Chapter 2 - the event that changed everything
The following day they met again, in Liesl's room. "So, have you thought about it?" Louisa asked. "Yes, I have," Liesl started slowly. "But… I think we should try to phone him, before we do anything".
Louisa sighed. "We have tried to call him several times, but he didn't answer or told us he didn't know when he was coming home. I think it's time for action!" Louisa said a bit too excited. She was always in for adventures and missions, so this was right down her alley.
Friedrich and Liesl shared a look. "Okay, let's do it then." Friedrich said. To make sure their father wouldn't suspect anything, they decided to play tricks, secretly. They put spiders in the governess's room, eventually in her bed, until she couldn't bear it anymore, and resigned.
Their father was called, asked to come home, since the governess had left. He saw right through them, and knew something was up. Instead of doing anything, he made arrangements for a new governess to take care of his children and left.
Since their father didn't really react last time, they decided to level up their tricks. This time they choose to cause trouble, in front of all the adults in the house. They made a huge mess and were on the loose, running around the house.
Their father was called again and came home. The children didn't expect him to come home so soon, and were playing in the bathroom. Friedrich and Louisa were chasing each other, as usual, while the rest of them made mummies of each other.
He stood there, again in the door opening watching them. The children were so busy, they didn't notice their father standing there. He took a silver whistle out of his pocket, and blew it.
All the children fell quiet, stopped what they were doing and turned around immediately. 'Line up please.' he said, with a strict tone in his voice. All of them were slightly scared and lined up, without hesitating.
"Last time, I told you to not fool around like lunatics. This time, I come home, and I see you behaving like lunatics, when I told you not to do so. I will not tolerate this kind of nonsense. I hope I made that very clear." he said while pacing around.
He turned around and walked towards Liesl. "I had expected more from you. I thought, you'd be wise enough to stop this kind of behaviour, but you didn't". Liesl said nothing, but stared him dead in the eye.
"So, since this is the second time, I have to do something about it. I'd suggest you all clean this mess up and go to your rooms. I do not want to hear any of you talking. As for dinner, none of you will have dessert this evening, nor tomorrow." he said.
They all stood there, not knowing what to do. "You may start now." he said, and all of them started right away.
Dinner was quiet, until Liesl finally dared to break the silence. "Father, how long will you be home?" she asked. He looked up from his plate, slightly annoyed.
"I don't know Liesl, I have some important meetings planned. I've arranged a new governess, she will come in a few days". Liesl and Friedrich looked at each other.
"Father, we don't need a governess. I can help the younger ones," she said. "I will not leave you unsupervised. Besides, who is going to look after Gretl and Marta when you're at school?" he asked sternly.
"Frau Schmidt is here to keep an extra eye on us, and…" she wasn't able to finish her sentence. "Enough! I will not have this conversation with you Liesl. That's my final decision." he said.
After that no one dared to speak. They sat down and waited until their father had finished eating his dessert. Kurt, who's favourite time of the day dessert was, looked very sombre because he had to miss it.
When their father finished, they went upstairs to the nursery. Liesl and Friedrich helped getting the younger ones ready, and tucked them in.
Together with Louisa they met in Liesl's room. "I'm not sure if all of this was worth missing dessert, and getting father upset with us." Friedrich said. Friedrich liked to get his father's approval, so this made him slightly uncomfortable.
"I do think it was worth it. At least we know that he knows that we exist." Louisa answered back. "If he leaves again, and we want to continue, I think we should vote and get permission from the others as well." Liesl said, trying to stop the slowly heating discussion.
Both Louisa, and Friedrich nodded. "Yes, we should have special meetings to plan everything! We'd have our own secret organisation, with a book and rules and…" Louisa began enthusiastically. Liesl held her hand up, to stop Louisa. "If we all agree, we haven't voted yet, remember?" Liesl said.
Louisa rolled her eyes, but agreed. "Okay, so we are going to vote, after father has left, so he doesn't suspect anything." Liesl said. They all agreed, and went to bed.