Chapter 8
"Fraulein Maria, can you help me here?" Asked Marta. "Hold on, Marta. I'll
be there in just a moment. "Fraulein, can you help ME?" Gretl whined.
Exasperated, Maria said, "Hold on Gretl. After I go to Marta, I'll go to you."
"Fraulein, can I go to the washroom?" Brigitta asked cautiously. Poor
Fraulein Maria looked so confused. Leisl quick action. "Brigitta, go to the
washroom. Gretl, I'll help you. Fraulein, you can go help Marta now."
Looking at Leisl gratefully, Maria went over to Marta who was waiting
patiently. "What is it, Marta?" Maria gently asked the child. "I don't know
how to do this math problem. Could you help me?" "Of course Marta."
Maria replied. With that, the two bent over Marta's work. Soon, the nursery
was quiet. Maria, satisfied with Marta's work, looked relieved. Finally,
when the time was up for the children's work to be done, she said, "All right
children. You can put your books away. It is time for rehearsals!" "Yay!"
The children cheered. They quickly cleaned up, and then gathered around
Maria for instructions. "Now, children." Maria said. "We know that we're
doing the 'Lonely Goatherd'. You all know how it goes right?" RIGHT!"
The children chorused. "Good. So, I think we'll begin by assigning parts to
everyone." Crossing the room to fetch a pen and paper, she said, "Ok. Who
wants to work the puppets?" All the children's hands went up. "Oh dear. I
forgot that there are only enough puppets for the 5 of you to do." The
children's shoulders slumped. "But," Maria continued. "I know that there are
other parts that are just as important, or, even MORE important." The
children's faces perked up at that. "So, I think that the 5 older children will
work the puppets, since it will be easier. AS for Marta and Gretl, you two
will have the IMPORTANT duty of making sure that your siblings are doing
the moves right, AND you will be arranging the scenes. Does that sound
good, everyone?" "I Like it!" "Me too!" "I am SO important." Voices came
from everywhere. Smiling, Maria said, "Well its settled. Shall we get
started?" The children yelled, "Yeah!"
2 weeks later….
"That was brilliant, children!" Exclaimed the Captain. "You are all going to
be famous one day! Laughing, Maria said, "Oh, I'm sure that the children
will be able to make it to fame, but I don't know about me." "Nonsense!"
Max exclaimed. He had come over to see the puppet show. "You are just as
marvelous." Giggling, Maria said teasingly, "why thank you Max. You
definitely haven't lost your sense of humor OR your interesting charm." The
captain laughed at this, although he wasn't too happy about the fact that
Maria and Max were, yet again, so comfortable together. He knew that
they were just friends, but he still suspected something more between them.
I mean, how could they not? Maria is beautiful, and I can tell that Maria
adores Max. She likes teasing him. She teases me, but not in the way that she
teases Max. "Children, who shall we hear from, next?" Maria's voice came
ringing into his ears. The children whispered into her ears. Maria looked
shocked at what they suggested, but the Captain didn't know that it was
HIM they had chosen. Walking up to the captain, Maria said, "The vote is
unanimous. You, Captain." The Captain was shocked. "Me? I don't think
so." "Please? I'm told that you were very good." Was Maria's response.
"Well that was a VERY long time ago." The captain shot back. "oh, please
father!" All the children said in their sweet voices. "All right." The Captain
said with a sigh. He could never seem to resist them when they asked him as
sweetly as they just did. Taking the guitar from Leisl, he began singing
Edelweiss. While he played, he could see his children's faces as they
watched him play. He smiled at Brigitta, then Marta. They smiled back.
Continuing the song, he started thinking of the lyrics, and how it reminded
him of Maria. Turning to her, he gazed at her, trying to send some sort of
message into her eyes, saying that he was singing the song to her. Maria,
however, when he gazed at her for more than a while, began feeling
uncomfortable in his unwavering gaze. She began fidgeting, looking at the
ground while blushing furiously. When the song finally ended, she looked
up, only to met up by the Captain, who had not moved his gaze from her.
She looked away to Max, who was watching this exchange with amusement.
He spoke. "All you have to do is say the word, Georg, and you can be a part
of my new act." Breaking his gaze from Maria, he laughed nervously. He
didn't know what to make of what he noticed Maria doing- avoiding his
gaze. Maria gave a sigh of relief after the Captain turned away from her. She
didn't want him to stare at her. He looked like he was in a trance when he
stared at her. She didn't like it one bit. Breaking away from her thoughts, the
Captain said, "Well, that's enough for one night. I think its about time the
children went to bed." Flushing, Maria said, "oh yes. I'm sorry sir. Come
children." Groaning, the children said goodnight to their father and uncle
max, and went up the stairs, with Maria tailing them.