A little talk
Marta looked at the clock. Just five minutes and then school was over. 'Mind to do your homework', the teacher said. Marta sighed. That was the only thing teachers cared about. She hates Maths. She didn't understand the using of mathematical formulas. Marta was glad to hear the sound of the bell. 'Do you want to come along with me?' Carolina asked. Marta shook her head and said: 'I'm sorry Carolina, but my father wants to talk to me. But I would love to go with you tomorrow.' 'Ah, the shy girl has some reprimanding time with her daddy. Maybe She's going to say more after that.', Rosa said sarcastically. Marta looked to the ground. There it was again. Rosa picked always on her. She didn't know why. ´Don't go mad because of her', Carolina said. 'I'm not. But I wish I could say something back. She is always making fun of me and I don't understand why.', Marta said sadly to her best friend. 'Let's get out of here.´ Carolina said and they walked through the door of the class. The sun was shining and that made Marta happy. She always loved the sun. It gave her an exceptional feeling. She couldn't describe that feeling very well, but she felt different when the sun was shining on her face. It was like God was saying to her that she was really special. 'Marta, wait for me', Marta turned to the voice. Gretl was running to her. 'Sorry, but we had to stay ten minutes longer in class. The teacher was moody.', Gretl said. 'It's okay. I'm not leaving without you.', Marta said. 'Then it's okay. Let's go home.', Gretl said and she continued talking: 'How was your day?' The question echoed in her mind. How was your day? It was a normal day. Nothing really happened. She went to her classes, she pretended to focus on the lessons, she did her exercises, she tried to conceal herself, she noticed the looks and activities of her classmates and she talked to Caroline when she had the permission to. It was not a special day. Just like any other day. 'Well, are you going to tell me something or not?' Gretl asked impatient. 'Oh sorry, I just had my thoughts for a moment. Well, nothing really happened today. It was just the same. How was your day? Did you pass your tests?', Marta asked. She wasn´t interested, but she had to ask Gretl. Gretl was just a little girl. She hadn´t grown up yet. She was quickly impatient and moody. But Gretl could also be very upset with things. Marta didn´t want to make her sister mad, so she just did what she should do: asking these questions and pretending to be interested. It was very easy to fool Gretl. The only thing that had to be done was asking the questions. Marta wished that everyone was easy to fool. But for example, Brigitta was very observant and always knew when Marta tried to fool her. ´I passed my English test with an A. I was very glad to hear that. It made me so happy that I talked too much. Miss Rooster was very angry at me, she said. Unfortunately, I failed my history test.´, Gretl said. ´Again?', Marta asked. Gretl had failed three times. History was not something Gretl did well. Father would be angry when he knows that, Marta thought. ´It was not fair. It was so hard and difficult. She said I had misapplied the lessons. I hope father is not getting angry when he has to sign my test.', Gretl said sadly. Marta took Gretl's hand. 'Don't worry. Everything will be okay.', Marta said to cheer her sister up. She didn't want a sad sister. When Gretl was sad, she could cry the whole night and that mend that Marta couldn't sleep. 'I love you.', Gretl said. Marta smiled. Gretl was a child and she was still sweet. Even Friedrich had a weakness for his youngest sister. They walked into the house. 'Do you like to drink tea?' Frau Schmitt asked. 'That would be very nice.', Gretl answered and Marta nodded quickly. She loved the housekeeper. She was always too kind to the children. 'How was your day?' Frau Schmitt asked. 'Well, I passed my English test.', Gretl said enthusiastically. 'Really? How about your History test?' a voice asked. Marta turned around. Her father had entered the kitchen. Marta hadn't heard him. 'Well… I…'¸Gretl stumbled. 'Yes, I'm listening.', her father said with a loud voice. 'I misapplied the lessons.', Gretl said with a soft voice. 'I want to see you in my office when I'm finished my little talk with your sister.', he said and glared at Gretl. 'Yes, father. I will be there.', Gretl said while she was looking to the ground. 'Marta, I want to see you now.', her father continued. 'But I haven't drunk my tea yet.', Marta said resentful. Her father were sometimes very impatient. 'Well, drink your tea.', her father said. 'When is mother coming home?' Gretl asked. Maria was studying at the university to become a singing teacher. She was on an excursion to Vienna to pass her final exams. 'I think she'll be home in a week, Gretl.', father answered. Marta drunk quickly her tea. She was nervous. She always had been nervous when she had a little talk with her father. Mostly it didn't mean something good. 'Marta, are you finished?', Georg asked. 'Yes father, I am.', Marta answered. 'Good. Well then, come with me. Gretl, I'd like to remind you to do your homework. Brigitta is also in your study room and is willing to help you. I'd like to see you when my little talk with Marta is done. Is that clear to you?' Gretl nodded and went to her study room. Marta and Georg walked into the study room of Georg. Marta feared this place. It was so huge and it had so many books. It was also the place where Georg hided the old photographs of her real mother and this place made Marta remember of her death. It was this place where her father did his little talks of reprimanding and punishing. She didn't like the place at all. 'Take a seat', Georg commanded. Marta did immediately what she was asked to. She knew very well that she had to be obedient. Georg took his place and looked Marta in the eyes. It made Marta even scarier and more nervous than she already was. Her cheeks were turning red. She could feel them burn. When did he say something? She didn't even knew why she was here. 'Marta, I think we should have a little talk.', Georg began. Marta took a deep breath. Go on and tell me why you are so angry, she thought. 'I have observed your behaviour and I'm not very happy with it. You've always been late for school. Can you explain me why?', Georg asked while he glared at her. Marta didn't know what to say. Could she tell she just needed her time to look at herself? She was no longer a child. She also had to deal with her shyness. 'I don't know, father.', she said softly. 'Marta, just look at me.', her father said. Marta looked into his eyes. 'Why are you so absent? I'm worried about you.', her father said. 'You shouldn't worry father. Everything is alright. You know that. It always is.´, Marta said. ´And you know that I´m not amused by lies, Marta.´, her father said and continued: Marta's cheeks turned more red. 'Your teacher called me yesterday. She said that you're hiding something. You were always focussed on the lessons, but now she's got the idea that you are always far away. She asked me if I recognized this behaviour. So I decided to observe you for two weeks and I have to tell her that she's right. You´re late for school, you hardly speak at dinner time, you don´t listen to the stories of your siblings. So I´m asking you once more what the matter is, Marta.' 'That's not fair. I'm not always late for school.', Marta said resentful. 'Well, you were eight times late in two weeks.', Georg said harshly. 'I suppose I'm not the talking kind. Is that a problem?' Marta asked. 'You never were the talking kind. But now I have to ask you twice to answer my questions at dinner time. I don't like that. Could you please tell me what's on your mind?' Georg asked. Should she say it? What did he really know about her? Did he even care? 'There are many things spinning in my mind. But I don't want to talk about it', she answered. Georg sighed and said: 'Marta, if you don't say anything, I cannot help you.' 'I know that. But you shouldn't worry about me.', Marta said. 'Your teacher told me also that she could hardly hear your voice when you have to answer a question.', Georg said. ´I can't help it, but my voice is soft.', Marta said. 'Marta, Marta, why are you so shy? It's not going to help you.', Georg said. Marta turned her head. She had enough of his words. 'I'm waiting.', Georg said while he glared. Marta wish she was able to share her secrets, but she couldn't. He didn't understand them. 'I see, next two weeks you'll be getting up earlier. I expect you at seven o'clock in the kitchen for breakfast. Then I'm sure that you won't be late anymore. After school you'll be getting speech therapy. I think you'll have to conquer your shyness by learning how to speak in public. Do you understand?' Marta looked at her father. She was angry. She couldn't help it, but this was inacceptable. Learning how to speak in public? Why did she need that? But arguing with him didn't changed that fact. It could be even worse. Marta nodded sadly. 'As I see, I want to see your sister at my office now. You can go.´, Georg said. Marta turned around and walked away. ´Marta.´, her father said. Marta looked at him. ´Yes father?' she asked. 'You know that I'm doing this to help you. I love you.', Georg said. Marta didn't reply and walked through the door of her father's study room. She went to her own study room where she found Gretl and Brigitta. 'Father wants to see you.´, Marta said to her little sister. ´Is he still moody?' Gretl asked. 'I can't tell you.', Marta said and she ran away. 'Marta, is something wrong?' Brigitta asked. 'Just leave me alone.', Marta screamed and ran to her bedroom. When she entered the room and sat on her bed, she finally started crying.