Author's Notes: The Sound of Music is owned by 20th Century Fox.
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Chapter One – Back at the Convent
Maria rang the doorbell, and the Porter nun came to her answer. "Thanks be to God!... Please let me in, Sister." The elderly nun nodded her head and let the young postulant in without saying a word. The nun knew who it was. "I'm so thankful it's after 9 o'clock," thought Maria, which was the beginning of the Grand Silence in the convent. Infact, it was nearly 11 o'clock, unbeknownst to her. Therefore no conversation was made, or, as she felt, even necessary.
Slowly she made her way through her beloved convent over the worn cobblestone steps, heading towards the Postulant's wing, where she had - before leaving for the Von Trapp Villa - shared a room with three other young hopeful girls also planning to give their life to God in service. "No place like home ... two years here ... and hopefully the rest of my life, thank you Father God ..." she thought, as the bedroom door creaked open and she crept into her room. "Maria?" cried one of her roommates, sleepily. "Shh ... yes ... go back to sleep ... the Grand Silence!" whispered Maria, while at the same time thinking, "Don't let me earn you a penance because you talked to me during the Grand Silence. As if I don't have enough in my life to be concerned about right now... oh God, what am I going to do? No ... no ... I can't think about this tonight ... not tonight ... not tonight ... " as she yawned away wearily, putting her belongings underneath her bed.
She took off the old hand-me-down dress, put on her nightgown and sat on the bed and looked out the window towards Salzburg below, and the mountains off in the distance. "I feel so small compared to you, dear mountains - you mountains who know me so well - the mountains that kept me safe all these years. What on earth has happened to me?" She brought her knees up under her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs, she was still somewhat in a state of shock. As she sat there, tears began to swim in her eyes ... music began flooding her ears ... a waltz began to play, people happily laughed and talked, smooth wine poured freely ... yes, and the air was so balmy, like a caress of satin ... all these pleasant images flooded her mind ... and then - there he stood - the image she couldn't get out of her thoughts. "What happened, dear Lord?" Maria flopped onto her bed, burying her head in the pillow to conceal her tears. Soon enough she'd cried herself into a deep sleep, hoping to leave the past evening's memories and feelings behind. Surely, things would be different in the morning.
Somewhere off in the distance there was a faint ring of the bell and a familiar voice saying "Praised be Jesus Christ!" Soon soft voices could be heard around her sending up prayers like sweet smelling incense to God. Maria smiled in her sleep thinking, "Yes, praised be Jesus Christ." The thoughts of convent life made her smile as she continued to sleep, believing her thoughts were only a dream. Serge skirts were then heard rustling, and the curtain of each cell around ones bed was opened, and quietly three girls made their way out of the room. In reality, it was nearly 5am - time to get up, wash, clean, pray and meditate for half an hour before Mass began.
But Maria stayed soundly asleep until some time later when there was a knock at the door. Was that a knock again? Maria finally opened her eyes, then horror of horrors - she realised she hadn't been dreaming at all - but truly was back at the convent and, by now, had even missed morning Mass. Again another knock, and Maria called out "One moment ..." She sprang out of bed, crossed herself, opened her cell curtain and called out "come in," knowing in the pit of her stomach, that somehow she was probably in trouble again.
The kindly looking Mistress of Postulants opened the door and was somewhat taken aback when she saw Maria standing there. Yes, what the Porter nun had told her was true - Maria had returned to the Abbey ... earlier than expected!
"Sister Margaretta ..." Maria could only half mutter, as all the thoughts of the previous night came flooding back to her memory, making her remember the reason why she had fled back to the Abbey in the first place.
"Maria, I'm surprised to see you here!" Sister Margaretta walked across the room heading towards the young girl. "Sister Angela told me you had returned last night - well into the evening."
"Yes ..." was all Maria could muster.
"You're not supposed to be back here for at least another 5 weeks!" continued Sister Margaretta.
Again, another hesitant "yes ..." from Maria.
"I had to see that Sister Angela's news of your return was to be true ... not that I doubted her ... well ... I'll let you get yourself dressed. You know, Maria, you missed Mass this morning ... nevertheless, when you're ready and have had something to eat, come to see me and tell me what happened."
All this was almost too much for Maria to take in. Suddenly, comprehending what Sister Margaretta had just said, Maria panicked, and exclaimed, "But nothing happened!"
Sister Margaretta, surprised by Maria's statement simply replied, "I know Maria. But you know Reverend Mother is going to ask me why you've returned so early, and I'll have to give her a truthful answer."
Maria by this stage, looked like a scared little child. "Maria," said the kind Mistress of Postulants as she comfortingly put her hands on Maria's shoulders, "there's nothing to worry about." She smiled and simply said, "I'm glad you're back." On that note, she turned around and in one graceful movement had made her way out of the room without hardly any noise.