Christmas Comes

The Trapp family continued to prepare for Christmas. They had bought a large Christmas tree. They brought it home from the Christmas tree lot on top of the car Georg had recently acquired.

It stood in its tree stand with the bowl for water directly in front of the window in their living room. Many hands had placed the electric lights on the tree. And even the children helped place the ornaments they had bought.

And for now, the crèche they had bought was placed in front of it. Gretl asked. "Where's the Baby Jesus."

And Maria told her youngest. "He hasn't been born yet. Believe me He will there on Christmas morning. I also removed the Wise Men from the stable; they haven't arrived yet either."

Father Wasner was taken with Maria's idea. He knew she was correct but the secular world didn't follow the birth story from the Bible. "Maybe I can help you understand why your mom has taken them from the crèche.

"In church you have heard the readings about Mary being told she would bear the Son of God. And you heard the story of her visiting her cousin Elizabeth and the story of John the Baptist.

"Tomorrow the church will read about the decree that all people must return to where they were born to be counted. That included Joseph and Mary; it made no difference Mary was about to give birth. Joseph still had to return to Bethlehem.

"The Bible doesn't tell us how they traveled. The Holy Family is always depicted with Mary riding on a donkey. And neither does the Bible tell us how long it took. Common sense tells us it took a week."

"That's a long time, Father."

"Yes, Kurt it is. And common sense also tells us they had stopped along the way. So there's no way of knowing how long it really took.

"They arrived in the city of Bethlehem to find it already full of people. They had knocked on many inns' doors only to be told there was no room. One innkeeper took pity on them after Joseph told him Mary was with child and offered his stable.

"Maybe one of his hired hands put fresh hay all around and most likely brought them food and water. Joseph would have been very appreciative. He helped Mary from the donkey; then made her as comfortable as possible.

"In those days all babies were born in homes. Joseph must have provided for a midwife to come assist in the birth. Mary was blessed by God but she gave birth just like your mother will when the babies are born.

"The birth of most babies is a slow process. The Bible doesn't tell us how long Mary labored. It was probably in the early hours of the next day when she delivered Jesus. We only remember what has been written. Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and laid him in the manger.

"Your mother's idea to keep the baby figure out of the manager until tomorrow is probably how it really happened.

"Now why don't you sing the Advent hymn, Come thou long expected Jesus. Let's gather around the piano and I'll play it for you."

They did and Kurt broke the silence. "Let's get to sleep so tomorrow will come faster."

And so it happened. The children went up and their parents followed. Gretl had her children's book of the story of Christmas picked out for Maria to read. She and Marta were both fast asleep before she got to the end. She tip-toed out quietly and went back downstairs to pretend to be Father Christmas or Santa Claus as Americans referred to the gift bearer.

The dining room table had been cleared; now it was piled with gifts which had been bought. Maria and Georg had bought most of them; the others Maria and Isabel had purchased.

Also on the table were packages of wrapping paper with various Christmas designs on them and specially designed stickers to use to hold the paper around each gift. Since none of the children had any toys, there was more than one gift for all of them.

With many hands wrapping presents it didn't take very long. And each person had placed a gift tag on the wrapped gift denoting who it was for. They now brought them to the living room and were placed under the tree.

"Georg, Stefan and I will come down early to plug in the tree lights and to light the candles."

"Maria and I will probably wake early also. The children may do the same; we want to be dressed. They can come down in their sleep clothes if they wish."

And so it came to pass that in the Trapp home seven exuberant children were heard in the hall upstairs just as the sun was peaking over the horizon. The adults were sitting in the living room enjoying the beauty of their lit tree and the smell of wax candles burning.

Gretl surprised her parents; she didn't look for her gift. She went directly to their crèche.

"The Baby Jesus is in the cradle."

"Everyone, let's greet the Baby Jesus with a hymn."

"Away in the Manager, Father?"

"Correct Louisa."

And so the Trapp house was filled with the singing of this hymn for the Baby Jesus. They also sang Silent Night before they began to open their gifts.

No one had written a Father Christmas letter as they were called in Austria nor had the younger girls sat on Santa Claus's lap as their friends Sally and Rosemarie had done. Still each child received a gift they really wanted.

This first Christmas in America would be remembered even as others came and went. For now the family continued to enjoy discoveries in their new homeland. They joined the Isenharts and traveled into the city on New Year's Day to watch the strangest parade they had ever seen. The name was even strange, the Mummers Parade.

Everyone's first question was. "What's a mummer?"

Isabel Isenhart told them. "It's a person who wears a mask and an outrageous costume as they dance their way along the streets. There's lots of music too. Mummers do other things throughout the year. They're always entertaining the sick, the elderly, and children and raising money for numerous good causes.

"Georg, we never see the end of the parade; it takes hours. We usually beat the crowd to the Tea Room and have something to eat. By then the buses will be back on the streets."

Maria had been listening; she was glad to be able to sit soon. She had begun to take a nap in the afternoon.

Everyone ordered their favorites and they were served promptly. And they could still hear the parade when they left. It was now on the street behind all the stores. And the children did have another look at the window decorations again.

When they returned home Isabel commented. "I haven't seen but a few tree needles on the floor; that water bowl really works."

"Maybe it will last to Epiphany. We can place the Wise Men in the crèche and take a picture of the complete story of Christmas."

"Maria, I'll be sure there's always water in the bowl."

"Thank you, Stefan."

The family was surprised that their tree only lost a few needles by the time the day of the Epiphany arrived. Each day one of the children had moved the Wise Men closer and closer. And on that day everyone sang the song, We Three Kings.

Its lyrics told about these men from afar and the gifts of gold, frankincense, myrrh which they brought to the Baby Jesus after having seen his star in the east.

And Father Wasner explained "Our celebration of this brings Christ to the world. During the next Sundays you will hear about his Baptism, his presentation in the temple and the day God told the world that Jesus was his son.

"And then we will become quiet and thoughtful as the six weeks of Lent lead us to Holy Week; Palm Sunday, Jesus giving bread and wine to his disciples which has become our Holy Communion and then He died for us. We call this day Good Friday. It is good because of what He did for us. On Easter we celebrate His resurrection and the promise that believers will join Him in heaven.

"And then children, your mom will be close to having her babies."

With those words, the family had a prayer together before retiring for the night. And Maria had another appointment with Doctor Bill. Again Isabel went with her because Georg couldn't get away to do so.

The ladies hadn't waited long when it was time for Maria to see Doctor Bill. In his office he asked Maria a general question.

"Maria, how have you been feeling?"

"I have no real complaints. I have been napping in the afternoon."

"A lot of women begin to do that with twin babies. I do want to exam you and listen for those babies again."

Jane, his nurse, escorted her into the exam room and helped her onto the table. Maria remembered what to do. She lifted her dress so Doctor Bill could see her tummy. And Jane covered her with a sheet. And Maria folded he hands over her tummy bulge.

Doctor Bill noticed. "You are getting bigger. Let me see if it's easier for me to hear their heartbeats."

Once again Doctor Bill listened with what he named a fetoscope. Maria tried to be a still as possible. After he had pressed in a certain spot Maria was sure he was counting, He was and she heard.

"Jane, write down thirty-six."

And Maria felt him listen at another spot. There he heard what he thought was a different heartbeat, so he listened and counted and instructed Jane again.

"Write down thirty-two."

Then he spoke to Maria. "If I multiply each number by four it will give me the babies' heartrates."

Jane did for him and announced. "The first one's heartrate is 144. And the second is 128."

"Isn't that fast?" Maria questioned.

"Not for babies. Their heartrate remain faster than yours or mine until they about seven years old."

"Why are they different?"

"It's because you may be carrying a boy and a girl. The boy's is almost always slower. You can tell Georg this but I wouldn't announce it to your children."

"I won't even though I know it is their wish."

"Your pregnancy is almost like a textbook. I do want to see you again in three weeks"

He then helped Maria sit up and off the exam table. And Maria made her next appointment.

Now Maria wanted the day to pass quickly. She wanted to tell Georg about the babies' heartrates.

She kept busy by helping Isabel fold and put away the clean laundry. And when she greeted the children she tried not to seem happier than usual.

But when she greeted Georg she was sure he knew she had something to tell him.

The children's conversation after dinner helped pass the evening. And Maria read a shorter than usual story to the girls; it didn't matter they were both asleep before she finished.

And Maria spoke to her husband the moment she entered to master suite. Georg had a similar comment.

"It would be nice if you had a boy and a girl; everyone would be happy. I think Gretl is even getting excited about the twins."

"I know she is. Now even she's asking me how I feel."

And those three weeks until Maria's next doctor's visit passed quickly. Georg went with her this time. And Doctor Bill again heard two different heartbeats. He told them this.

"The probability you will have a boy and a girl is high. I still wouldn't tell everyone."

"Maria and I don't plan to. When do you need to see her again?"

"In two weeks."

"I'll be sure to put the date on my calendar so I can come with her."

Neither heard what he told Jane. "For a couple whose ages are so different, it's easy to see the love they share."

If they had it would have made them smile broadly. This very happy couple decided to visit the baby store. They were both surprised at what the shop keeper told them after Maria had mentioned she was having twins.

"Do we really only need one crib?"

"Yes. The babies don't sleep well separated. You will find they will squirm to be closer to each other."

"Makes sense, Maria. After all they've been very close for months."

"True, but I will need somewhere to put them when they're downstairs with the family."

"Then I suggest you buy another crib rather than two cradles. And I also encourage you to it early; I'm sure you do want to be all ready before they are born."

"Georg, let's surprise the children by purchasing another one today."

They did and heard. "I'll send it out within the hour. And the men will put it together for you."

"Very well, we'll watch for the truck."

And the couple spoke to Franz as soon as they arrived home. "We're expecting a delivery from the baby store. It's a crib to keep downstairs. Maria and I will decide where to put it."

And in less than hour, the truck had arrived. And the two men were experts at putting it together. And one corner of their living now held the brown wood crib with a small design painted on the front and back panels. The sides were made from slates of brown wood. The mattress was placed over a metal support frame.

And when the children came home, they heard. "Does this mean you're close to having your babies?"

"Not really children but we are getting prepared."

And in the next days Maria would do more preparation. She and the children would buy all the things two babies would need, several dozen diapers, sleep sacs with drawstrings and several blankets.