A.N. I really hope no one is offended by Martha's solo. This is an upbeat song and I tried my best to fit each verse with their character. I thought I creatively stitched in her issues within this song, I don't take it lightly but I thought it fit. I also tried to keep it vague, I hope I did it justice. I know it seemed like Ernst totally pushed away anything having to do with Hanschen, but for now it won't be explored, it will be soon, like, next chapter....kind of. Lol.
The Bitch of Living- Company
S P R I N GAWAKENING
Chapter 4
After saying their farewells, the four girls split apart to walk their separate ways home.
Wendla, as she typically did on her lonely walks home, decided to muse about Melchior. She admired the boy dearly. She wanted nothing more than to have him hold her in his arms as he once did when they were young. When he would assume the role of the brave and handsome pirate captain saving the poor damsel that was Wendla. Of course, back then, she was much too young to think of such lustful thoughts. Every day, she wishes for the same thing; to go back to the days of her childhood when she was allowed to spend so much time with Melchior Gabor. Nowadays, she only gets a rush from what she hears of him. Ever since the schoolhouses decided to separate the boys from the girls, it was like they were never even friends.
Bump. Drop.
"Sorry!"
The pair bent down only to slowly rise back up at the sight of the other. It was as if God had answered Wendla's prayers. Right before her stood Melchior Gabor. His smile was as charming and alluring as ever. Well, from what she's been told.
"Wendla! It's been ages, hasn't it?"
The young girl was so awestruck her mouth hung open until Melchi graced her beauty by shutting it closed with the tip of his finger. He left his finger on her chin far longer than he wanted and the moment heated in an instance. Wendla was so caught up in the moment she hadn't realized what she had done until she did it.
"Uh…?"
Melchior lightly touched the part of his cheek Wendla kissed. His cheeks were burning and he was speechless.
"I'm sorry; I don't know what came over me." Wendla looked down and retreated slightly looking down at her shoes. After no words were exchanged she looked back up only to see Melchior with a frown placed upon his face. The sun was setting behind his head and she knew he did not appreciate her sentiment. He placed a loving hand on her shoulder and sighed.
"I'm sorry Wendla, I must be going. Hope we run into each other again. Though, not so literally."
He smiled warmly and picked up her books, handing them over to her before walking passed her. She nodded her head faintly, knowing he was not looking at her anymore, and walked towards her own home, holding back tears.
S P R I N GAWAKENING
"Melchi—oops!"
Moritz ran into the room the following morning, papers in hand, when he tripped over his unkempt shoelaces.
"Sorry."
Moritz bent down and scavenged for his fallen pieces of paper. Melchior and Georg got up from their respective desks to help out.
Georg ran a hand through his hair as he looked over a piece with messy writing and doodles of what seemed like genitalia. "Moritz? What's this—"
"Uh—nothing! J-just some notes! Notes, for uh, biology!"
The fumbling boy took snatched the essay from Georg's hand and out of his prying eyes into the safety of his pocket. Melchior chuckled at the mention of his essay as he continued cleaning up Moritz's mess.
Georg snickered and handed his pile over to Melchior and went to talk with Otto. Melchior collected them all and neatly filed them into a pristine stack.
"Moritz, what are all these papers for anyway? I don't remember taking these many notes."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about, Melchi," he started. He grabbed his papers and shoved them into his desk. He walked back around and began fumbling with the hem of his jacket. "I can't go over to your house for dinner tonight…or ever. At least! Not until I raise my grades. My father's been in a sour mood lately, and I'm afraid if I don't get more serious with my studies, it'll be the last time I see you anywhere."
Melchior shook his head, "Don't speak like that Moritz. You will raise your grades. Don't get yourself worked up over me, it's alright. Actually, I was going to ask if I could invite Ernst over for dinner tonight."
"R-really? Why?"
Melchior blushed slightly and closed his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck in hopes of calming down, "No particular reason, just wanted a change."
"Change?! Like, replacing me?!"
"No, Moritz," Melchior laughed, "I didn't mean like that."
As soon as Moritz sat down in his chair Ernst came strolling in.
"Hey Melchi, Ernst is here."
At the mention of his name, Ernst made his way over to Moritz's desk and smiled at him politely, "Yes, Moritz?"
Moritz shook his head while grinning ear to ear, "Oh not me, Melchior wanted to talk to you."
At the mention of his name, Ernst blushed. "Oh, is that so?" After having Moritz nod his head eagerly, Ernst walked over to Melchior. "Um, hello, Melchior. Moritz said you wanted to talk to me?"
He smiled back at Ernst and placed his book down, making sure to cover it with his blackboard, "Yeah, I did actually. Are you free to come by my house tonight?"
The blush returned to Ernst's face. Would his parents allow him to? He wouldn't want to refuse.
"Um, I'd love to Melchior, but I'm afraid I must ask my parents first. I'm sorry."
Melchior grinned, "It's no problem, I understand. How about you ask them tonight if you can have dinner at my place tomorrow?"
By this time, a certain someone had picked up on the conversation and was listening intently.
Ernst nodded his head excitedly and answered, "I will do that," much to a certain someone's annoyance.
S P R I N GAWAKENING
A few blocks down at the girls' schoolhouse, the foursome were getting their ears a stern lecturing after having been caught passing notes. Frau Mueller did not take insubordination flippantly.
At least we're not being smacked. Thea thought grimly.
Thea:
God, I dreamed I was an angel/beautiful and tall/
but then, I cried out like, in Latin, "This is so not life at all"/
someone help me from this nightmare/just give a little call/
But, UGH, just give it time girl, this will work out if you stall/
Anna:
So then, give me your bad dreams/and that itch you can't control/
let me teach you how to handle all the sadness in your soul/oh! We'll
build some silver castles/close the doors and climb the walls/
stress can make you dead girl, remove it once and all/
Thea, Anna, Wendla:
It's a bitch of a living/
Martha:
Bitch, just a bitch/
Thea, Anna, Wendla:
Living with such stress/
Martha:
Just a bitch, yeah!/
Thea, Anna, Wendla, Martha:
Just a bitch of a living/
Especially in a dress/
Martha:
See, each night it's like "fantastic"/tossing, turning without rest/
I live my days inside a prison/no pillow for my head/
when my father's at an outrage/he grabs his leather belt/I've got
nothing but a breath/and I say, "time for hell"/
Wendla:
It's a bitch of a living/
Anna:
Bitch/
Anna and Thea:
Ah-ah-ah/
Wendla:
With nothing going on/
Anna and Thea:
Nothing going on/
Wendla:
Just a bitch of a living, asking/
Thea, Anna, Wendla, Martha:
"What went wrong?"/Do they think we want this?/
Oh who knows?/
(Segue to the boys' schoolhouse…)
"Now, everyone, recite last night's passage from your Latin textbook on page 134 from memory. Ready? Begin…" Herr Sonnenstich began conducting them as if they were an orchestra.
Melchior:
It's a bitch of a living/
Boys:
It's a bitch of a living/
Melchior:
Living in your head/
Boys:
In your head/
Melchior & Boys:
Just a bitch/
Melchior:
…of a living, and sensing God is dead/
Boys:
It's a bitch of a living/
Tryin' to get ahead/
Melchior:
You watch me, just watch me/
I'm calling and one day/
Boys:
It's a bitch of a living/
Moritz:
Just gettin' out of bed/
Melchior:
All will know/
All will know/
And knowing this is it/
Boys:
It's the bitch of a living, living, living/
And getting what you get/
Just a bitch of a living
Boys:
God is this it?/This can't be it/
Oh God, what a bitch//
The boys stood up and Melchior walked over to Ernst, "See you tomorrow, don't forget to ask, okay?"