Scène 6, family visits - 1930

July of 1930

Liesl - age 9

Friedrich - age 7

Louisa - age 6

Kurt - age 4

Brigitta - age 3

Marta - couple days old

Both Agathe's and Georg's parents hadn't been able to visit and meet their new grandchild yet, but that was about to change soon. The Whiteheads had to travel all the way from England, so they weren't expected for at least a couple of days. Both families were going to stay over, that would be easier considering the travel time.

Georg and Agathe wanted to make sure their parents could not disapprove of anything and made sure to prepare in advance. While they worried over meals, outfits and how everything was presented for the Whiteheads, the children and parenting were the biggest concerns when it came to Georg's parents.

Agathe had already ordered custom sailor suits for the children, hoping it would please both their fathers, considering their backgrounds. Frau Schmidt had picked them up this morning in town.

Georg smiled as he sat down on the terrace, next to Agathe. He watched as his five eldest children were playing with a large food bowl for the horses. The stable boy was cleaning it with a water hose, but quickly after he was finished the children decided that it would make a perfect U-boat for them to play with.

It was funny watching his oldest son yell facts about the navy that his mother made him study. Agathe had made him show all his medals to his children and explain their meanings. She said it was important for them to know that their father was a 'war hero'. He never really understood the term 'hero'. One man's hero is another man's enemy after all.

Of course Friedrich and Louisa were bickering over who should be the captain, while Liesl was trying to diffuse the situation. "Can't I be the captain?" Kurt asked. Without losing eye contact with each other both Friedrich and Louisa snapped a 'no' at him.

"How about we ask father to be the captain? He has experience after all…" Liesl suggested. That lit everyone's faces up. They ran towards their father as fast as they could. Louisa was the first to reach their parents.

"I told you you could outrun your brother." her mother winked at Louisa who stood there proudly, smiling. Not much later her siblings arrived.

"You ask." Friedrich nudged Liesl, knowing she was the best pleader.

"Papa, we were playing navy, and we were wondering if you would like to play the captain, please." she asked as nicely as she could.

Georg leaned back in his chair, acting as if he were thinking really hard. "Please." the other children now joined in as well.

"It would be the perfect opportunity to teach them a bit of discipline." Agathe added. Georg looked at his wife and both shared a smile.

"Alright, I'll be your captain then." their father said as he stood up, which caused the children to all start talking over each other. He held his hands up in surrender, quieting them down.

They arrived at the 'U-boat'. "Let's start with a straight line. Oldest to youngest, with the oldest on my left hand and the youngest on my right hand. I need you to stand at attention, just like when you are sent to the corner".

Not much later they had formed a line. Their father tweaked a bit here and there to make sure it was straight. Overall he was pretty content already. He then went on with explaining a couple of basic drills for marching. It was a bit much for Brigitta, considering she was only three years old, but she didn't give up.

After discovering almost the whole world with their U-boat, Georg's eye fell on the water hose. It was a hot summer day and a bit of water wouldn't do them any harm.

"Oh no! Our submarine sank!" he said while he sprayed his unsuspecting children, in the food bowl, wet.

All five of them screamed and got out as fast as they could. Louisa immediately tried to grab the water hose. Soon her siblings helped her and they managed to get a hold of the water hose to get revenge on their father. After being attacked by his children Georg ran to the water tap, and turned it off.

"Alright unruly bunch, let's all get dried off and change our clothes. I wouldn't want to be late to dinner." their father said as he was directing them all to the house. Brigitta was running after her siblings. Her father lifted her up and tickled her.

"Stop, papa. It tickles" Brigitta giggled.

"I thought I was just being nice by offering you a lift." he shrugged.

During dinner their mother tried to get everybody's attention. "I need you all to listen very carefully to me. Tomorrow Großvater and Großmutter will be visiting. That means that all of you need to be on your very best behaviour. That means no bickering, no talking back, no cussing, no slouching, no screaming and no whining. Do you understand that?" their mother asked.

The children nodded. Georg cleared his throat. "Yes ma'am." they chorused.

"I know my parents can be harsh and strict, but we are serious here. Speak when spoken to, and with the required respect. So that does also mean using your words instead of nodding." their father clarified.

"Yes sir." his children answered.

"We are going to welcome them, so I want you to greet them in a nice line. Your Großvater can not handle disarray".

After lunch the Von Trapps arrived. As practised all the children formed a neat line to welcome their grandparents, in their matching sailor suits.

"Congratulations Georg, with your little one!" Hedwig exclaimed as she captured Georg in a tight hug. His father greeted Agathe. Hedwig stepped aside, giving August the chance to greet his son. His father gave him a firm hand and congratulated him.

"Welcome Großvater and Großmutter." Liesl smiled as she gave a bouquet of flowers to her grandmother. Hedwig gave all her grandchildren a peck on the cheek, which Friedrich, Louisa and Kurt immediately wiped away. August gave the children a tight smile as he greeted them with a nod.

Georg did not want his children to annoy his father, so the children quickly went to the nursery, leaving the adults to talk.

Apart from some snarky remarks here and there the afternoon went rather fine. August never complimented his son, but he had even given a few. After they had all changed into more formal attire they met in the dining room, ready for dinner to be served.

Dinner was what Georg and Agathe were the most nervous for. They had chosen not to have dinner separately from their children, but if anything went wrong now, it wasn't very easy to usher any of them away, without making a scene.

Georg had already noticed his father giving Louisa especially a couple of annoyed looks. He assumed she reminded his father too much of himself. Louisa was often bursting with energy and after having to be controlled and calm today she was fidgeting more than usual. Her legs didn't reach the ground yet and he could see she was swinging her legs.

August cleared his throat. "Boy, you need to teach that girl of yours some table manners".

Louisa looked a bit confused between the men. She noticed how her father looked a bit conflicted between his father and her.

"Louisa, try to sit still, alright?" her father asked.

"Are you asking her or telling her?" August said gruffly.

"Louisa, sit still." her father ordered.

"Yes sir." she answered, returning to her plate.

"That is what I meant, keep it up." August complimented his son.

She really couldn't help it, but apparently after a bit she continued to fidget and swing her legs again.

August raised his eyebrow at his son, expecting him to scold her. Georg sighed. "Louisa, sit still." he reminded her again.

"That is much better. You need to teach those children discipline. You give them one or no warning, if they don't listen there will be consequences. Don't baby them." August turned towards her father.

"If you were my daughter, I would have given you a real reason to squirm, girl." her Großvater said in a scary voice. Louisa glared at him and was about to open her mouth.

"But I-"

She was interrupted by her father's stern voice. "Get here, right now, young lady." he ordered, snapping his fingers and pointing to the spot next to him.

"You give her a few smacks, to show her who is the boss." her Großvater said approvingly.

Louisa slowly made her way to her father. When she neared he took her by the arm, turned her around and smacked her three times.

"You are going to listen to me and do as I tell you. Don't you even think about giving any adult a big mouth." he hissed in her ear.

"Get your nose in the corner." her father said coldly, pointing to the left corner within his eyesight.

"I didn't mean-" she started to defend, but again was cut off.

"Louisa Hede Hedwig von Trapp, if you do not get into the corner within five seconds, you will not like the consequences".

Louisa her mouth dropped open as she looked confused between the adults. "Now, young lady." her father urged. She quickly walked to the corner. When she passed her mother, she gave her a small encouraging squeeze.

Agathe shook her head barely visible, disapproving of Georg's action, trying to communicate her feelings on the matter, but Georg was too occupied with his father. August patted Georg on his back. She had seen August drink quite a lot of alcohol already, and wished her husband had noticed that as well.

"That's better boy, but next time you take her for a full trip over your knee. Or I assume you are planning to do that afterwards, aren't you, clever boy". Georg slightly smiled at the praise he was getting from his father. He glanced at his daughter, standing in the corner.

"Louisa, put your hands behind your head, elbows to the sides and stand up straight." her father scolded her. August leaned back approvingly.

"That is even better, that will hurt her arms in a bit. Though I would have had her kneeling, it makes it even harder." August nodded.

Kurt had the urge to stand up for his sister, but his mother stroked her hand over his cheek, silencing him.

They continued eating. After a while Georg's eyes finally met Agathe's. She silently motioned for him to call Louisa out of the corner. He reached into his pocket and took his pocket watch out. After checking the time he put it back.

"Louisa, turn around." he ordered.

She slowly turned around, dropping her arms to her sides. "I didn't tell you to drop your arms, now did I?" Louisa quickly placed her arms back behind her head. "No sir, I am sorry sir." she obediently said. Her father nodded in response.

"Tell me why you were being sent to the corner." her father asked. In all honesty Louisa did not understand why she had been sent to the corner. Normally her father didn't get upset if she were moving just a little bit while eating. It was just her brothers who would get angry. Complaining about how she was kicking them with her legs.

"I… I didn't listen to you." she stammered.

"What did I tell you to do?" her father asked.

"To sit still".

"That's right. The next time I tell you to do something, you do it right away, understood?"

"Yes sir." Louisa replied.

"You may now lower your arms". Louisa didn't waste a second and dropped them immediately back to her sides.

"Finish your dinner." her father ordered.

"You are still quite lenient, I assume you will punish her further. Didn't you notice the look on her face?" her Großvater said to her father. Causing Louisa to glare at her grandfather again.

Georg rested his hand with his fork, which was midway air and sighed. "Louisa, straighten your face. You have already lost the privilege of having dessert." he said emotionlessly.

"Yes sir." she answered, careful not to show any attitude.

"You know, your father once had almost all of his privileges taken away. I think he was only allowed one blanket considering he slept on the floor, and some food and water from a bowl placed on the floor. Taught you not to behave like some dog, didn't it?" August laughed, drinking his whiskey, and adding to the already tense atmosphere. The children looked between the adults at the table, bewildered by what had just been said.

Agathe looked at Georg. He had told her about how his father had treated him like a dog for two days and how terrible he felt. It was traumatic for him. He still had nightmares about those two days. Surely now he was realising that his father was drunk and that he didn't agree with his father's parenting views, and he would stick up for himself and his family.

Georg forced a smile. "That sure taught me not to." he replied.

All of the children made sure that their grandfather wasn't able to complain about their behaviour, and continued eating.

After everyone, except Louisa, had finished dessert, Georg called Louisa over. Before he had the chance to scold her any further her mother took Georg by the arm and led him to his study.

"What on earth do you think you are doing? Are you so desperate to get praised by your drunk father that you are using your own children as some pawn? I would think that you out of all people would understand how horrible it is what you are doing!" Agathe whisper-yelled.

Georg knitted his eyebrows, confused. "What do you mean?"

"You are embarrassing your own daughter, just because she didn't sit completely still. You can't expect a six-year-old to sit still after a day of not being able to release her energy! The way you reacted was way too harsh, you were way too cold. You not only smacked her, but then sent her to the corner, with her hands behind her head, right in front of everyone like she is some criminal! All that while she didn't even do anything wrong! She was being respectful. You are the adult she feels safe with and you just abused that trust!" Agathe expressed.

Georg turned around and ran his hand over his face, stopping to pinch his nose. He squatted down and not much later straightened himself, clenching and unclenching his fists. He could seriously punch himself, or someone else. The worst part was that he did feel good, his father sort of praised him. He couldn't imagine how betrayed Louisa must feel.

"You need to clear your head. Review your own actions and the influence your father has on you. Take a walk, go for a run, sit down or stare at a wall like you just made your own daughter do. Just… make better choices, because this is not you." Agathe said a bit softer.

"You are right, I am so sorry." Georg said as he turned around towards Agathe.

"I am going outside for a bit. Tell Louisa I am sorry." he said as he grabbed his coat.

When he opened the door he was met with Louisa, looking at him with big worried and glossy eyes. She immediately snapped her head back to the wall. "You don't have to face the wall. You are not in trouble." was what he said as he pulled his daughter into a hug, sighing.

"I'm sorry Lou. I made some stupid choices and I have to clear my head for a bit, alright?" her father whispered softly. She nodded into his jacket.

"You go with your siblings and get ready for bed, eh? I'll check in on you later".

Louisa let go of her father. "Yes sir" she whispered. That formal response broke his heart. Her father nodded. "Good… good".

"Come, Isa. The boys said that you can pick which game we are going to play." Liesl said, motioning for Louisa to come. Georg smiled, proud that her siblings were all trying to cheer her up.

Liesl glanced outside and noticed how her father was smoking. He rarely did it. Sometimes if she couldn't sleep at night and looked out of her window she could see her father smoking, but that only really happened twice.

Apparently, most men after they came back from the war smoked. It was rarely ever talked about though, the war. She assumed it must not have been very pleasant then. Just like how she never talked about her nightmares.

She laid back in her bed and stared at the ceiling. She didn't really understand why her father acted so different all of the sudden. Children from school and town always said that the great war had changed the men and their behaviour. She wondered if that was true for her father.

Right now it was like there was some war within her own house. Her own sister being a victim. Her father was a soldier, just like her Großvater. Though she wondered if they were fighting for the same team.

Her siblings would be civilians, watching as a fight took place. She wondered what she would be. A nurse or a peacemaker, perhaps? That is what she tried to be at least. Liesl was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard her door creak.

"Lili, can I come sleep with you?" she heard Louisa ask.

Liesl made room for her sister and patted the place beside her. "Yes, come here." she answered.

Louisa ran towards the bed and nestled herself next to Liesl, who wrapped an arm around her. "Thank you." was all she whispered before she drifted to sleep.

The next morning, before breakfast, Georg went to find the children so he could apologise to Louisa. "Louisa, come with me for a walk, eh?" he asked. The girl nodded and put on a thin coat. She then followed her father outside.

They walked for a bit in silence. Just with the comfort of being together. Georg stopped and crouched down in front of Louisa.

"I truly am so sorry, Louisa. What I did last evening, during dinner, was unacceptable of me. I know it is not your fault you can't always sit perfectly still. I can't and mustn't ask that of you, especially considering you already were unable to release your energy yesterday. I should have ignored your grandfather and defended you instead of embarrassing you. I promise I won't let Großvater be mean to you today. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me." her father said while he held her hands.

"I forgive you".

Oh how thankful he was for that. He wrapped his daughter in a hug, burying his face in her hair, while she buried her face in his neck. He stood up and placed Louisa on his hip.

"I am sorry for your father." was what she said softly. Georg rubbed her back gently, distracting himself from getting emotional.

"That's not your fault, Loulou. He is… Well, you know how he is…"

Louisa nodded. She straightened herself, placing her hands on her father's shoulders, so she could look her father in the eye. "I am lucky you're my papa".

Georg smiled softly. "Thank you for saying that, it means a lot to me. I am not perfect, but I am trying. Being a father is scary sometimes, because I don't want to be a bad one, I want to do better." he said as he gently brushed some loose strands behind her ear.

"Better than who? Better than Großvater?" she asked, slightly scrunching up her face.

Her father hummed. "Something like that, I suppose".

"Here, let me show you something." her father said as he placed her back on the ground. He led her towards the water, bent down and grabbed a stone.

"Look, you hold it like this and then you skip it." he said while he showed her how to skip stones. Louisa giggled and then tried it herself.

Both of them were occupied in the competition they had started and hadn't heard Agathe calling for them. Only after she used the whistle father and daughter looked up.

"I assume we are being missed, ladybug. I am quite hungry, what do you say, shall we get inside for breakfast?"

Louisa smiled and nodded. Her father extended his arm, so Louisa could hold his hand, and the duo walked back towards the house.

Georg could swear he saw a small smile on his father's face when he walked in on his children telling stories to his parents.

Breakfast went well. He wasn't sure if it had to do with the fact that he was now sober or if Agathe had spoken to his parents or not, but his father seemed less annoyed with the children's behaviour.

After breakfast he had to complete a few tasks. Agathe's brother Frank and his family were coming with her parents, as a surprise and he had to make sure everything would be in order before they arrived.

The children stayed in the drawing room with their grandparents. Even though the summer holidays had begun, they still had to keep up their schoolwork so they wouldn't get behind. Their mother suggested that they could do it in between breakfast and lunch, and they would be allowed to do it in the drawing room, instead of the schoolroom.

"What is it that you are working on?" their Großvater asked Friedrich, Louisa and Kurt, seated around a table. The three of them looked up from their schoolwork.

"We are working on some schoolwork, Großvater." Friedrich answered. Their grandfather stood up and walked over towards the table.

"Maths, I see." he hummed. The siblings nodded.

"Do you like maths?" their grandfather asked. Friedrich shrugged.

"It's okay, I suppose. I prefer other subjects".

"What about you?" August asked Louisa and Kurt.

"Same as Friedrich, Großvater." Louisa answered politely. Kurt agreed.

Their grandfather watched how Kurt was trying to solve a question. "You are close, boy, but you made a mistake." he said. After showing Kurt how to solve it properly Friedrich asked if his grandfather could check his work.

Liesl had already finished her schoolwork before breakfast. Her grandmother was teaching her how to embroider.

After August had shown his grandchildren how to solve their maths problems, he took a seat in an armchair close to the table. Not much later Brigitta walked over to him and asked if she could sit in his lap. August gently lifted his granddaughter up and held her in his lap.

Georg walked in on his parents and children, glad that nothing happened within the short time he and Agathe weren't there. It made him happy to see that they got along, though it did make him a tad bit jealous. He had no happy memories of his father, except for that one time he taught him how to fish and survive in the wilderness. He wondered if there actually was a time his father was caring and kind towards him.

"Ah, there you are." his mother said. Georg walked over to the sofa where his mother and daughter were sitting. As soon as his children saw he was there, their faces lit up.

"Look how well she is doing." Hedwig exclaimed, showing him Liesl's work.

"That looks gorgeous, Selly." he beamed, ruffling his daughter's hair.

"You are messing my hair up, father!" Liesl giggled, trying to flatten her hair back.

"Ah, yes, I'm sorry my little lady." he smiled.

"Do you have someone in mind you are going to give it to?" Georg asked, while pouring himself a glass of water.

"I think I am going to give it to Großvater." Liesl answered. Georg nearly choked on his water. He did not see that coming, especially after he found Louisa in Liesl's bed last night. However at the same time he could expect it from her. Liesl was their little peacemaker afterall.

August looked up and smiled. "I would really appreciate that, Liesl. Thank you." he responded kindly. Georg squeezed his daughter's shoulder encouragingly.

A giggle from the table piqued his interests. Georg walked over to the table with his three other children.

"How is it going here?" he asked them.

"Good, father. Großvater helped us with some questions." Friedrich responded. His father leaned over his shoulder and hummed.

"Papa, can we please go and play?" Louisa pleaded.

"It's may, and no you may not. When you have finished your work, you may play." he told them, earning sighs from Louisa and Kurt.

"Sighing won't get the job done. Go on and finish." their father urged them.

Georg walked over to the other armchair, also near the table and sat down, allowing himself to lean back. Not much later Agathe came in.

"I'm sorry. I have put Marta to sleep, so I will need to check in on her again a bit later." she apologised as she took a seat next to Liesl and Hedwig.

"No need to apologise, dear." Hedwig said.

Brigitta climbed off of her grandfather's lap and made her way towards her father, who picked her up and placed her on his lap.

Not much later Friedrich made his way over, with his schoolwork in his hand. "I'm done, father". While Georg was checking the work, a line formed behind his son.

"How long is it going to take?" Louisa asked, annoyed that she was the last one in line.

"Change your tone, Louisa." her father scolded.

"I can check yours, if you want to." her grandfather offered.

"She won't get her way by not being polite, so could you please help Kurt first?" her father asked her grandfather.

"Kurt, come here, I will check your work." their grandfather said. Kurt met his mother's gaze, seeking approval. After he found that she walked over to her grandfather.

As soon as the three got their schoolwork checked, they ran off outside.

"Großvater, I have finished the handkerchief. Look, I put both our initials on here, and Großmutter taught me how to make flowers." Liesl said while she was showing her creation.

"Thank you so much, Liesl." her grandfather said as he pulled her into a hug. Georg noticed that it was a little awkward because his father didn't really know how to hug. After he whispered something in her ear, he patted her and let go. Liesl then excused herself and joined her siblings.

"You two are doing well with the children." Hedwig complimented them.

"Not too lenient, eh?" Georg joked.

"You could be stricter, much stricter, but I suppose they listen to you and they are healthy. You could see their faces light up the second you entered the room, so I am assuming you are doing a fine job." August said.

That was once again not the reaction Georg saw coming.

"You never looked as excited to see me. I suppose that I had my own shortcomings." August sighed, taking a sip of his water.

Georg didn't know what to say, so he didn't.

After a minute of silence he broke it. "You looked content around the children. I have to admit I did not see that coming, especially after last evening." he confessed.

"I realised that it is your job to worry about their discipline, and that I need to sit back. I will try to be the soft Großvater, maybe… I might have drunk a bit too much yesterday too." August confessed.

Georg laughed at that.

"Why are you laughing?" August asked.

Georg shook his head, snorting. "Nothing, it's just… I don't know, father… I have never seen you loosen up just a little bit, ever. I don't have any memory of you not being strict".

"Oh he was, you were just too young to remember." Hedwig joined in. Georg raised his eyebrow at that.

"He would take you in town and show you around, buying sweets." his mother clarified.

"I can not picture that, but thanks for the information." Georg grinned.

The afternoon arrived and that meant saying goodbye to Hedwig and August.

Though some stress had been relieved, the preparations for the Whiteheads had started…