The Picnic
Morning had come to the villa; there was no sleeping late for the von Trapp children. They had dressed and were in the hall. When Maria woke, she heard their voices. She had to hold her laugh when she heard Kurt say.
"I'm so glad the Baroness isn't coming with us on our picnic."
Maria opened her door to see seven children dressed and sitting on the floor. "Why are you awake this early?"
"We're happy you are here and also because we're going on a picnic."
"I see. Kurt, do you still need breakfast?"
"Me miss a meal? Of course I do!"
"Just checking, as Brigitta would say. I need to dress."
All the children got the giggles.
Maria didn't keep them waiting. Her dress from yesterday wasn't dirty so she wore it again. It was also perfect for a picnic.
When they arrived in the dining room, Maria was surprised to see the captain there.
"Sir, are you waiting for the Baroness?"
"No, she doesn't wake up this early."
They exchanged slight smiles before they heard.
"Fräulein Maria, I'll say grace."
"Thank you, Marta."
"God is great.
And God is good.
And God made the food we eat.
We give you thanks. Amen."
Amen was said by everyone. And Franz began to serve. First was a serving of fruit. He watched as Kurt almost inhaled his.
"Kurt, do you want the extra serving?"
"I'll take it Franz. I'll still have room for the real food."
"I never doubted you would."
And Maria noted that even the captain was smiling as all the children got a case of the giggles.
The main breakfast meal, of scrambled eggs, sausage, platters of biscuits and pastries, was also consumed. Nothing was left.
"Children, I'll meet you in the classroom; you still have lessons to finish."
They hurried off and Maria proceeded to follow them. Instead she heard.
"Fräulein, thank you."
"For what sir?"
"For returning my children's smiles and making them happy again."
His answer caught her off guard. She needed to think of a response. Suddenly she spoke.
"Captain, you can make them smile and be happy. You did it once – you can do it again. Excuse me, I need to go to the classroom."
Maria hurried away; almost holding her breath. She had no idea where her words came from; she had surprised herself.
When she arrived in the classroom the children were sitting in their seats with their hands folded.
"Are you eager to finish your lessons on America?"
"Yes, Fräulein Maria. We want to learn more about the colonies." Friedrich answered for all of them.
"Okay, let's review the ones we already discussed, starting with the one in the north. Who can tell me its name?"
Seven eager hands went up. "Louisa tell us."
"It was named New Hampshire."
"Correct. Can you tell me the next one?"
"It's Massachusetts."
"And who can tell me the other two colonies in the north."
Maria saw Marta raise her hand first. "Okay Marta, tell us."
"One is New York and the other is Rhode Island."
"Very good Marta."
Kurt anticipated his Fräulein next question. "I can name the middle colonies."
"Tell us Kurt."
"They are New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware."
"Excellent Kurt. Let's turn our attention to the ones in the south. There are five of them. Those are their names I wrote on the blackboard. I want you to copy them in your notebooks."
They wrote these names: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
Maria walked around the classroom and saw them all writing. Liesl was first to make a comment.
"I still find it amazing that all these colonies formed one nation which America now call States. I remember after the Great War the Austro-Hungarian Empire was in shambles. All the people wanted their own nation. Border guards prevented people from entering them unless they had papers. It was almost impossible to buy food. And Father lost his navy; the port was given to Italy."
"Liesl, I too remember the end of the Great War. Austria entered a time when it's officials didn't believe in God. I never told you my parents both died by the time I was nine. My first guardian brought me up in the church. But my faith wasn't strong; I was persuaded to become a non-believer. But God intervened; and I became a believer again."
And a voice from the hall spoke. "Fräulein, I couldn't help but hear your story. Children, you should learn from it; you never know it could happen again."
"Really Father?"
"Yes Friedrich. A man named Adolph Hitler rules Germany now; he has many rules about worshiping God."
Georg stopped there. He knew this wasn't the time to tell them Hitler's desire to join Austria with Germany. He did notice Maria's demeanor and thought. She didn't know either.
In a moment, another voice was heard. "There you are, darling."
"Good morning, Elsa. I was listening to Fräulein Maria's lesson. Her lesson today was about America."
"You approve." Elsa questioned.
"Of course I do. Why wouldn't I?"
"It's far away; it's not important. Are you going to join me for breakfast?"
"Yes Elsa, I'll sit with you." But Georg thought. It is important to me.
Elsa ate while her food was hot; then she began to talk about the wedding. "Georg, I'll look at the shop here in Salzburg for my gown but I'm not expecting to find the perfect one. I will probably need to return to Vienna for it."
"You have plenty of time; we haven't set a date."
"Yes, I know. Let me go get ready. Can Franz drive me into town?"
"Yes, I'll tell him to bring the car out front."
Now Georg watched the car go down the lane. "Good, I'm free to be with my children. Let me go see if they have finished their lesson." He spoke to no one.
Georg found they had finished their lesson. He heard Maria. "I'll go get the food basket and meet you by the door to the veranda."
Kurt saw his father. "Are you coming with us?"
"I enjoy doing anything with my children."
Maria saw him with the children. He immediately told her. "Elsa left for town to look for her gown. Do you mind if I come along?"
"Not at all. Katia always packs more than enough food." But Maria did have a thought. His engagement to the Baroness really is strange.
Georg knew where they were headed. His villa sat on a huge plot of land. They walked through the garden and the orchard. Then they passed through the pasture land for their cows before arriving at the picnic site.
It was in the part of the land the city of Salzburg maintained. There was another road which other families who lived in Aigen could use to enjoy it. There were several picnic tables.
And Kurt helped his Fräulein take the food from the basket.
"Is this your way of telling me you're hungry?"
"Yes Fräulein Maria, breakfast was a long time ago."
"Then I suppose we need to say grace so you can eat."
"I will." He had to wait for his siblings' giggles to subside before he began.
"Thank you God for the food you made.
Now we can eat. Amen!"
And the giggles were louder than before. Georg and Maria glanced at each other and shook their heads.
They ate everything. Now the beautiful sunny day wasn't sunny anymore. It was the month when rain clouds developed suddenly. Maria saw them.
"Captain, we should leave; those clouds are moving this way."
They quickly gathered everything; Georg carried the basket. They had to run the last few meters; they barely made it inside before the dark clouds dropped sheets of rain.
"That was close Captain."
"It certainly was. Do you have plans for the afternoon?"
"Music class Captain."
He roared in laughter. "Fräulein, you needn't use music class as an excuse for my children singing. It's only public singing I frown on."
"I just wanted to be sure."
They sang for much of the afternoon. Maria knew not to tire young voices. She had them do their reading.
And then the moment Georg dreaded, came; Elsa returned from town.
He was sitting in his study when he heard. "Thank you, Franz for the ride."
Georg knew he had to greet her. He came from his study; he didn't rush to her nor she to him. Georg reluctantly asked. "Were you successful?"
"No. It was as I expected. I'll need to return to Vienna. I'll take the early morning train. I'm going to my room to rest. Please ask the cook to bring my meal there."
"I will, darling."
And Georg thought. So that's her excuse for returning to Vienna.
A/N: Some of this story describes the real von Trapp home in Salzburg. It did sit on a large piece of land. The picnic area is all my idea.
Also, in this story Franz is not supportive of the Germans. And I will use the same three characters I often use. Katia is the cook. Stefan and Phillip maintain the villa and its land. And Frau Schmidt has a first name, Isabel.