Discovering, Exploring and Marital Moments
The couple stood admiring the master suite. It was much different than either had imagined.
"Our children are going to enjoy this carpeted area too, Maria."
"I know."
At that moment they both heard Gretl. "Mommy, mommy, come see our pretty bedroom."
"I've never heard her so excited."
"Neither have I, Georg"
The couple hurried from their room as Gretl ran to her mom; she took hold of Maria's hand and pulled her into the room. Georg was right behind them.
Immediately Maria saw a room painted in a light lavender color with two windows; each had flowered drapes with green leaves and pink flowers.
The beds' head and foot boards had been painted in a muted blue-gray color with a small flower on each. Also in the room was a dresser with several drawers; it matched the headboards.
Georg was thrilled his little girls were so excited. "Marta, do I see dolls?"
"You do, Daddy. We also have two doll beds and other toys too."
"While you play with your dolls, Daddy and I are going to see the other bedrooms."
Maria also spoke to Georg. "This is so much more than I ever expected."
"It certainly is."
The others had found their bedrooms. Friedrich and Kurt had found a perfect boy's room. It too had twin beds. The headboards were made from light oak wood and had matching bedspreads in colors of the American flag, red, white and blue. They each had a dresser and a desk and chair.
"Dad, do you think there's a school nearby?"
"I'm almost positive we'll find one not too far away. While you put your clothes away, your mom and I are going to find your sisters' rooms."
The couple didn't have far to walk before Brigitta called to them. "Mom, Dad, Louisa and I really like this room. It's big enough for two dressers and two big desks with bookcases. The chairs are comfortable too."
Then she asked the same question Friedrich had asked. Georg gave her the same response.
Maria added. "Maybe later today we can find the schools."
Liesl was standing in the hall in front of a bedroom with a single bed and a large dresser. It also had a desk and bookcase. The room was painted a light green. And the window curtains and bedspread were made from floral material.
She had heard Maria. "Mom, maybe we will also find clothing stores when we look for our schools."
"I have a feeling we will."
Kurt heard their conversation. "Can we have lunch first?"
"Is your stomach talking to you?"
"Not yet but it will, Dad."
"We can't allow it start. I'm sure Katia can fix us a quick lunch. Your mom and I will go ask her."
The couple quickly departed for the stairs; holding their laughs until the door shut behind them.
They still had broad smiles when they spoke to Katia. "Georg, I'm heating one of the pots that I found in the refrigerator; it smells like beef stew. There was also a bag of salad greens and I found bakery biscuits in the bread box. I believe it will fill Kurt's stomach."
"Maria, I'll go back up and tell everyone to get ready for lunch."
"And I'll help Isabel set the table."
Franz, Stefan and Phillip were already downstairs. They were in the foyer. Franz took his butlers' duties seriously.
"Guys, I'll probably be spending most of the day in here. I'm sure there's a comfortable chair we can bring from the living room and a large foot stool as well as a good reading lamp. It already has a radio."
The men were in the process of moving the chair and footstool when they heard voices.
"Sounds like Kurt has convinced Georg and Maria it's lunch time!"
"It is close to noon, Phillip. We can finish in here later. Let's join them."
Georg saw them enter the dining room from the opposite entrance. "Have you been exploring?"
"I plan to spend my time during the day in the foyer after you start going into the city."
"Thank you, Franz. I know my wife and the ladies will appreciate you guarding the home's entrance."
"You're welcome."
Lunch was appreciated by everyone. They had eaten everything Katia had prepared. And as Georg had told the children, he suggested they get ready to go looking for schools and the shopping district. They would leave once the dishes had been washed and put away.
Stefan and Phillip took this time to explore the shed they had seen by the garage. They discovered it had tools for gardening, maintaining the home's shrubbery and behind it was land which had remnants of garden furrows. Now Stefan had something to find when they went to look for the shopping district; a store where he could ask what could be grown this late in the summer.
By now everyone was waiting under the portico. "I think we will find downtown Ball behind our home."
"Okay, Stefan. You should lead us there."
"Georg, I think we should walk towards the street in front of the house and there we will go right past our house. Phillip and I both think we see faint outlines of buildings after we pass this large field."
The group didn't dally; everyone was anxious to see downtown Ball. The closer they got everyone was more and more convinced they had found it. But they were in for a surprise. These building weren't shops; they were schools.
"Dad, what does that sign say?"
"Washington and Lee High School."
"It's huge."
"Do you think I will go there?"
"Not sure Friedrich. I don't know if a high school is the same as Austria's Secondary schools. Let's keep walking and see what else is nearby."
They did keep walking and soon another large building was seen in the distance.
"Mom, that building in the distance might be another school."
"Possibly Brigitta, we will know when we get closer and can read that sign."
Georg read it. "The sign says, Jefferson and Davis Elementary School."
"Dad, what does elementary mean?"
"It must be a school for the beginning grades."
"Will I go there?"
"I think you will for now. I'm sure you will be in one of the higher grades."
"Mommy, will you still teach Gretl and me?"
"I could. But I think you would like to make friends with the other girls and boys. Hopefully, your Dad and I can visit both schools before he starts to work for Navy. Let's keep walking and see if we find any shops."
Georg reluctantly let loose of Maria's hand so she could hold both of the girls' hands. He knew they were a little scared. And Maria did feel their stronger than usual clasp.
After they passed the elementary school, the street they were on suddenly intersected with one which had shops of all kinds on both sides of the street.
"Georg, this is so convenient.
"It certainly is."
"Dad, can we look at all the stores?"
"We can Liesl."
"And Georg, I'll be last."
"Thank you, Franz."
This large group of people made heads turn in the cars which passed by them. A couple even honked their horn and the passengers waived.
Some of the stores had unfamiliar names like Woolworth Five & Dime and The Great American Tea Company; others had distinct names for clothing stores, men's, women's and children. A separate store sold women's lingerie and another shoes for everyone but babies and young children.
They also found a hardware store. "Georg, Stefan and I would like to go inside and ask about what can be planted for a late summer garden. There's a plot of land behind the shed which already has furrows; it should be easy to prepare. All the tools we need are in the shed."
"Of course you may."
"Dad, can Mom and I go inside the clothing store for women?"
"Who else wants to visit a store?"
"I do, Georg. I think The Great American Tea Company may be where we buy our food."
"Dad, Kurt and I would like to see what we might wear to school."
"Georg, all the girls can come with Liesl and me; after we visit the woman's store we can look in all the others."
"And from Isabel they heard. "I will go with Katia. I'm interested in that same store."
"Let's plan on all meeting back here in about thirty minutes. Come with me boys. I'm sure there's a clothing store for you. Katia and Isabel entered The Great American Tea Company store. Maria and the girls walked down the street and found the shop for women; where Maria, Liesl and even Louisa found dresses suitable for them.
Brigitta didn't find anything suitable for her there. She was pleasantly surprised to find a Pre-teen department in the girls' store where Marta and Gretl saw dresses they would like to wear to school.
And when the group came back together in thirty minutes, everyone had a comment. "Kurt, you'll be happy to know the store Isabel and I went in is where we buy food. Everyone, it's huge; you need a map to find everything."
Kurt's face held a big smile before he addressed Maria who was trying to contain her laugh. She was inhaling deeply as Kurt spoke.
"Mom, boys, except for young ones, don't wear short pants." And from Friedrich she heard. "And older boys wear a tie with either a coat or a sweater for school."
"Georg, we learned that no one wears capes. Everyone wears either a sweater or a fashionable coat."
"Looks like we have a lot of shopping to do before school starts."
"We most certainly do."
The group had grown weary; they headed for home.
The entire family gathered in the home's large living room after the dinner dishes were washed and put away.
"What a day this has been!" Georg exclaimed. "Just think. This morning our ship docked in New York City's harbor and we were immediately whisked away by American dignitaries. And we now have the pleasure of living in this grand home.
"It's been an exciting and busy day. We should all get some sleep."
"Georg, we men can secure the house. Everyone can go get ready for bed."
"Thank you, Franz. Gretl, are you too sleepy to climb the stairs?"
"No Daddy. Mommy will walk with me."
"Georg, give me a moment to ask God's blessings on us. In the church's vesper lectionary is written these words. O Lord, make your presence known to us in this our home. May your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace. And let your blessings always be upon us.
Instinctively everyone said, Amen. Georg, Maria and the children headed for the stairs. While Franz made sure Katia was safely in her room and the other two men locked all the doors.
The downstairs was quiet but upstairs the children were still talking. Statements like these were heard. I can't believe where we are! And, Our home is so nice!
And there was Georg's reminder to the older children. "Try and calm down and get some sleep. I'm sure we will be busy tomorrow."
And Maria had helped the girls change into their nightgowns and was reading them a story. They barely heard any of it before they were both asleep. She quietly left the room.
Georg was waiting for her. "I think they will sleep better with the door open."
"I agree, Now, it's our time."
The newlyweds once again stopped and gazed at their bedroom.
"Give me a minute to put on my nightgown."
Georg had other plans. His hand rested on Maria's forearm.
"Maria darling, I don't need you in a nightgown. Remember, I've already seen you in your nightgown. I watched you dance around your bedroom; as a man you stirred my feelings. But when you almost ran into me, I could see your feminine features and only then did you grab your robe and tried to hide yourself.
"I've also seen you soaking wet; I could see your feminine features clearly. Besides it only comes off as we share ourselves and I will enjoy removing your clothes."
"Then let's begin. I'm more than ready to fulfill the scripture."
And so it happened. Their love was shared. The ecstasy of the moment was felt by both. They now lay together as they both came down from the mountain top.
Neither spoke until their hearts slowed and they had caught their breaths. Maria was first.
"Wow! I had no idea God made us to feel something so pleasurable it can't be described."
"I know darling. Now we should put on our nightclothes and try and get some sleep. You can use the bathroom first."
"I won't take long."
Maria grabbed her gown from the drawer where she had put it and went into the bathroom. She still felt the ecstasy of the marital pleasure. She hurried.
And Georg did the same when she returned to bed. And the couple slept close the entire night.
They hadn't realized their bedroom window faced east. The rising of the sun woke both of them. They kissed after they were fully awake. And each spoke those special words, I love you. And the very first day of living in America began.
Georg showered as Maria took a bath. They had just finished dressing when they heard the children.
"Liesl, do you think they are awake?"
"Shall we surprise them darling?"
Georg didn't wait for a reply; he quickly opened the door. And the parents heard. "Can we go downstairs now?"
"And see if breakfast is ready, Kurt?"
"Dad, I think all of us are hungry this morning."
Georg smiled at his oldest. "Yes, Kurt, you can lead us down the stairs. Don't run down them!"
He heard a faint, "I won't," as Kurt entered the stairwell. The others followed; walking down them more slowing. He followed behind Maria. They walked hand in hand to the dining room and were greeted by Isabel.
"Katia told me the breakfast casserole needs a few more minutes in the oven. There's juice glasses filled with orange juice and the coffee is hot."
And from Franz they heard. "I'll go tell Stefan and Phillip to wash-up; they've been loosening the soil in what looks like an old garden to get it ready for planting."
Soon Franz carried to the dining room a large casserole dish and set it on hot-pads beside a pile of plates. And Maria said a grace before he began to serve.
"Georg, the casserole is still steaming hot. Allow me to serve the children first so it will have time to cool."
"Good idea, Franz. And children you can cut into it so it will cool faster."
"We know, Dad. Mom told us this back at the villa."
Now Georg smiled at Brigitta and thought. It would be her to remember.
"Then we should do it so we don't burn our tongues."
And Georg and Maria squeezed hands to keep from laughing.
When breakfast was over, they sat there and discussed what they would do that morning. The men had plans; Franz would finish fixing the foyer, Stefan and Phillip would work on their vegetable garden and Isabel would help Katia in the kitchen.
Georg decided he and Maria and the children would visit both of the schools they saw. After quick trips to the bathroom, everyone was ready to leave.