Discovering
"Alice, Maria tells me we need school supplies before we begin teaching the children. I thought we would take a trip into London. Do you need anything?"
"Nothing I can think of, Georg. Will you be long?"
"No Alice, we only need a couple of hours."
Henry drove them to the train station; the next train left in ten minutes. Downtown was full of shoppers; ladies with hat boxes and large dress boxes which bumped into people as they carried them. "Here's our first stop Captain, a stationery store."
"Look, a table marked school supplies." The clerk noted Maria looking over the supplies on the table. "Can I help you miss?" Maria took out her list.
"I need a dozen pencils and pads of lined paper; some drawing paper and seven packs of Crayons; seven rulers, three protractors and geometric compasses, seven erasers and a couple of boxes of chalk. I can't forget gluey paste, seven scissors, a couple of pencil sharpeners and construction paper. Can you think of anything to add Captain?"
"No, I think you bought out the store."
"I did not." They laughed together.
"You pay over at the register." Georg paid the man and thanked him for his help.
"Captain, I need to stop at the Apothecary store. I saw one down the street towards the train station."
"You wait out here for me, I'm sure there's nothing interesting in there for you." He knew that was Maria's nice way of telling him she was buying feminine supplies for herself and the two oldest girls. In those days these supplies were wrapped in brown paper before they were placed in a carrying sack.
The Captain and Maria left the Apothecary store each carrying their own purchases. "Maria, is there anything else you need."
"Can't think of anything, how about you, sir."
"No Maria, we need to get home. I told Alice we wouldn't be gone long." Even so they leisurely strolled in the direction of the train station; stopping along the way to window shop. Suddenly, they heard a screeching ear piercing noise.
Everyone stopped. "What's that noise Captain?" Georg was about to answer her when a man nearby shouted. "The Germans are coming, the Germans are coming." The eerie eeeoooeeeooo of the siren continued to sound. The crowd started to run; forcing Maria and the Captain to run with them. Georg took Maria's hand. "Follow the crowd Maria, hurry."
London was prepared. Years ago they had begun preparing; bomb shelters had been built all over London. Volunteers had been trained; they had even held drills many months ago.
The crowd slowed as they approached the shelter. The doorway was very narrow; people had to enter almost in single file. "Captain, where are we going?'
"Into a bomb shelter, Maria." It seemed to take forever. He and Maria were among the last to enter. "Stay right here Maria. I'm going to help close the doors." Maria took his package and tried to stand there but the crowd pushed her further into the shelter; she moved close to the wall.
Georg peered out; no one else was there; along with two other men they closed the doors. In seconds a bomb landed close by. The force of the blast caused the two men to stumble down the stairs. Georg fell on his knees; when he looked up Maria was nowhere in sight. He called for her, "Maria, Maria." There was no answer.
Another bomb crashed on top of the shelter causing the lights to go out. Georg called for her again, "Maria, Maria." He heard nothing. It was pitch black he could do nothing but stand there. In a moment he saw a faint light. The shelter was equipment with some oil lanterns. The trained emergency volunteers had begun to light them. A man came to him with one of the lanterns. "Here sir, use this to look for your wife."
Georg slowly moved through the crowd; continuing to call her name. He reached the wall; almost stumbling after having run into something. He looked down. Maria was huddled against the wall shaking violently. "Maria, are you alright?" He knelt down beside her.
"I'm so scared Georg." Her voice was barely a whisper. Georg sensed panic in her voice. Just then another bomb hit right above them; and then another. Georg lay almost on top of Maria to protect her from the debris. She clung to him. The next bomb blast had them in a deep embrace. Neither of them moved. Soon everyone could tell that the planes were flying past them; the sound of the bomb blasts became further and further away. Nobody would move until they heard the all clear siren.
Georg looked at Maria. "Maria, I have loved you almost since the day we met. I don't want to live another day without you."
"I love you too, Georg."
"Marry me soon, life is far too short." They kissed passionately right there in the bomb shelter. They didn't even realize it was quiet and that the all clear had sounded. Almost everyone had left. Someone tapped him on the shoulder. "Please put out the lantern and close the door when you leave."
They lay there and kissed again and again. Their eyes caught. "Now I remember where I saw you. You were the young girl at the parade who rushed out and thanked me for my bravery."
"Yes and now you are my hero." Neither wanted to let go of the other. A few more minutes passed, Georg helped Maria to her feet; they brushed the dirt and debris off their clothes and walked slowly out of the shelter. They put out the lantern at the door; left it there and closed the door to begin a new chapter in their lives.
"Maria, do you want to get married now?"
"Can we Georg?"
"The courthouse marries people all the time; especially now that Britain's at war."
They searched for a policeman. "Is the courthouse near-by?"
"Yes sir, two blocks, that way." He pointed straight ahead.
"Maria, are you sure?"
"Very sure, Georg."
He approached the desk clerk. "We want to get married."
"You're the third couple since the bombs; your name sir."
"Georg von Trapp."
"And yours miss."
"Maria Kutschera."
"Your age."
"Twenty-two."
"Sorry you looked much younger. The judge will meet you in the court's chapel."
They put their packages on a near-by table. They stood before the judge and took their vows.
"In the sight of God and with the authority given to me by the Monarchy of England, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Their kiss was only symbolic; they would kiss again later. "Don't forget to pick up your certificate; it will be at the front desk in a few minutes."
They walked slowly to the front of the courthouse. "Georg, what do you think the children will say?"
"You know children can be very perceptive."
"Yes, especially Brigitta and Louisa; it will probably be one of them who will notice." They picked up their certificate and walked onto the street.
"Georg, are we going to be able to get home?"
"We'll get there but I do know no trains will be running. I'm sure part of the track was damaged." In reality there was no transportation; no buses, taxis or private cars.
"We can walk Maria, it may take us awhile but we will get home." Before they left the city limits a few businesses began to re-open; one was a small café. They stopped and had a small meal.
There was a road beside the train tracks; they walked on it. It had gotten dark; it wasn't long until they saw lights up ahead. "That must be a train station Maria. We can stop and rest."
They walked across the tracks; a lone policeman stood watch. "No trains running sir."
"Yes, we know. We are going to rest a minute and use your facilities."
"The road you were on follows the tracks for many miles. Do you have far to go?"
"To the second stop from here; how far is that?"
"It's about ten miles sir."
"I thought so, good day sir."
Maria, those aren't exactly hiking boots you are wearing."
"I'm fine Georg. I'll hang on to you."
They kept a nice pace. Soon they passed the next station; it was now very dark.
Back at the house, everyone had heard the planes fly over and the warning on radio before it went silent. "Uncle Bobby, what's happening?"
He had to be truthful; they had heard the airplanes. "It's the Germans, children. Our government has been warning us for weeks; word from our allies had told them it could happen at any moment."
"What about Father and Maria, are they in danger?"
"Children there are bomb shelters everywhere in London. Your Father has heard the sirens before; I know he and Maria made it into one on them.
"Now what did Maria do during a thunderstorm?"
"She had us sing a special song."
"Why don't you try to sing it?"
Feebly Liesl began, "Raindrop on roses….." But soon they stopped; sniffling tears were evident in all of them. As it grew later Marta and Gretl fell asleep on the sofa. The older children stared at the door and waited.
Bobby and Karl grew restless; they decided to go look for them. "Mother, Karl and I are going to drive down the road that runs beside the train track. I'm sure they are walking on it. Arthur and Henry will stay here."
"We'll be fine, Bobby."
"How much further Georg?"
"A few more miles, do you need to stop and rest?"
"No I want to get home as soon as we can; the children must be terribly worried." They didn't walk far.
"I see car lights, Maria."
The lights lit the road for Bobby and Karl. "I see them, Karl."
"So do I." Bobby stepped on the accelerator; screeching to a stop. Karl was out of the car first.
"Are you both okay?'
"Yes, Karl. How are the children?"
"Worried and waiting for you."
"Bobby, I had an idea you might know about this road."
"I had to do something; your children are so worried."
Bobby left dust trails behind the car he went so fast. Friedrich was looking out the window. He spotted the car lights. He shouted, "They're home." The children couldn't get out the door fast enough. The five of them held them both in a group hug.
"Where are Marta and Gretl?"
"They fell asleep, Maria."
Louisa noticed her father's arm around Maria. "You both look mighty happy for coming out of a bomb shelter."
"We are happy, Louisa."
"Did you –"
"– get married. Yes Louisa, life is too short."
"I'm not surprised."
"What do you mean, Bobby?"
"You weren't going to able to hide your affection for one another much longer."
"And I suspected it before we left on the tour; but I really knew when I saw how worried you were about Georg, Maria."
"I was very worried, Karl?"
"I saw your eyes and body language; they spoke volumes; they didn't hide what was already in your heart."
"You must be quite chilled, Maria."
"I am Alice"
"Well come inside, Rosemary will fix us some hot tea and some warm milk for the children."
Marta heard all the voices. "Did I hear the word married?"
"You did, Marta."
"Gretl, Gretl wake up. Maria and father are married."
"May I call you mother now?"
"You can all call me mother. That will sound so nice."
The hot tea helped Maria warm up. "I think everyone could use a good night's sleep. Georg, the suite in the back is waiting for you."
"So you knew too, Alice?"
"I knew it was only a matter of when." Maria and Georg smiled at each other. "I guess we were that obvious."
After getting everyone in bed, Maria and Georg gathered the things they would need for the night and in the morning and headed for the back suite.
"Georg, I knew this was back here; but it's huge."
"John had it built after they were married a few years."
"Look Georg, someone even turned the bed down."
"Probably Elizabeth, she came back to work for Alice when she moved back. Maria you can change in the main bathroom, I'll use the small one John had built for him; it has shower."
Maria sat down on the side of the bed. "Which side do you want Georg?"
"It doesn't matter,"
Maria lay down on the other side. "No Maria, right here next to me."
"You don't need anymore space than that?"
"I sleep like I did on the submarine; this is all the space it need."
"I bet you're exhausted Maria."
"I can't tell a lie, I am."
They lay on their sides; kissing passionately. "Maria we have a lifetime ahead of us; I think we both need some sleep. Sleep well my love." Maria closed her eyes and in a moment was sound asleep. Georg turned on his back as if he was on a submarine bunk; folded his arms across his body after having taken Maria's arm and draped it over him. He held onto it as he too fell asleep.
It was a rooster that woke Maria; neither had hardly moved all night. She noticed how Georg was sleeping. So that's how he sleeps; my husband the sailor. Georg was waking; he could feel her eyes looking at him. Before she could say a word, he rolled over and kissed her passionately. "There's plenty more of those but an old navy habit is calling." He moved quickly to his bathroom; Maria took her opportunity as well.
They returned to bed at the same time. "Now where were we?" Maria pointed to her lips. "Right here, Georg."
"I thought so." He began to kiss her again; her face; her jaw line. When he got close to her ear, he whispered.
"I know this is your first time Maria. If we take our time, allow me to kiss and touch you almost everywhere, you will experience unbelievable emotions. I plan to be slow and gentle."
"I love you; I want us to be one just as God made us to be; I'm not at all afraid." Georg was just as he said, very slow and gentle.
In moments Maria's emotions were peaking; she welcomed him to her. She felt him against her. She wasn't scared. Georg completed their oneness; Maria felt nothing but utter elation. They lay together; their hearts in sync. "Don't move Georg," she was able to whisper. He didn't, but soon they both came down from the mountain top. Georg rested his body on his arm; allowing Maria to breathe better.
"No one can dream or imagine how I feel right now."
"I know Maria; it really is indescribable."
A few minutes passed, "I suppose we do need to get up soon; before the children come pound on the door."
"They wouldn't."
Oh yes they would, if Alice or Bobby wouldn't stop them. I'll draw your bath water. You can soak while I shower and shave."
That's sweet of you."
"I plan to take good care of you."