Singing and Preparation
The Saturday after Thanksgiving Day, November twenty-sixth, found Maria and Georg at the clothing shops in their shopping district. The warmest piece of clothing the children had was a sweater; they came to buy each of them a coat, gloves, a scarf, and an appropriate head covering.
Even Georg bought what Americans called an overcoat or a long warm garment worn over a suit. Maria bought a coat which didn't have buttons and buttonholes; it had an attached fabric strap which tied to keep it together. Now it overlapped and had to be tied at her side; as her babies grew she knew the edges would be more in the center of her abdomen. And the other adults made purchases too.
All of them were glad to have them as the cold blustery days of winter had come to this part of Pennsylvania. Later back at the house Max had the children sing all the Christmas carols they would sing at Wanamaker's the next Saturday, December third.
Schoolwork kept the children busy that week. Come Friday Max had them practice again. He had visited the store and knew the stage was small.
"Let's sing all the songs you will sing at Wanamaker's tomorrow. The stage isn't very large; you'll need to stand in two rows. You should practice like that."
Friedrich, Liesl and Louisa formed the back row in that order. And Kurt, Marta, Gretl and Brigitta formed the front row.
"And because this is an informal setting I want you to stand with your arms by your sides. Marta and Gretl I have your bells for the first song.
"Do you remember when to ring them?"
"We do." Marta answered.
The children sang the song which began with the song's title. Ring those Christmas Bells so loud and clear. Here the girls would jingle their bells as the others sang. Hear them dingle, dingle when they jingle, jingle. This verse was repeated. Then they sang. Christmas is near, ring those bells again. And the girls rang them loud and clear.
And the children went right into their next song. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. It verses spoke of hearing carols aboutpeace on earth; and another about despair because hate had broken the peace. But finally the poet wrote about the loud and joyous bells announcing God has come to once again bring peace on earth.
Without a pause, they sang, Away in the Manager, Silent Night, Joy to the World. Go Tell it on the Mountain, and their last song was We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
And Maria and Georg stood to applaud them. "Children, you sang so well. Marta and Gretl you rang your bells perfectly. The crowd tomorrow will be very pleased."
Uncle Max continued the accolades. "Children, I believe the people will give you generous applause. You sound like a professional choir."
And Father Wasner couldn't help but complement them as well. "You really do children." Your songs will also please God."
The group talked awhile before Maria noticed Marta and Gretl were both yawning. She took them upstairs. After reading a short story, the girls were fast asleep. And the others had followed.
When the parents visited each bedroom they heard the same thing. All of them hoped they could fall asleep; they were supper excited about singing tomorrow. Maria had a suggestion for them.
"If you repeat in your mind a phrase from one of your songs over and over, it will help you go to sleep."
Now in the master suite, Maria and Georg didn't need help falling asleep; their marital activity did.
And they both expected the children to wake early; which they did. Katia was prepared for them. She had made a large pot of oatmeal containing oat flakes, grated apples, ground hazelnuts and yogurt.
She told them. "This should keep your tummies full until we have lunch. I made plenty; you can eat until you're full."
All but Marta and Gretl had a second helping. When everyone was finished eating, they took a seat in their living room where Franz told them things he had discovered walking around the neighborhood.
"Georg, it seems Americans celebrate Christmas for most of the month of December. They have colored lights on their houses and I learned they put up their tree a week or two before Christmas Eve."
"How do they keep it from losing its needles?"
"Someone has invented a tree stand with a water bowl. I was told the tree will stay fresh for almost two weeks."
"That person must be making a fortune. I always disliked taking our tree down after only a few days."
"And Georg, we can use electric lights. That way we can enjoy a beautiful lit tree until we take it down. We can burn some candles to give the room that distinct smell of Christmas on Christmas Eve."
"Then today, after the children sing, we need to purchase everything. We can spend the afternoon decorating our house and then closer to Christmas we will buy our tree."
"Sounds like a plan Georg. We also need to buy a crèche; we need to remember the real meaning of Christmas. It's been said a fir tree is a sign of everlasting life with God. But a Crèche reminds us of the gift God gave the world in hopes all would believe he was God's Son and the way to eternal life with God and Jesus."
Father Wasner spoke next. "Maria is correct. Christmas is all about God's gift to the world. And your singing is a way to tell Him thank you. Jesus, God and the angels will smile."
Now with coats on, scarves around their neck, their head covering on and their hands protected from the cold with their gloves, this group of fourteen headed for the near-by bus stop. And to everyone's surprise, Harold and Isabel joined them. They heard.
"We've never missed a year visiting Wanamaker's at Christmas. And this year is extra special because we will get to hear your children sing."
The bus came a few minutes later; there were enough seats for all of them. As they drove away they all noticed Christmas decorations on many of the houses and a few had an outdoor crèche.
It was about a twenty minute ride to the bus terminal in center-city Philadelphia. And Wanamaker's was only two blocks away from it. They passed other stores with window displays.
They had plenty of time; they paused to look at them. Some had decorated trees with a train track around its base and a train circled it while Christmas music was played. Other windows displayed sugarplum fairies twirling on pedestals, a carrousel playing Christmas carols and scenes of a living room with a decorated tree and presents all around it. They brought oohs and aahs for everyone.
Max led them to a special entrance on the side of Wanamaker's. A guard was there to open it for them and inside the person in charge of the singing groups met him.
"Miss Victoria, the Trapp children are all prepared to sing for the crowd."
"Very well, follow me to the room where they can leave their coats and can warmup their voices. And I'll show the adults the door to the grand hall."
The adults found a roped off section of the great hall. It had been placed several feet back from the stage. Maria and Georg stood together in front of the stage; the ladies all stood with them. The men all formed a second row.
All of them were taken by the immensity grand hall. They would learn it was seven stories high and at one end was the world's largest organ. It was being played while they waited. And several feet behind them they could see the largest statue of an eagle any of them had ever seen.
And Harold told them there was a phase everyone used. If they were in the city they would hear, meet at the Eagle. And that some people even left notes tucked under one of the eagle's metal feathers.
Soon the music stopped and Victoria came out on the stage. She had a simple introduction.
"And for your pleasure, I present the Trapp children singing their favorite Christmas songs."
The children smiled at their parents and friends in the front rows. Max took his place on the floor on the grand hall right in front of the children. He whispered.
"Girls are you ready?"
They both raised their hands so Max could see their bells. And when Max cued them, they began to sing, Ring those Christmas Bells so loud and clear. And the girls shook their bells. This song was followed by the others; I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Away in the Manager, Silent Night, Joy to the World. Go Tell it on the Mountain, and their last song was We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
And when they finished the applause almost scared them it was so loud and long. They didn't give an encore but they did stand there until the applause died down and the organist began to play again.
And Victoria appeared again to lead them back to the waiting room. Max followed her. And the family waited where they were for them to return.
When Isabel Isenhart saw them she exclaimed. "Children, you were absolutely wonderful. You sounded like a professional choir. How long have you been singing?"
Liesl answered. "Only since we've known mother, she took us on a picnic to a meadow on a mountain and taught us a fun song which taught us all the notes to sing."
"Well, you learned very well. You need to start singing at church; the choirs need more voices."
"Could we Father?"
"I don't see why not. We can talk to Father Joseph tomorrow. Right now we need to have lunch. Harold's going to lead us to the world famous Tea Room."
They rode in an elevator to the ninth floor. When the doors opened they saw the entrance to the Tea Room. And inside was a modestly decorated room with more tables then they could count.
Maria spoke for everyone. "I've never seen a restaurant this big. Harold, how many can it seat?"
"I'm told it has 1400 chairs. And most tables are for two people. In the center of the room, these tables for two sit side by side. So it's almost like sitting at one long table. We can sit there."
The hostess had heard him and directed them there. And she also reminded them. "Our sandwiches are small; four would make a usual size sandwich."
Soon six waiters appeared to take their orders. Everyone found something they liked. Their selections included cream cheese on brown bread, baked cheese with ham, chicken or ham salad, and a serving of toasted cheese crackers. And their beverages were tea, coffee, milk, or a cold drink named ginger ale which the waiter told them was very good.
Even Kurt had said he was full but not too full to have a desert. They could choose from pies and cakes of all kinds and ice cream in flavors some had never heard of. They left the Tea Room knowing they would like to return.
Slowly they returned to the bus station for the trip home. The window displays still attracted the children to have another look at them. Georg made them a promise.
"We will come back here and you can have another look at them before they are taken down."
And when they got home, Stefan led them to Sears where they could buy decoration for their house. He had even made an estimate of how many strings of outdoor lights they would need for the house.
They also bought a large wreath for the front door. And Maria suggested they buy an electric candle for each of their front windows. They would return another day to buy all the decorations for their tree and pick out the crèche for their living room.
Stefan and Phillip immediately hung their wreath. Now everyone watched as they attached the lights to house. They had found a way to use the light over the door for their source of electricity. And the switch inside the house would turn them on.
Georg also spoke. "The house lights are beautiful. Our house will look like a Christmas card picture when our tree stands lit in the big window and all the window candles are lit."
"You're right Georg. And I think all of us will always remember our first Christmas in America."
And all agreed with Maria.
On Monday morning, Maria and Georg were headed for the doctor's office. They arrived a few minutes early. They waited holding hands. Within a few minutes, it was their turn to see the doctor.
And Doctor Bill did as he had before; he invited them to sit on the settee. He addressed Georg.
"I'm sure your wife's news came as quite a surprise."
"It most certainly did. I couldn't be happier."
"That's good to hear. Many fathers-to-be are already a nervous wreck. Your experience around newborns will be a big help."
"Actually Doctor Bill, I was only around the last two in the newborn months. I witnessed all but one of the other births but then it was back to the war for me."
"A war in which you fought valiantly; I also know why the Germans wanted you so badly. Maria told me the story of your capture and rescue. Now Maria it's time for me to see how much larger your uterus is today."
"Bigger, Doctor Bill."
Doctor Bill allowed Georg to come with him. After a quick glance at Maria's belly he spoke.
"I may be able to hear their heartbeats today. He took a device from a hook as he began to explain.
"This is like a stethoscope which is used to listen to your heart. It's made with this curved piece of medal which goes on my head. It was discovered the bones in the head help to transmit the baby's heart beat to the doctor's ears. I will need to press on your uterus but it doesn't hurt."
For almost a minute the doctor listened before speaking. "I heard two different heartbeats but not long enough to count either of them. Next time you visit I will probably be able to get an accurate count for both babies' hearts."
"Jane, I'll be my office with Georg. You can bring Maria there."
They talked while they waited for Maria. "I was told you brought several people with you from Austria."
"Yes, I wasn't going to leave anyone behind who could be used as bait for me. In addition to Isabel, I brought my cook, butler and the two men who took care of the house and grounds; in addition a good friend whose job it was to finds entrants for the Salzburg Music Festival. And the Bishop sent the publisher priest of an anti-Nazi newspaper, Father Wasner, to accompany us."
Maria had come into the office and Georg asked.
"Doctor Bill, when do you need to see Maria again?"
"The middle of January is soon enough; after that it will be every month."
Georg and Doctor Bill shook hands. And Maria grabbed it before they left the office. And the doctor smiled. And Georg put Maria's appointment card in his pocket.
They also talked on the way home. "Georg, I don't know how much longer we can keep our secret."
"Then we need to look for an opportunity to tell everyone."
That came after dinner that very same day. The couple couldn't keep their smiles off their faces. It wasn't Brigitta who spoke it was Liesl.
"You both look as if you're bursting with happiness. Do you have something to tell us?"
Georg answered his eldest. "We most certainly do have something to tell you. You're not going to have one new brother or sister; you're going to have two."
There was silence as the older children look at them bug-eyed and with mouths half opened. After a few seconds, Liesl was able to speak.
"Mother's having twins." She shouted. "Maybe we will each get our wish; she may have a boy and a girl."
"That's possible but it could also be two boys or two girls. Marta and Gretl, you don't seem happy."
"Will mother still read us a bedtime story?"
Maria hurried to them; she stooped and drew them close. "Girls, maybe not right after they are born but soon after. Someone will always read you a bedtime story."
"Girls, I can read to you."
"Will you really father?"
"Of course I will, and if I can't Frau Schmidt or one of your older sisters will."
"Girls, don't you remember I always read to you when you didn't have a governess. And Georg, I'd like the children to call me Grandma Isabel; this Frau title is old-school."
Before Georg could respond Friedrich did. "Father that reminds me about the boys in my class; they asked me why I use such formal titles for my parents."
"What do they use?"
"Mom and dad."
And now Marta spoke up. "Rosemarie and her sister use mommy and daddy."
"Now that I think about it Georg, I've heard the children at church use them."
"I believe you're right. Maria, it seems our children have become Americanized. I don't mind."
"I don't either."
Then everyone heard. "Am I still Uncle Max, children?"
"You are." Friedrich answered. "My classmates speak of their aunts and uncles all the time."
"That's good I like my title."
And everyone had a good laugh. Now Georg sent them up to get ready for bed. "Your mom and I will be up to kiss you goodnight and read Marta and Gretl a story."
"Thank you Daddy."
The girls giggled as they left the room. And both parents sat in their room; Maria started the story and Georg read it's conclusion as they both closed their eyes. And their parents tip-toed out of the room and quietly closed their door.
And in the master suite marital activity put the couple to sleep.