweetheart. I looked like a baroness in it." Maria corrected with a smile.
Christine and her daughters took a seat in the front row while Maria went upstairs to reach the main altar. Kneeling down she went into a silent prayer. "Dear God, this is the place where I entered my new life. Thank you for giving me such a wonderful family, a loving husband, blessing me with wonderful children and grandchildren. Please keep them safe; they are my pride and joy. Thank you for guiding me on the long path of life." Maria had tears rolling down on her cheeks as finishing the prayer.
Returning to the seats where her daughter and the girls were sitting she softly nodded.
"We can go." She said.
To be continued.....
A little review will be appreciated... thank you!
Chapter 4
Hedwig and Erica woke up early in the morning to prepare everything for the day out with their grandmother.
"Oh my God, how long are you going to be gone? For a week?" Christine asked with her eyes opened wide when she saw the big portion of sandwiches the two girls were about to bring along for the picnic.
"Grandmother has always had a good appetite and we don't want to starve." Erica replied.
"Mother? Will you lend us your car? The walk might be too much for grandmother." Hedwig said.
"What might be too much for me???" Maria asked suprized as she entered the kitchen.
"Oh, grandmother.... I just asked mother if she could lend us her car, so that we won't have to walk all the way to the lake. It's about 2 miles away." Hedwig responded.
"Oh, my poor dear. Does your leg hurt? Do you have an injury?" Maria laughed.
"Mother, they only want to spare you from the long and exhausting walk." Christine laughed in response.
"Me? Listen girls, if my doctor hadn't advised me, I would climb up as high as the top of the Untersberg or at least I would take you to the mountain where I taught your aunts and uncles how to sing." Maria laughed and the other three joined her in the laughter. "And besides, I'm a danger on the road when it comes to driving." Maria laughed even harder.
"You? Who told you that?" Christine laughed.
"Who? Your father used to tell me that. So girls believe me, having me in your company walking is the safest way to get anywhere." Maria kept on laughing.
"Grandmother we are all set. So if you think we could leave now. The weather is so nice outside, I cannot wait to take a good swim in the lake." Hedwig said excitedly.
"Let's go then!" Maria instructed and the three of them were heading their destination.
Their walk was leading them on a secluded road surrounded only by nature. The two girls fully enjoyed their time out and also their grandmother's cheerful company.
"Okay, girls. There is no one around. Why don't we sing?" Maria offered.
"To sing what?" They both asked.
"Wait let me see... you surely know a few songs.... "Maria said and burst into the tune of "Edelweiss". The two girls looked suprized at first, but then quickly recalling the words of the song, they joined Maria. The lovely nature path was echoing with their cheerful voices. Their repertoire went from Edelweiss to other songs such as My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, that the girls had learned from their mother.
"Grandmother look... we are here!" Hedwig exclaimed pointing at the lake.
"Wow, that's pretty." Maria stated and the three of them went close to the shore and spread out the blankets.
"Okay, let's go for a swim first." Maria suggested and quickly, quicker than the girls she changed into her swimming suit. Before the two girls could think twice, their grandmother was in the water inviting them to join her.
"The water is nice and refreshing. Come on girls." She laughed. She didn't need to instruct them twice, the two girls followed her quickly into the water taking their ball with them. For a while they played a ball game in the water before Maria decided on going for a swim.
"Grandmother, I'm cold, can we go back to the shore?" Erica asked.
"Okay, I'll be with you in about 15 minutes, but I need to take a good swim if you don't mind." Maria said and started swimming to the middle of the lake. The two girls left the lake in the meantime and started drying off on the blanket.
"Look, she is a good swimmer. I cannot believe that she is our grandmother; she is so full of life. Very often I'm jealous of our aunts and uncles for having her as a governess." Erica said looking into the direction where Maria swam.
"Oh, yes she is so cool." Hedwig confirmed. "It's hard to believe that she wanted to become a nun."
"What a life she had." Erica added.
In the meantime Maria decided to join her granddaughters. When reaching the shore the sight of the two of them made her smile.
"It was so good and refreshing." Maria stated while taking a towel to dry herself off. "And what about you, are you all warmed up now?" She asked and took a seat next to them on the blanket.
"Yes, it's much better. Can we get something to eat now? I'm starving." Hedwig said eagerly and opened the basket where they had all the delicious treats.
"Now that was a good idea to come here today. I like it here." Maria stated with delight when she finished her sandwich. "And the food you prepared, now that was delicious. And the dinner last night, girls, I must admit that as much as you take after me, you are lucky for not having inherited my cooking talent." She laughed and the two girls slightly blushed upon hearing their grandmother's compliment.
"I like it here, too. That's why I suggested we come out here today." Hedwig said while giving a sideward glance to her younger sister.
"I'm sure the other place would have been perfect, too." Maria said in order to protect her other grandchild.
"You know grandmother, this is my favorite place. It's so peaceful and quiet here. When I look up at those gorgeous mountains, I simply feel like climbing to the top of them. But mother won't let me go on a hiking on my own." Hedwig let out a deep sigh. Maria started laughing from her heart. "But you know grandmother, and please don't tell it to my mother, one day I'll go up there on my own. I will find the highest tree to climb and I will enjoy the view from up there. I want to be free to travel all around the world, to climb the highest mountains." Hedwig added with dreamy eyes. Maria's laughter became even harder.
"It's amazing. I mean you remind me of the younger myself. This is exactly what I had been dreaming about. I'm not telling you these to follow me, but when I was at your age, I would often climb up that mountain and I climbed all the tress up there." Maria said with nostalgia in her voice.
"You, grandmother? You did all those things?" The two girls asked suprized.
"Oh, yes I did. I was a little tomboy to say the least and I was constantly in trouble even when I lived in the abbey." Maria said with a smile. The three of them started laughing from heart, especially the two girls imagining their grandmother's troublesome behavior.
"You know, you are the coolest grandmother." Hedwig said and softly patted Maria on her shoulder. "Now what about another swim before we go back to your house?" Maria asked and the three of them jumped into the water.
Maria and the girls returned to the house a few hours later before it was getting into the late afternoon hours.
"Christine, can we go into town this afternoon? I have a suprize for you and the girls. A place that I want to share with you." Maria said excitedly. The three others complied eagerly and with anticipation of what Maria's suprize was going to be.
Maria kept on giving driving directions to Christine without telling her where exactly they were going.
"Where are we going? Please grandmother, tell us!" Curiosity took over on all the three of them.
"You'll see soon. As I said it's going to be a suprize." Maria said with a huge smile on her face.
Christine kept on receiving the instructions from her mother until Maria told her to stop when they reached Nonnberg Abbey.
"Here we are." Maria said and looked up at the building her heart beating rapidly. Christine recognized the location immediately, since she had already been to this place.
"Is this the abbey, grandmother?" Erica asked.
"Yes, this is the place where everything started and led me to the von Trapp family." She said with wonderment in her eyes. "Okay, let's go inside." She said and got off the car.
"Mother, do you think the nuns will let us in?" Hedwig whispered into her mother's ear.
"I'm sure of it darling. There is no one who could stop your grandmother if she sets her mind on something." Christine stated quietly, her voice just a touch above a whisper. She took both of her daughters by the hand to follow Maria who was already waiting for them at the gate.
Maria rang the doorbell and her face lit up when she saw a nun approaching the door.
"Is there anything I can help you with ladies?" The elderly nun asked them friendly.
"Good evening sister. My name is Maria von Trapp, and this is my daughter Christine and my granddaughters, Hedwig and Erica. We don't want to disturb your sisters' daily routine, but I was hoping to be able to have a short visit in the abbey." Maria said. The expression on the nun's face told Maria that she didn't understand the reason of her inquiry.
"You know, more than 50 years ago I was a postulant and lived in this abbey for a year. This place is very special to me, because it helped me find my place in the world. I want to show my daughter and grandchildren where I came from." Maria said. The elderly nun nodded in understanding and let them in.
"I will have one of our sisters accompany you in the yard and then you are welcome to visit our chapel if you wish." The elderly nun stated.
"Thank you so much. You know, my husband and I got married in the chapel." Maria said softly.
„Grandmother, this place looks so strict. How could you live here for a whole year?" Hedwig whispered.
„Oh, as I said earlier I was constantly in trouble." Maria said with a smile.
After the little tour in the yard the four of them were left alone to visit the chapel. Maria was left breathless upon entering the old church. An ocean of memories came back to her as she looked up at the altar in the front. The four of them slowly walked to the front altar and admired the beauty of the interior.
"Grandmother, this is so beautiful. I want to get married in this church, too." Erica exclaimed.
"Grandmother how was your wedding gown like?" Hedwig asked curiously while Christine couldn't help rolling her eyes.
"It was long and white, classic but simple with long train. I had an ivy wreath on my head that held the long veil. I had a bouquet of white roses." Maria recalled.
"Oh, I'm sure you looked like a princess in it." Hedwig said.
"No, sweetheart. I looked like a baroness in it." Maria corrected with a smile.
Christine and her daughters took a seat in the front row while Maria went upstairs to reach the main altar. Kneeling down she went into a silent prayer. "Dear God, this is the place where I entered my new life. Thank you for giving me such a wonderful family, a loving husband, blessing me with wonderful children and grandchildren. Please keep them safe; they are my pride and joy. Thank you for guiding me on the long path of life." Maria had tears rolling down on her cheeks as finishing the prayer.
Returning to the seats where her daughter and the girls were sitting she softly nodded.
"We can go." She said.
To be continued.....
A little review will be appreciated... thank you!