Family Activities

Everyone watched the Admiral return to his car and Charlie pulled away from their home and headed back towards Philadelphia.

Now Georg gave Maria a proper welcome. He embraced her for a kiss. The kiss lingered. During that short moment of pleasure the children grew impatient. They had things to tell their father. Georg heard their Ahems.

"Children, are you trying to get my attention?"

"We want to show you our new clothes." Gretl said louder than she usually spoke.

"That's right. You went shopping while I was gone. Can I go change first?"

"Our clothes are in our bedrooms."

"Then I suppose I need to hurry."

"And we will follow you. Come to our room first." Gretl demanded.

"I will sweetie. It won't take me tong to change."

Georg and Maria climbed the stairs first; the children with Gretl and Marta in the lead were right behind them.

Georg did hurry to change. He put on his casual outfit again. As he buttoned the buttons on his sweater he commented. "I've never seen Gretl so excited."

"She's really anxious to begin school. And she's probably going to the most excited when we tell everyone I'm expecting. I think Liesl knows. She's been looking at me with the same smile Isabel and Katia had the day I had to tell them."

"I'm sure you will find the proper time. I'm ready to go the girls' bedroom."

As soon as the couple exited, Marta and Gretl each grabbed Georg's hand and led him to their room. Their dresses were laid out on their beds. Each one had three. Georg admired each.

"These are definitely very American."

"We know. The saleslady told us."

And now Georg's thought, they were really growing up fast, made him smile as he and Maria proceeded to Brigitta and Louisa's bedroom. There he saw dresses which the girls called shirtwaist dresses. They were definitely older girls' dresses. And Liesl had chosen dresses which were selected from the young woman's department; they were more sophisticated. In fact they were in a style Maria could wear. The boys showed off the sweater they had chosen which was like their fathers. They had also bought new long pants and shirts from the young men's department. And all of them had new shoes to wear.

They left the boys' bedroom and went back down the stairs to the living room. As they did the front door opened. It was Max. And he had some news. But first he asked Georg.

"How was your meeting with the Admiral?"

"A high speed electric train took us to the United States Capital in an area named the District of Columbia. There I attended a committee meeting of the United States Senate.

"I helped Admiral Jessup convince the committee members to provide money for more patrolling of the country's coastline."

And Georg was hoping his vague answer wouldn't elicit any questions. It didn't and Max now told him his discoveries.

"I walked by the college where the concert is being held on Saturday. The visiting choral group was practicing. We're in for a big treat; they're excellent. And I heard their director remind them about singing with some American singers the next day at the Navy Yard."

"Uncle Max, do you think we could sing there?"

"I do, Liesl. I plan to go there on Monday and do some investigating."

A few minutes later, Katia interrupted this time of sharing. "Dinner is served; come eat before it gets cold."

They scrambled to use the bathroom first; some used the downstairs bathroom. Others climbed the stairs hurriedly to use those there. And Father Wasner immediately said grace after everyone sat down.

And after dinner everyone gathered around the upright piano as Father Wasner played familiar songs for them to sing. He also taught them something new to sing. He again ended the evening with everyone joining him in singing the last verse of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.

Liesl knew it was a signal it was their bedtime. "Mother, I'll help Marta and Gretl get ready bed."

"Your Father and I will be up soon."

"Max, remind me, what time is the concert tomorrow?"

"It begins at three but I suggest we get there early; this hall isn't very large. I'm sure the children will want to sit close to the stage."

Maria concurred but added. "We shouldn't sit too close; we don't need sore necks from always looking up to see their faces."

"I'm sure we can find seats which are perfect for all of us."

Max had the final word. And Maria and Georg left to visit each of the children's bedrooms. First was the little girls' room. They were in their night clothes but not in bed.

Gretl continued to amaze Georg. "Father, we're not sleepy. We need a long story to help us fall asleep."

"I hear you. While your mother reads to you, I'll go check on your brothers and sisters."

Maria not only read them a long story; she had to sing them a lullaby. It was a simple song about angels watching over all of God's children all the time. It included with the verse about God watching over them even as they slept. Marta went right to sleep as she began to sing.

Maria watched Gretl trying to keep her eyes open but soon it was impossible. She closed them; she turned on her side and didn't move. Her breathing became shallow. And very quietly Maria left the room; closed the door and joined Georg who was waiting in the hall.

She whispered. "She's asleep."

"I hope so. The others aren't asleep either but they promised me they would turn their light off soon. I told them you would kiss them in the morning. Now it's my turn for your kisses."

"And I'm more than ready to give them to you."

In the master suite kisses led to so much more; soon it too was filled with shallow breathing.

The night seemed short to Georg and Maria as they were woken by the children's voices. Once again Maria dressed hurriedly and took them downstairs. And she saw both Liesl and Louisa looking at her wearing an odd smile; she knew it was time to tell everyone her secret.

Georg and the men came down at the same time. It was Franz who spoke. "I see the children have drunk their juice. Let me pour some for us."

He did and the men took theirs to the table to sit. Even Father Wasner drank his before offering the blessing. And after the group had consumed another wonderful breakfast, Max had a suggestion.

"We need something to do to help pass the time until we can get ready for the concert. On my walk around the city of Merion I discovered a park with all kinds of fun things; swings, slides of all sizes and a couple of see-saws. It's only a couple of blocks from here."

"Sounds like fun Uncle Max."

"If Kurt believes it will be fun, I think we should go there."

So with Georg's blessing the group prepared to go there. They had the best time. And the entire time Maria noticed Liesl and Louisa continued to smile at her. It was Georg who noticed the time.

His finger whistle obtained everyone's attention. "Being here has achieved its goal; the morning is almost over. We should head home."

The children surprised him; no one complained about leaving. Franz walked Katia and Isabel home so they could begin to prepare lunch. And when the children arrived, they eagerly responded to their mother's request. All of them took their baths. They would dress in their concert closed later.

By the time everyone finished eating it was time to change clothes for the concert. By two o'clock everyone was ready. This eager group kept a steady pace to the college. They weren't the very first to arrive but they did sit in the best seats. They were several rows from the front and they had a clear view of the now empty risers.

The longer they sat voices from a growing audience began to fill the auditorium. And promptly at three o'clock a man in a tuxedo took center stage.

He had words of welcome before announcing. "I present to you the Jubilee Choral Singers."

He walked off the stage as recorded music began to play. And the audience saw the members of the choral group enter from both side of the stage. The men, all dressed in tuxedos, entered from one side of the stage. While ladies, each dressed in a long black dress, entered from the opposite side.

The men occupied the last two risers; the women stood on the lower two risers. And the excited audience rose to give them a standing ovation. The announcer encouraged them to sit.

As soon as they did, a man stepped in front of the group. He held his arms up and when he lowered them the group began to sing. It was the song Father Wasner had taught them, Swing Low Sweet Chariot. The family had a difficult time not singing along.

The arrangement they sang was slow and deliberate and full of harmony and solos. The family rose to their feet to applaud. It was noticed by the singers.

The director stepped forward. "Your applause is appreciated. Since you enjoyed it, you'll like the next one as well. It's a musical interpretation of our Lord speaking to Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones."

It was more than singing. Members of the choral group acted out the lines in the song which describes how the bones are connected from the toe bone to the head bone. And all of them sang, clapped their hands and stomped their feet to the chorus.

Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Now hear the word of the Lord.

And the director shouted. "Rise and sing the chorus with us."

He saw and heard the children. He spoke again as the song ended. "I heard some wonderful children's voices. Would you like to come up on stage and sing with us?"

Liesl looked at her father. She saw him nod and answered for the others. "Yes, thank you for asking us to join you. I hope we know the song."

"Even if you don't young lady, it's easy to learn."

The group opened a space so they could stand front and center. The man spoke again.

"We never know who will come to our concerts so we always prepare many different songs. Children this song has a simple title, I've Got the Joy. It's the joy you feel when you love Jesus. What do you think the first words are?"

"I've got the joy." Brigitta answered.

"Correct young lady. Do you know where you feel joy?"

"In your heart?"

"You're correct again. Do you already know this song?"

"No sir, just a good guess."

"Then let the music begin."

Even without the words the recorded music they heard almost sang the song. The children even began to sing at the same time the singers did. They sang.

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart
Where? One of the singers asked and then the line of verse was repeated twice and ended with I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.

The conductor then told them the second verse. It was about being happy to have the love of Jesus in your heart. And the children knew right away how each line was sung. Even Maria was surprised. She and Georg rose to applaud them.

Liesl knew to return to their seats. The choral group sang two more fun songs for children. Maria knew the first one, This Little Light of Mine. The second was a cute song about Noah's Ark. It told the whole story of building what the song called an Arcky Arcky and all the verses used words which rhymed with arcky. Maria reminded herself to learn that song.

After several more songs the choral group concluded with the song Peace in the Valley. Before they sang the man told them this story.

"The man, who wrote this song, was traveling on a train when suddenly he saw horses, cows and sheep all grazing together in this little valley and he held a thought. Everything seems so peaceful.

"He then asked himself a question. What's the matter with mankind? Why can't men live in peace? And from those questions the man wrote this song. At its conclusion please don't applaud. Leave quietly and believe that in this time of uncertainty there will emerge a time of peace."

And the audience complied.