2. Let's Not Make Any Enemies…

It seemed that my prayers had been answered. A new governess, Maria Rainer, had won over the children and brought music back to the Trapp Villa. Georg had even invited me to a grand party in honor of that Baroness Schrader. I don't think it was her fault I disliked her so much. I just couldn't stand the idea of Georg getting intimate with any woman who was so radically different from my sister.

The evening of the party finally came. I went with my escort, Admiral Ehren von Schreiber. He had been a captain when Georg was a lieutenant, and they had been promoted together.

The Villa was filled with music such as it had not been since the death of my sister. Georg came up to me the minute we stepped in the door.

"I'm sorry…" he began.

"There's nothing to forgive," I smiled.

Then he called the children over. Liesl and Friedrich knew me immediately. Louisa and Brigitta remembered me a little more faintly, and Kurt, Marta, and Gretl had no recollection of me at all. But they were all happy to see me, and glad they had a real aunt.

Then, the music started and Ehren wanted to dance. It was a waltz, my favorite, and it was terribly good fun to dance again. The children watched all the couples happily from the stairs. The waltz ended too soon, and I took Ehren's arm as the couples broke off to talk. We ran into and old friend of Ehren's and her husband. He was a stiff old German who didn't say much. We had just finished introductions when I heard a commotion behind me. I looked back over my shoulder to see what was the matter.

Herr and Frau Zeller were involved in a conversation with the Baron and Baroness Elberfeld.

"You have German blood, haven't you?" Zeller was saying.

"I'm not German, I'm Austrian!" the Baron retorted.

Frau Zeller and the Baroness left their husbands' arms and made cats' eyes at each other rather venomously. Frau Zeller had always been jealous of the Baroness. Neither couple noticed Georg walking slowly up to them. Herr Zeller hit the Baron on the shoulder, forcing him backwards, as the Baron raised his chin defiantly.

"There's going to be an Anschluss," Zeller growled, "I warned you and everyone like you! And that goes for our Captain…"

He trailed off as his wife noticed the captain and placed a hand on his shoulder warningly. Georg folded his arms and fixed Zeller with an even stare. The German backed away slightly.

"It's much more pleasant out on the terrace," Georg said in a tone that clearly meant this was not a suggestion.

"Thank you," Zeller muttered. With a parting glare at the Baron, he brushed past us and out the terrace doors.

The spell was broken. A smile returned to the faces of Georg and the Baron, and everyone went back to their conversations.

Ehren's friend shook her head.

"It's shameless, the way he displays the Austrian flag," she nodded towards were it was hung in the hall.

"Well, we are Austrian, aren't we, dear?" I said nervously.

"I am German, and so is my husband, and the Admiral," she said somewhat apologetically.

With a jolt, I realized that I was practically in enemy territory. I was the only Austrian on this side of the hall. I was surrounded by Nazi supporters! I felt a panic rising inside of me. I knew this was one area where I would get no support from Ehren. I placed my right hand on his shoulder.

"Seeing as I'm the only Austrian here…" I began.

I was interrupted as the orchestra began to play again. Thank God for the laendler! I left Ehren to dance is with his old friend. It was all I could do not to run to the other end of the hall, where the other true Austrians were. I watched the dance, and soon saw Frauline Maria trying to teach it to Friedrich. I smiled to myself as I watched the boy's fumbling steps. Then Georg stepped in and offered to show him the right way to do it. I wasn't sure if I was seeing things, but I thought I saw a look of love pass between Georg and Maria. They broke off suddenly before the dance was completely over. Georg seemed embarrassed and left the room.

The other couples broke off and moved to their ends of the hall. I watched as Ehren went over to talk to Herr Zeller. I turned away. As much as I loved him, his politics disgusted me. Soon I was approached by the Baron and Baroness Elberfeld, old friends of mine. I curtseyed to the Baron and he kissed my hand with a smile. We made light conversation in an attempt to counter the tense mood that hung over the party. Ehren soon came over to join us.

Suddenly, dear old Max Detweiler came rushing out of the kitchen.

"I found the cake!" he exclaimed amid laughter from both sides.

Baroness Schrader then called on the children to say goodnight to all of us with a song.

"There's a sad sort of clanking
From the clock in the hall
And the bells in the steeple too.
And up in the nursery an absurd little bird
Is popping out to say cuckoo!
Regretfully they tell us
But firmly they compel us
To say goodbye to you.

So long
Farewell
Aufwiedersehn
Goodnight-"

"I hate to go and leave this pretty sight!" sang Marta and, curtseying to the Baroness and I, ran up the stairs.

"So long
Farewell
Aufwiedersehn
Adieu-"

"Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you!" sang Friedrich, bowing to the guests.

"So long
Farewell
Au 'voire
Aufwiedersehn-"

"I'd like to stay and taste my first champagne!" sang Liesl.

Max held out a glass to her.

"Yes?" she said hopefully.

"No," Georg replied.

The guests smiled and whispered to each other.

"So long
Farewell
Aufwiedersehn
Goodbye-"

"I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye. Goodbye!" sang Kurt, hitting a ridiculously high note at the end.

The hall dissolved in laughter.

"I'm glad to go, I cannot tell a lie," sang Brigitta.

"I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly!" sang Louisa.

They both dance up the stairs.

"The sun has gone to bed and so must I," sang little Gretl.

Liesl picked her up and carried her up the stairs.

"So long Farewell
Aufwiedersehn
Goodbye-
Goodbye-
Goodbye-
Goodbye-"

"Goodbye!" we all sang.

Then Franz the butler appeared to announce dinner. Ehren stopped to congratulate Georg on how wonderful his children were. Then we went to the dining room. The guests were all smiles, but I could tell that a storm was coming, and it came all too soon.