The ship

The Captain of the ship looked over the passenger list and cabin assignments with the chief steward.

"This is unusual, a woman traveling alone."

"I noticed that also sir; I assigned George to her Captain. He speaks German, I'm sure her last name is German."

"Ask him to keep a special watch."

"I will, sir."

Maria stepped off the bridge on to the ship. All the other passengers were stepping around her; they appeared to know exactly where they were going.

George saw her, "she must be my special assignment."

Maria didn't know where to go; she stood there looking all around. She noticed a young man in uniform walking towards her. "Are you Fräulein Kutschera?"

"Yes, please call me, Maria."

"Okay Maria, may I take you to your cabin?"

"Please, I've never been on a ship before."

"Let me carry your bag and guitar." They went down a short flight of stairs. "Here we are Maria, cabin number twelve. After you freshen up would you like to go back on the top deck and watch us depart?"

"Yes, that would be nice."

"I'll be back in a few minutes."

True to his words, George took Maria back up top and found a spot for her to wait where she could see both the bow and the stern on the ship. "Maria the ship's horn will blow soon, don't let it scare you. I'll be back after we set sail."

George, she said to herself, a form of Georg. She smiled to herself as she thought of her last vision of him. Holding her hand as she moved away and then their eyes had caught, his look was imbedded in her mind. The horn sounded and took her out of her memory.

The deck hands began to systematically release the ropes; she heard the engines crank up to speed. Maria knew they were moving but she couldn't feel it; all she saw was the coastline getting further away and the ship heading out into the vast expanse of the ocean. The other passengers had left the deck; Maria found a chair and resumed her thoughts of her Captain and the children. I wonder where they are. She bowed her head and prayed for their safety.

George was watching her and waited a moment to approach her, "Maria."

"Oh hi, George."

"Are you hungry?"

"I suppose so."

"There's a snack bar in the dining room; something to eat until dinner is served at seven. Did you know your cabin is not far from the dining room?"

"No, but that's nice to know. I'll be able to find it on my own."

She sat in the dining room listening to people talk; hearing many languages, but she was sure most were speaking English. For a moment she panicked. I need to learn English. I'm going to America. But then she remembered the Reverend Mother's words, God will open a window.

She slept well that night but was awake before daylight; she peered out the port hole window in her cabin, the sky was only beginning to lighten. She dressed and decided to take in the sunrise on the top deck; she took her guitar with her.

Being all alone; she took out her guitar and started to sing.

"When morning gilds the skies my heart awakening cries….Be this th' eternal song through all the ages long: May Jesus Christ be praised!"

The ship's Captain up in the Wheelhouse heard her; "my goodness, her voice is beautiful." He decided to go down to see her.

"Good morning Fräulein, enjoying the sunrise?"

"Good morning sir, yes I am. I've never seen a sunrise this beautiful."

"I'm the Captain of the ship; I heard you singing. You have a beautiful voice. Are you a trained singer?"

"No Captain, never a lesson in my life."

"Well then, you must have natural talent."

"You're very kind, sir."

"Ever thought about performing?"

She looked down. "No sir."

"Why don't you sing in our talent show tonight?"

"Talent show, sir?"

"Yes, we do this on every trip. Passengers sign up to perform; it's always a lot of fun. Think about it Fräulein, it's right after dinner in the movie room."

"I will, Captain."

Sing for people, she thought, maybe it would be fun, as the Captain had said.

After dinner she took the short walk to her cabin to retrieve her guitar and then walked in the opposite direction to the movie room. George found her. "Are you going to perform, Maria?"

"The Captain heard me singing this morning and told me about the talent show. He encouraged me to sing. I've never sung for an audience before."

"Let me see, you'll be number six."

Maria was enjoying herself; tap dancers, pianists, ballerinas and even a juggler went ahead of her. "Number six," she heard.

"That's you Maria," George whispered.

Maria took a deep breath as she sat on a chair; she strummed her guitar and began to sing. A song about freedom to be in a beautiful spot on a mountain top. It told of how her voice would join those who had sung there before; the songs that made the hills come alive and filled lonely hearts. And once more her heart would be filled with the sound of music.

When she finished the audience didn't want to stop applauding, causing Maria to blush. "Thank you, thank you," she bowed slightly before returning to her seat.

Everyone had finished performing. The "MC" surprised Maria. "I think everyone would like to hear Fräulein Maria again." Now Maria really blushed.

George came and took her hand. "Will you sing another song?" She nodded.

Once again she took her place on stage. She thought. This is for you Captain.

Maria explained. "Edelweiss is a small white flower. It grows in the most unlikely places; mostly up in the mountains. It's come to be a symbol of strength and ruggedness. It's used on Austrian military insignia. This is a song about it."

Her first sung word was Edelweiss; it was repeated. The words described this small white flower; every morning the blossom would open as if happy to see the person. A happiness, which was hoped would remain forever; it would bless Austria, the homeland. The verse was repeated.

The audience was so taken with emotion; they were silent for a few seconds before thunderous applause. In a few minutes the movie room was empty except for one couple who had stayed behind.

"Fräulein Maria, I'm Oscar Hofferstein and this is my wife Lily."

"Nice to meet you both."

"Where did you learn to sing? Your voice is so pure."

"Thank you, I love to sing. I suppose it's a gift from God."

"May I ask where you are headed?"

"To America sir."

"Yes, we're all going to America. Where in America?"

"I don't know, sir."

"Are you meeting family?"

"No one, sir."

"You are alone?"

"Alone with God watching over me."

"I see. Will you sit with us at breakfast tomorrow?"

"Yes, I'd like that."

"We'll walk with you to your cabin."

All the while George was watching to be sure she was safe; although he did know the couple, they were frequent passengers.

"See you at breakfast, Fräulein –."

"Maria is fine, sir."

"Okay, Maria, good night."

Oscar was friends with the Captain. "James, who is she?"

"I'm sorry Oscar, I really don't know."

Oscar was puzzled, "Something is very strange."

Maria sat with her new friends, Lily talked the most. "Maria, I sense that you have total faith in God. Were you raised in a religious home?"

"Not at all, I decided one day to give myself to God. I was a postulant at Nonnberg Abby for two years."

"I see. What caused you to leave?"

"A realization that many of the things I loved I would no longer be able to do; like singing or to go on a long walk in the mountains; or maybe one day get married and have children. I'm a trained teacher, I love children."

Lily looked at her watch. "Want to come with me to a fashion show?" She didn't wait for an answer, she took Maria's hand. "Come on, it will be fun."

She and Lily were in the movie room which had been transformed with the addition of a runway protruding from the stage into a fashion showroom. Maria had a wonderful time; so many different dresses.

Lily and Maria did lots of things together; most of the time they watched movies with German subtitles. Lily thought it would help Maria learn English, and it did.

Maria found Lily to be a wonderful listener. It wasn't very long until Maria told her everything.

"You'd like to see them again, am I right Maria?"

"It would be nice to know if they're alright."

"That's not all, is it Maria?"

"No it's not."

Meanwhile, Oscar had been busy. He had recently received a reply to his wire. It read. Sounds like a winner.

The days on the ship had gone by fast; only two left. Oscar found Maria in the library reading children's books in English. "Come up on deck and sing for me."

"What do you want me to sing?"

"Anything Maria."

She started with "Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens…." the "Lonely Goatherd." And then "Climb every mountain….." By then there was a crowd listening. "More, more," she heard.

"Just one, Ave Maria…."

It was at dinner when Oscar extended an invitation to Maria. "Lily and I want you to stay with us in New York City. I have a friend who wants to hear you sing."

She said quietly to herself, "God has opened a window," but Oscar heard her.

"Where did you hear that, Maria?"

"From the Reverend Mother, she told us that all the time."

"Then your answer is yes?"

"Thank you Oscar, I'd like that very much."

The last evening George found Maria sitting up on deck. "Are you ready to see America, Maria?"

"Yes George, and before I forget, I want to thank you for everything. You know Oscar and Lily asked me to stay with them."

"Yes, I heard. Are you excited?"

"Yes, but also a little scared."

"That's normal, I want to wish you well; you deserve to be happy. Take care Maria, I may not see you tomorrow, arriving and docking keeps us busy."

"I'll never forget you George, thank you."