" Can I ask you something Fraulein ?" the Captain managing to find her eyes in the dark.
" Yes you'd like to know why I'm afraid."
" Well, yes."
"Well I have been like this ever since I was a child. My parents died when I was very young and I was sent to live with my uncle and aunt. My aunt was kind but my uncle well, wasn't. He was mean and liked to shout a lot. I always seemed to be in trouble so to punish me he would lock me in the attic. There was no windows, leaving me surrounded in darkness.. I would crawl into a corner and cry, usually until I fell asleep. My aunt would wait until he fell asleep and then come get me. Even in the abbey I would always have a light on .
" I am sorry your childhood was so bad."
" Oh there were good times. My aunt taught me to sew ,cook and play the guitar. When my uncle would go into town my aunt let me go and play. I spent most of my time on the Untersberg. I know every inch of that mountain. It was while playing on that mountain that I found the abbey."
" Really, I always wondered how someone as high spirited as you came to live in a cloistered abbey."
" Well one day I came down the side of the mountain that led to town. I saw a tree that I knew that I had to climb. I was sitting on a branch when I heard the most beautiful voice. I looked down and saw a woman dressed in black softly singing. She was walking in the most beautiful garden I had ever seen. She seemed to be so happy and the look of peace on her face was something I had never seen before in my life. I decided to watch her for a while. I knew she was a nun but that was all. My uncle was not religious and I had never been to a church. I watched as the other sisters began their work. They all seemed so happy. I decided that when I was old enough I would be a nun too. I began to go to church, without my uncles knowledge, and when I thought I was ready I went to the abbey to become a nun."
"Knowing you as I do you must have had a hard time. I don't know much but I imagine the adjustment to life there was difficult."
" Well let's just say I was a handful. Sister Margaretta was wonderful. Her patience was endless. I made a lot of mistakes. I guess the hardest thing for me to get used to was that I could not sing whenever I felt like it. Reverend Mother had to give you permission to sing in the abbey. I was always getting into trouble. Sister Berthe on the other hand was a little more strict, she used to make me kiss the floor when I had done something wrong. It got so that I would kiss the floor before she would say something just to save time. It was hard but I felt very safe there. The last thing I remember before waking up here was being asked to go see the Reverend Mother. I was in trouble again. I had been on the mountain and lost track of time. By the time I returned to the abbey I was late for prayers. I am guessing that is the reason I was sent here."
"It was fortunate for us that you were sent here. At the time I needed a governess. My children it seemed had drove their last governess out of the house after only a couple of hours. They played awful tricks on them. They had already gone through eleven governesses before you arrived. From what I was told they tried the same thing with you. But you never let them get to you. Even at dinner when they put the pinecone on your chair. I know you don't remember but you made them feel very guilty. By the time you were done the younger ones were crying and the older ones could no longer eat. I knew then that they would not scare you away. I realize now the only reason they did such things was to get my attention. The day I returned from Vienna and saw you in the boat with the children I was so angry. I felt discipline was important and here you were singing and acting undisciplined. Then when you fell in the lake."
" Fell in the lake?
" Well the children all stood up when they saw me and the boat tipped and lets just say you all fell in. I was so angry . I told the children to go change. I told you to stay. I started yelling at you about the childrens clothes . You didn't back down. You let me have it. I heard what you were saying . I was angry because I knew you were right. I didn't know my children. When I heard them singing I couldn't believe it. I stood staring at them and then joined in. I want to thank you again, Fraulein. You gave me back my children."
He reaches for her hand. The flashlights go dead and she jumps when she can no longer see. He feels her jump and reaches for her. He pulls her to him protectively. She relaxes in his arms relishing in the safety of his arms. The warmth of his embrace causes her to sigh. Her eyes close and she feels his heart beating wildly with hers. She feels him caress her back as her head slowly comes off his shoulder. She searches for his face. His hands leave her back and go to her face. She feels his warm breath coming close to her mouth. She closes her eyes in anticipation of her first kiss. As their lips begin to touch they hear it.
" Captain! Captain! Fraulein! Are you up there? They hear the familiar voice of Frau Schmidt. They hear her calling and realize they must answer. The Captain reluctantly gets up but not before he strokes her cheek gently with his hand. He goes to the attic door and pounds on it at the same time calling for Frau Schmidt. Maria goes to the door and hears the lock slide open and sees the door slowly open..
They see Frau Schmidt her head popping up through the opening.
" Here you are. I was looking for you Captain all over the house" Seeing Maria she says "Oh Fraulein your up here too. Franz and I have been back for a half an hour and he needed to talk to you about the car. When I asked the children if they had seen you they told me you were up in the attic. They said nothing about Maria being up here."
The Captain makes his way down the ladder handing the phonograph to Frau Schmidt. He then waits while Maria hands him the records. Putting the records down on the ground he then holds the ladder as Maria slowly makes her way down.
" How on earth did you both end up being locked in? I can't imagine how long you both would have been up there had we not come home" she says as she puts the ladder to the side.
" I have a feeling I know what is going on. Frau Schmidt do you know where the children are? he asks as he closes the ladder and puts it in the closet.
" I believe they are in their rooms" she says as she heads downstairs.
"Fraulein why don't you see if Frau Schmidt needs help with the party" he says as he heads toward their rooms.
" Captain don't be too hard on them" she says touching his arm.
"Don't worry Fraulein. I won't be" he smiles at her.
