Celebrating
Georg rushed his jubilant children towards the front door. They passed the next couple who wished to be married. The sergeant had just directed them to the magistrate's office. He followed them outside.
"Georg, Maria, I know where you can go to celebrate. There's an open air festival only two blocks away. There you will find food, music, dancing, street performers, carnival rides and many other things."
Georg didn't have time to reply to the sergeant. The children were asking. "Can we go there, Father? It sounds like fun."
"Of course we can. Sergeant, which street do we take?"
"Continue to walk past the courthouse and in two blocks you will find another plaza. You will probably hear the music before you see the festival. It won't get crowded until tonight."
"Thank you, you've been most helpful."
The sergeant tipped his hat to Georg and smiled as he turned to walk back into the courthouse. Indeed, this is a marriage made in heaven. He thought.
It was Sidney and the two boys who led the way. The newly-weds were at the end. They were starry-eyed. Maria still clung to Georg's arm. For now it was the only way to be very close to him.
The couple was brought from their cloud by Kurt whose keen sense of smell had been awakened. "We must be close, Uncle Sidney. I smell food."
"You would, Kurt," Louisa jested. "I think your brain is in your stomach."
Katia rescued him. "I smell it too. I wonder how it's being cooked."
Kurt turned and playfully slapped Louisa on her arm as if to say, I'm not the only one who smelled food.
And he wasn't. By now everyone had inhaled the aroma.
As they entered the square, they almost ran into a wood burning stove with a large pot of hot oil on its burner. And on a table were a number of cooked treats in the shape of a circle with a hole in the middle. They had been dusted with powdered sugar.
Katia conversed with the vendor. "Can you tell me how these are made?"
"Yes, they're really simple to make. First you core apples and cut slices; then make a batter which contains hazelnuts. After you dip the apple slices in the batter, you drop them into the hot oil one at a time until it is brown on one side, then you turn it over and cooked the other side. Let the oil drip off into the pot, then place them on the cooling rack and dust them with powdered sugar. They're delicious hot or cold."
"Thank you, they are easy to make."
Katia turned to Isabel. "We had a very early breakfast. I believe we deserve to have one of these delights."
Franz heard her; he relayed her suggestion. "Everyone, we're going to have a morning snack. These confectionaries really look good. Gather round and I'll buy one for each of us."
Georg and Maria came closer; neither objected. After all it was their wedding day. They took their treat and beverage to a sitting area with small tables. They ate and enjoyed the first of many street performers they would see.
They saw people on stilts and those juggling many different objects. The persons who drew their curiosity were individuals who didn't speak a word but seemed to be telling a story.
Gretl asked. "Father, what is that man doing?"
"I think he's pretending there is a wall in front of him and he's searching for an exit."
Two more pretenders appeared. One was a girl pretending to put on make-up. And the other was a boy pretending he was wind-up toy slowing down as the toy stopped and he fell on the ground.
They disappeared as the group finished their mid-morning snack. The group walked by other vendors who were beginning to cook other foods. Louisa had walked to a shade covered portion of the square. She spoke loudly.
"Come see what I found."
When Maria and Georg arrived, she was looking at the sidewalk. "This man is drawing pictures using colored chalk. Aren't they beautiful?"
The first one was a scene of the countryside. A large tree shaded the foreground and small rolling hills drew one's eye to farm structures in the distance. The second was all about the circus. The man was still drawing.
By now everyone was standing in awe of his talent. Georg commented. "I can't believe someone would put that much work into something the rain will wash away."
The artist responded. "I enjoy it, sir, not only the finished pictures but comments from people like you. In real life I'm a bank teller."
Brigitta responded. "They are very pretty. What are you drawing now?"
"It's a carousel. And in another square you'll find one almost like what I'm drawing."
"Father, when we find it can we ride on it?"
"Of course we can, Marta; we'll all ride on it."
As they walked away from the artist, they heard a group of musicians begin to play folksongs. They stopped and listened.
"Everyone, they're playing some of the folksongs which are very similar to those I learned with my friends."
"Mother, where did you learn them?"
"My friends and I went looking for peasants who knew them. Many lived in the small villages in the mountains."
Maria was wondering if this group knew the Laendler. The thought had barely crossed her mind when they group began the familiar music.
"Georg, they're playing our song."
"Maybe we can ask them to begin again."
Georg did ask and they accommodated them. The music group waited for them to stand opposite each other before beginning the music again.
They began at the very beginning, including the part which Maria had danced with Kurt. The couple acknowledged the other with a bow and curtsy. Then they crossed arms and went for a stroll to the beat of the music. They continued the stroll with hop, step movements. And now were at that overhead hands movement Kurt and Maria couldn't accomplish.
And has he had the night of the party, Georg knew exactly how to hold Maria's hands to bring them both to the promenade position.
Now they promenaded around the square. Georg then spun Maria off as she turned quickly to catch his hands and the movement was repeated. Now they performed a movement in which Maria ducked under their hands; this was done twice and Maria laughed as she had that night of the party.
Then they enjoyed themselves as they each clapped their hands as the other danced. Now Georg twirled Maria around in several small circles before his hand rested on Maria's hip for another promenade around the square. They were both smiling. They knew what came next.
It was another twirl which ended with Georg once again placing his hand on Maria's side and drawing her as close as possible as they took tiny steps in a circle. Their faces were only an inch apart as they were when Maria's emotions frightened her.
Of course this time Maria didn't push him away. The completed the dance with a kiss and a hug. And the group applauded.
The orchestra's director heard Isabel speak. "Now, you've had your first dance as husband and wife. Georg, you should dance with your girls."
The music continued until he had danced not only with his girls but Isabel and Katia too. And Maria had danced with the boys and the other men. And they continued to dance for almost an hour.
When the music group took a break, everyone realized they were hungry. It was now early afternoon; they found a vendor nearby and filled their stomachs with an assortment of cheeses, fruits and bread.
They left this area in search of the carousel. They did hear it before they saw it. They rushed to the spot.
"It's beautiful, Father."
"It is Gretl. I see there are small horses and larger ones. There's also two horses which have a sleigh behind them. Katia and Frau Schmidt can sit in it."
The attendant stopped it so they could they could board. Maria and Georg sat on horses next to each other. Everyone had the best time. They rode it for over fifteen minutes. When they got off Kurt made a discovery.
"Mother, come see all the baby farm animals."
"Your son has summoned, just you."
"He knows I grew up on a farm. You didn't."
"And I'll find your tickle spot later."
They laughed. "Come on, I'll introduce you to the animals. Coming, Kurt."
Hand in hand they found their way to a small grassy spot with pens full of baby animals. "What do see Kurt?"
"Is that a baby lamb, Mother?'
"It is, Kurt. And in the next pen are piglets."
"Is that really a word?"
"It is Georg – a baby pig."
"It looks funny."
"They do, Kurt. They also make an odd sound – a squeal."
"So that's how a farm girl learns to squeal."
"You're funny, Father."
"I'm Uncle Max today. I like being funny."
Gretl had walked a short distance away. She ran back and grabbed her father's hand. "Come see what I found."
She pulled him along. Maria followed. "What is it, Gretl?"
"You'll see."
Georg saw a big basket under a tree. He peered into it. "You found your kittens."
"They're tiny, Father."
Maria answered her daughter. "They're not very old."
"How old do you think they are?"
"Since their mama is in the basket with them, I doubt they are more than a week old."
The farmer heard her. "You're correct. They're actually eight days old. They opened their eyes two days ago."
He reached into the basket and picked one up. "Little girl, you can pet her."
"May I Father?"
"Just be gentle."
Tentatively, Gretl's finger stroked the kitten's head. "Her fur is so soft and smooth."
The other had joined them. They thought they were cute but wanted to move on. Georg noted the time. He made a suggestion.
"Why don't we begin to walk back towards the courthouse? I'm sure we'll see things which will cause us to stop."
It wasn't only things they saw which slowed their return; it was the crowd of people. The carousel now had a line of people who wanted to ride it. And the square for dancing was extremely full.
They did pause and watched a group of people in authentic Swiss outfits, dance. They also saw men and women in costume playing a most unusual instrument. It was a type of horn. They varied in length from ten to twelve feet. The curved bell shape at the very end lay on the ground while they played several very melodious tunes.
They continued their walk. When they arrived in their temporary home, everyone realized how tired they were. They plopped in chairs, settees and on sofas in the space called the lobby.
"Georg, before all of us fall asleep, we do need to have dinner."
The others heard Maria and soon were ready to walk around the corner to the restaurant. Everyone ordered a bowl of stew. The waiters served them promptly. No one took very long to eat. They soon returned to the house.
Georg and Maria noticed Liesl and Louisa standing together, whispering. "Are you girls conniving?"
"No Mother, we just wonder which room you and father are going to share?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe the extra room with bunk beds."
"You're being silly, Father."
"I told you, I'm pretending to be Uncle Max. Which room should we share?"
"We thought the room on the corner would be perfect for the two of you. It's big and tonight the full moon will shine through the curtain."
"And you can see that mountain in the distance. I know Mother would like that."
"Well Maria, it seems our girls have made our decision. We need to get our things."
"I never unpacked."
"Neither did I."
And so after kissing the children goodnight, they each picked up their bag and walked into their new bedroom.
The bedroom door was closed. Their bags were almost dropped on the floor. They embraced and kissed with passion.
"Our time alone has finally arrived. Are you nervous?"
"Not in the least. There's no reason for me to be. I love you too much."
"And Maria I know how to make your first time wonderful and beautiful as we fulfill the scripture."
"The girls were right, this room is perfect. That big old moon is casting its spell."
"And here in its light you are all mine to love and adore. We will make this a night to remember."
Georg took his bride to bed. He did in fact make it a night to remember.
A/N: If the description of their Laendler dance seems different from the movie; it is. I described the dance from the 2013 LIVE production of the play on American TV.
I thought it was more romantic and they really acted like they were having a good time. They really did laugh several times.
Their faces were actually closer before Maria pushed Georg away claiming she didn't remember any more.
And now a note to my guest reviewer, first I thank you for your loyalty. I'm glad you enjoyed my last chapter. And yes, we can all appreciate the opportunity to read about joy and hope.