Scene 2, running contest
August of 1928
Liesl - age 7
Friedrich - age 5
Louisa - age 4
Kurt - age 1
It was a sunny summer afternoon. Liesl, Friedrich and Louisa had finished their schoolwork for the day. Even though it was summer vacation, they still had to continue practising their schoolwork.
Georg and Agathe found it important that they not only had good manners and were physically fit and healthy, but also did well in school. They were Whitehead's, as well as Von Trapp's, so not only their parents had high expectations, but the society had too.
"Finally fresh air!" Liesl exclaimed as she ran outside. The three had planned to do a running contest as soon as they were allowed to go outside. Friedrich and Louisa wanted to see who could run faster, both of them certain they'd win.
Their father volunteered to be the referee, and stood at the finish. Their mother, pregnant with their fifth child, sat on the terrace in a chair, watching the race.
"Ready! Set! Go!" their father yelled, and the three started running as fast as they could.
Louisa was a year younger than Friedrich, and therefore had shorter legs. She watched in annoyance as her older brother raced past her. Liesl had already finished by the time Friedrich neared and watched the scene unfold.
"I told you I would win!" Friedrich bragged when Louisa finished.
"That's only because you're older! Next time I'll win!" she shot back.
"No you won't! Girls can't beat boys, they are weak, boys are stronger!" Friedrich yelled.
"That's not true! Liesl just beat you, stupid! And I will too!" Louisa said. From the sideline Liesl nodded approvaling.
"Alright, cut it out, both of you!" Georg interfered. Both of them stopped talking and lowered their heads.
Georg turned to his daughter and held her chin up, so that he could look her in the eyes. "Louisa von Trapp, if I hear you use such foul language again I'll wash your mouth out with soap," he threatened.
"Shake each other's hand and say you're sorry. I thought I taught you to show good sportsmanship". Friedrich held his hand out, but Louisa refused.
"I'm okay with shaking your hand, but I'm not going to say sorry." she declared.
"Louisa Hede Hedwig von Trapp, you'll do as I say. Apologise to your brother, or else you'll have to sit with your mother until dinner gets served." Georg said firmly. Hearing her both her middle names changed her mind, so she reluctantly shook her brother's hand, and they both apologised.
Liesl, Friedrich and Louisa decided to race again. Georg went to Agathe and they both watched the race from the veranda. Everything was going fine, until Louisa pushed Friedrich when he tried to pass her. He stumbled, and fell face flat on the ground.
"I told you I was right! Girls aren't weak!".
Georg immediately stood up and strode to the scene. "Louisa Hede Hedwig von Trapp!" he thundered. That was when Louisa knew she was in trouble, her father yelling her middle names meant actual trouble. She slowly turned around.
Their father pulled Friedrich on his feet and dusted him off. "You fine son?" he asked.
"Yes papa." the boy replied. After Georg made sure Friedrich was unharmed, he turned to Louisa.
"You'll be coming to my study with me," her father said with his stern voice.
"Keep walking," he commanded when Louisa hesitated to enter the house. They walked to his study, and both sat down.
"I won't have you pushing your brother!" her father scolded.
"But he said mean things about girls!" Louisa argued.
"I'd prefer if you ask for permission to speak freely next time," Georg said. Most men in the navy used the phrase 'permission to speak freely, and Georg didn't think it would be otiose to make use of it at home as well.
He continued: "I do not care whatever Friedrich might have done to upset you. Violence is never the solution. You come to me, and I will take care of it".
"But you were there when he said it, and you didn't say that it was mean of him to say!".
Georg sighed, she had a point and he knew it. He could understand why she would push Friedrich, he surely would've done the same thing at her age. However, he couldn't tolerate such behaviour.
"That's because I want you to learn how to solve your own disputes".
It was silent for a few seconds.
"Alright, he shouldn't have said it, but if I ever see you pushing, pinching, scratching or hitting your siblings, you'll be in bigger trouble than you are now. None of my children will ever be physically hurting someone else and definitely not their sibling", Georg looked Louisa right in the eye. Louisa's face when she looked angry was extremely cute and therefore he had to suppress a grin.
"Do you understand why you can't push people?" he asked, to make sure she understood.
Louisa nodded. "I didn't quite catch that, say it out loud please." Georg demanded.
"Yes sir." she obediently replied.
"For pushing your brother and not listening to me, you'll be sitting this afternoon out, till dinner. You'll sit on your hands, to learn you should keep your hands to yourself, and may come off of them when I tell you to." her father said. He could already see his four-year-old opening her mouth to say something.
"Don't try to talk yourself out of it, nor try to change my mind. You can't control other people's behaviour, but you can control your reaction to it and your own behaviour. You'll be apologising to Friedrich just before we start eating. I'll have a short word with your brother too".
Louisa gave her father one of her angry glares, which according to Agathe, is the exact same Georg gives whenever he's angry.
Georg brought Louisa to the terrace and made sure she was settled on a chair.
"I assume you and your father talked," her mother started, after Georg took Friedrich to his study.
"He talked, I wasn't allowed to say anything." Louisa said as she crossed her arms.
"You know your father doesn't appreciate back talking".
"But mama, I was just telling him why I pushed Friedrich!"
"Well you must've had a very good reason then. Why did you push your brother?" her mother asked.
"Because he was saying that girls aren't strong like boys." Louisa said.
"Well I suppose that wasn't nice of him to say, but that doesn't mean you're allowed to hurt someone".
Louisa stayed silent and thought.
"Mama, Friedrich is wrong, right? Girls aren't weaker than boys, are they?" Louisa asked after she thought for a minute.
"Yes he is wrong. Girls can be just as strong, if not, stronger than boys. I am confident that you'll be able to beat him in a race sooner or later. With your strong will, you can do anything. I think the reason he won was because he's older and has longer legs, but if you keep practising you'll beat him." Agathe encouraged.
Georg had brought Friedrich to his study to discuss his comments.
"I think it's about time that you and I have a little chat, son," Georg started.
"The things I heard come out of your mouth do not please me, boy. I want and expect you to be respectful to women, and by saying that 'girls are weak', you certainly weren't minding your respectfulness. Not only is it disrespectful and incredibly rude of you to say such a thing, above all it is not true and not how I want my boys to behave." he scolded.
Friedrich lowered his head and started fidgeting with his shorts.
"Just like Lousia you'll be sitting out, except for twenty minutes. I expect you to apologise just before we start dinner. In the meantime you have the opportunity to think about your words and to think about how you are going to apologise, not only to Louisa, but to Liesl and your mother as well. Did I make myself clear?" his father asked.
"Yes sir." the five-year-old replied.
"Alright, follow me." Georg said, and he followed Friedrich out of the room.
When Friedrich walked outside Louisa gave him an angry glare. She watched as he took a seat on the opposite side of her mother.
"You may come off of your hands." Georg said to Louisa. He made sure her hands were fine, and walked back into his study.
Suddenly Agathe gasped as she looked up. Little Kurt was sitting on the windowsill, while the window was open.
Agathe ran as quickly as she could into the house, to Kurt.
She opened the door and found Kurt happily waving. Agathe walked over to the window and took her son into her arms.
"You've got to stop climbing on everything, little man. You're going to hurt yourself".
It appeared that Kurt had climbed out of his crib, which was next to the windowsill and settled himself on there.
Georg came running into the room but slowed down at the sight of his son in his wife's arms.
He let a sigh out of relief. "I nearly got a heart attack!"
Georg shook his head, as he patted Kurt's head.
"He is just like my brother. I am sure that if he were alive today, they'd make an amazing team. Both always hungry and climbing on everything". Werner had sadly passed away in the great war. Both brothers were very close, and his death had a major impact on Georg.
Agathe walked into the dark room, where Georg was playing a grim piece of music. He did not acknowledge her, and continued. Half empty bottles of liquor surrounded him like waves. She slowly neared, and tried to console him by making soothing circles on his back with her hands. He tried to pick up his glass with alcohol, while continuing to play the piano with his left hand, but Agathe stopped him. "Let me take that from you". She put the glass aside, and sat next to him on the bench.
"You don't have to be so strong and composed all the time. I'm here for you, even though you might feel so alone". Georg continued to play. Agathe disrupted him, by carefully taking his hands in hers. She could feel his muscles relaxe a bit. "Tell me what you're thinking about. Please, let me be there for you." she whispered.
Georg buried his head in her shoulders and let it all out. "It's my fault, I know it is. I am the older brother, I should have been there to protect him, and I wasn't. I should have joined the army, instead of the navy and I should have been the one who died." he cried. She had never seen him in such a state.
"Don't you say that. You are not responsible for your brother. An older sibling should never feel that way, ever. You didn't join the army, because you didn't have the choice. You joined the naval academy, when you were fourteen, before you even knew he was joining the army. Above all, you should never ever say that you should have been the one who died, because I need you here." she answered back. They stayed in that position for a while, until Agathe led Georg to their bed and made sure he was asleep.
Agathe let her head drop on his shoulder and reached for his hand.
"I am sure they would. Such a coincidence that we named Kurt after your brother Werner. I think he was the angel Kurt had on his shoulder today".
Georg nodded and embraced Agathe, with Kurt in her arms, into a hug. Slowly he let the tension in his muscles fade away.
After a short prayer, just before they started eating, Georg motioned for Friedrich to apologise. "Mama, Liesl and Louisa, I am sorry for saying mean things about girls." Friedrich said quietly, while looking at the three.
"Apology accepted, dear." Agathe said.
Georg now looked at Louisa, who had her head down. "Sorry for pushing you". Louisa bluntly stated.
"Who are you talking to?" her father interfered.
"Look Friedrich in the eye and tell him you're sorry".
Louisa turned to Friedrich and looked him in the eye. "I am sorry for pushing you, Friedrich." she obediently said. He reached out his hand, and Louisa shook it.
"You may start your dinner. Enjoy your meal." Georg said, and everyone started eating.
After dinner it seemed like they both had forgotten their dispute. Friedrich and Louisa were laying next to each other, as Liesl read them a story from a book she had made up herself.
Agathe and Georg shared a smile and watched from the doorway. "We are so blessed." Agathe softly said.
"Yes we are." Georg whispered back, and placed a kiss on top of her head.
A/N: I just noticed I was subconsciously inspired by bloomandgrow (the Kurt part), so credits to this amazing writer!