Liesel woke up tired and sad that dream had not been the most pleasant experience. She noticed outside her window a bluebird and her family were nesting on her window sill it sang a note that was melodious and rang like a chime. She smiled as if this was a sign from her mother she knew bluebirds were her favorite so she gingerly opened up the window taking care not to disturb the nest and left out some bird seed for the little ones and their her delight the mama ate the birdseed and was pleased the little chicks were also eating them as well. And with that liesel closed the window carefully she would face the day and whatever obstacles lay ahead of her she would know in her soul that this was the day that everything would change but right now she had to get ready for the morning inspection. Mercifully her brother and sister got up without much protest the real challenge would be getting the rest of the family up for inspection every day inspection why he runs this place as if it were a ship marching whistles quiet no music no playing it was not right but there was not much she could do about it but something had to change or she would go absolutely mad as a hatter.
She knocked on the door to her younger siblings room and they were all still in bed so one by one she roused them from sleep saying " Allright everybody get up its nearly time for inspection"
"Do we have to today cant we just sleep in " complained marta
"No you know father expects us to be down and ready for breakfast and the morning inspection" she said gently
"AWh come one just five more minutes liesel " moaned kurt
"No buts kurt out of bed" she said more sharply
"Liesel? What do you think the new governess will be like will she be like the others or do you think she will be kind ?" asked gretel
" I do hope so now up and atem everyone today is another day and lets try to last longer than an hour this time maybe push for an hour and a half" they all groaned "Excellent all right marta gretel hurry up or your going to late for breakfast and i overheard that chef is making pancakes
"I love pancakes" said marta and gretel as if on cue Liesel giggled "well let me help then you silly gooses" she helped them into their uniforms she hated wearing them but father insisted nevertheless they were a dreadful gray and were useless as play clothes not suited at all for them. She loved her father but truth be told she also feared him. He was not the same after their mother died and she was not to be mentioned at all. But in her heart she would always remember the way she saw her father and how happy and lively the house had been but now it was cold and distant like he was. They marched to the sound of the whistle thankfully father was brief in his inspection but then he said to her
"Liesel as frau schidmit is currently occupied i must ask that you go into the town to pick up some needed supplies i have a preapproved list for you and 100 Groschen franz shall escort you into town.:"
"Oh that wont be necessary father i can do all this by myself" she lied
"Indeed very well but you are to home within the hour" he said sternly " you will leave after breakfast"
"Yes father oh and father?"
"Yes"
She wanted to say she loved him but in her heart it would be a lie she did but she didnt love what he was doing to her and to the children "nothing father sorry"
"Indeed" he left at a brisk pace as all the children giggled to themselves
"All right whos ready for PANCAKES" liesel giggled
"Ill race ya last one there is a rotten egg" said kurt and with that they ran to the dining table where indeed a large stack of pancakes awaited the children grinning from ear to ear they were only served on very special occasions and for liesel it was a welcome distraction from last nights awful dream she had been dreaming lately of her mother replaying the events of that day in her head so any distraction was welcome and this was a most delicious one
Indeed pancakes were her favorite food Liesel loved them especially with the little butter and maple syrup all the way from Canada it was the most welcome treat and a delicious one that was the most important thing but she had to eat quickly before she was expected to go into town to get everything off her father's approved list and with 100 groshan she would definitely have enough so she ate them as fast as she could while still being lady like and then she got ready and headed to the bus to take her into Salzburg ready for whatever the day had planned for her and she desperately hoped that she would see a certain young telegram boy and if she should see this a boy and she would go up to him and talk to him about how foolish she was yesterday coming up to her house and asking her father where she was but it might not happen and she would just go about her day bored bored bored out of her mind so that's what she did she got on the bus and headed into town looking hopeful
She first visited the bakers to get some freshly baked bread it always smelled wonderful in there all the pastries and desserts if she could she would eat the entire store but she had to keep her figure even though she wanted to eat everything in sight all the strudel all the cakes it looked so wonderful in there but alas she could not and with that she thanked the owner and purchased her bread and left the store next
she went to The butchers to get some meat most likely for the chef he was French and he would make such wonderful meals from his home country her favorite was coq au van truth be told she loved whatever the chef made it was all so wonderful next on our list was the textile store where she got some fabrics most likely for the new drapes for Frau Schmidt had asked for and slowly the day melted away and then she saw him looking as handsome as ever she knew she loved him but she wondered did he love her well today would be the day she would ask him if the way she felt he felt the same way about her and so she said " Rolfe it's me liesel how are you" she asked meekly
"Liesel it is so good to see you my darling my little turtle dove"she giggled she loved it when he used those pet names for her she felt like she could dance the night away with him or maybe run off live in a different country far away from all these troubles that plagued her mind and heart it was good to see him but she knew she had to say something about yesterday
"Rolfe what were you thinking going to my house you knew father didn't approve of us and yet you still went what is wrong with you"
"I'm sorry Liesel I just had to see you and when I learned you weren't there I was about to leave when your father ambushed me and then he took the letter I had written for you did he read it"
"Yes and now he's very furious he's forbidden me from ever seeing you again a Rolf what shall we do "
"Well I suppose we can meet in private if you can somehow sneak away from his watchful eye and we can meet in the gazebo like we always do how about this I'll come tomorrow pretending to deliver a telegram or say I was there by mistake and then I will wait for you in the gazebo don't worry my dove we'll make this work somehow"
"Oh Rolf I want to believe that but I'm not sure I can get away this time besides we have a new governess coming tomorrow and it will already be hectic day" she said dejectedly
"Dearest liesel know that I would move the moon and stars just to see your sweet smile once again"
She laughed "oh that was so corny how do you come up with these lines"
"I try my best" he laughed she loved his laugh it was clear as a babbling brook if only she could spend more time with him then she looked sad
"Is everything alight liesel" inquired rolfe
" no i have been having the most dreadful dreams of late"
"Dreams what about?"
"My mother im in that room rolfe where the entire world came crashing down for me" she said sadly "i should have never asked her to go swimming with me that day maybe if she hadn't she would be alive today"
"Liesel… you shouldn't blame yourself for that and you know your mother would not want to see her daughter in distress" she knew he spoke the truth but she still felt it was her fault then she heard the bell ring on the old clock tower she had missed her bus oh no she was going to be late
"Oh i missed my bus father will be furious that i am late"
Don't worry i have a plan" said rolfe with a twinkle in his eye he gingerly walked over to a car that had been parked he motioned for liesel to follow him as he entered the car he started the car without a key and liesel had looked panicked here was her sweetheart stealing an automobile he said " well what are you waiting for an invitation get in !" with that she threw groceries into the backseat as he sped away from a very very tall and intimidating man shouting Mein automobile help police!
"Rolfe what were you thinking if i wasn't in enough trouble you have made it much worse" she hit him on the shoulder "and since when did you know how to hotwire a car?"
"You pick up a lot of things when you work in your uncles auto garage now come on you have to admit it was awfully fun" he smiled and much to his delight she smiled back
"I will not tell a lie it was very fun watching you work but you must promise to return that mans car"
"I promise" they drove on to the house stopping short of being seen by any of the children or heaven forbid her father she would certain he would have clean the entire mansion for a month she shuddered at the thought, rolfe pulled up the car a mile from her house she could walk the rest of the way
"Rolfe?" she asked
"Yes Liesel"
"When will we see eachother again"
"Tomorrow night by the gazebo my dove" as he sped away in the stolen car she laughed and laughed today had not gone the way she expected but what a wonderful day it had been except for her beau stealing a car it was wonderful as she walked up to the door she was greeted by the Butler who helped her with what she was carrying as she walked up to her room she heard her father say
"Liesel!"
"Yes Father" so close
"Why were you 15 minutes past the hour"
"Oh the bus got a flat tire and i wanted to walk the rest of the way anyway"
"Hmmm indeed well off you pop dinner is at 6 dont be late"
"Yes father" she said slipping off into her room Lousia jumped up excitedly
"Where were you Liesel?" lousia asked coyly
"Out in the town why?" she asked suspiciously
"Were you alone?" she asked with a mischievous grin
" yes of course" she lied
"I saw you with that boy! Did he profess his love to you please you have to tell me"
" Lousia he simply just dropped me off nothing of love was ever brought up"
"Awhh your no fun still he is very handsome"
"I promise you will be the first to know allright?" Lousia grinned happily but in an instant that grin turned into a groan Liesel smiled mischievously " Now time for our walk lousia be sure to get everyone ready" within five minutes the von trapp children were all lined up at the bottom of the steps as Liesel lead them out on another long and arduous walk thankfully it was not so bad as last time they walked around for the hour and half liesel requested and only heard a couple of groans from the boys she held both marta and gretels hands as they walked she loved this kind of day not having to worry about anything but her mind was elsewhere tomorrow night by the gazebo maybe this would be the time he would profess his love for her and she knew if she heard that she would say it back and then no one could stop them not even her father. "You know marta gretel this spot was your mother's' favorite she would take us all her to just enjoy the sunset on the lake she once told me that if you looked hard enough you could see the stars themselves dance on the lake with the moon"
"Really Liesel" asked marta
"Truly dearest marta and some say amongst those stars is a princess searching for her lost love a brave and gallant knight everynight they say she comes calling for him and if you listen you can her his name Arthur arthur where are you my love and he always replies coming to you my dearest Geneive and on even more special nights you can see him galloping across the lake long to be reunited with his lost love" Both sisters were entranced with the story "That was beautiful" said both marta and gretel "Will the lady ever find her brave knight?" asked gretel
"One day gretel one day they will find each other and ride off into the forest to live happily ever after"
She said sweetly "but until that day they will always be searching for one another forever lost" she had heard that story from her mama when she was about gretel's age and she was engrossed with the tale of the knight and the maiden fair of the lake truly she imagined what it would have been like if she was that maid forever hoping and searching for her lost love and what's even more wonderful no matter what happened she would always return the very next night hoping to see him. Yes that had been one of her favorite stories growing up and another treasured memory as was this spot Liesel sighed and walked back to the house and as she escorted her sisters to their room she felt as though she could fly and was for the first time in a long time truly happy the walk had been good for her all she could hope for now was she would for the first time in a long time finally get some sleep. As she entered her room Friedrich was there talking with Lousia
"Ah liesel we were just talking about you"
"Oh you were?" she said eying her siblings suspiciously
"Yes all about that boy who drove you home today" Fredrich grinned
"Oh that well it was nothing he was simply doing me a favor"
"A favor thats it then nothing more there's more to your story than your telling us"
" Yes there and no! You shan't be hearing about any of it" she giggled
" well thats a disappointment"
"Sorry to disappoint" liesel said
"Well best we get ready for dinner i heard chef is making La Bouef ala creme "
"Sounds delicious try not to slurp your noodles friedrich its most unbecoming of a young gentleman"
"I will not and have never slupred anything in my life"
"Oh yes you have i bet they could hear you all the way in Vienna" Lousia giggled friedrich looked sheepish
"Stop it you too now hurry up we must get ready for dinner" As her siblings got ready to eat liesel looked among her dresses deciding to go with the black one for this evening after all black was a womans color and she was practically a woman already she put on her pair of black flats these were a little snug but still comfortable. She put on some lite rouge and eyeliner she knew father disapproved but she didnt care the world was hers tonight and she would make the most of it as she descended the stairs to go to dinner she sat down at her fathers side he merely glanced at her with the most disapproving look he could muster she simply ate her meal it was quite good very rich oh well at least she would sleep well tonight at least she hoped
"Father?" asked gretel
"Yes gretel" he said putting down his fork
"Is it true"
"Is what true"
"About the lady and the knight"
"Where did you hear that ridiculousness" he said sharply eyeing liesel
"From liesel she said shes calling for him and he calling for her"
"Dont listen to that foolish nonsense its simply not true and you young lady i will ask that you not fill your sisters heads with such silly ideas" he said looking sharply at liesel
"They are not foolish father why do you treat us like soldiers? We are your children and we need you! And if you wont be there for them at least i can be"
"Thats enough young lady! Go to your room right this instant!" he shouted and with that liesel ran out of the dining hall and up the stairs and straight into her bed where she cried her eyes out her black eye liner runny from the tears he was such a cruel man so what if she filled their heads with fairy stories they were children not some strangers they need their imagination and more importantly they needed their fathers love but if he would not provide it then she would have to no matter how much that broke her heart she got up to use the restroom to wipe away the tears and make up on her face after a bit she heard the door unlocking it was Freidrich looking sad
"Are you allright liesel"
"A little bit what about you? You are up here early"
"Well after father sent you to your room i stood up for you telling him all those things about us were true and the look he gave me i thought i would turn into a pillar of salt right there and then"
"I am sorry for the mess i made i should have never told them that story"
"No im glad you told them story remember mother told it to me as well"
" I miss her Friedrich" she said look downcast he came in and gave her the warmest hug he could possibly give her
"I miss her too sis but remember you are never alone you have got us"
"I love you little brother"
"I love you big sister" they hugged for a little bit longer until liesel squeaked "Uh fredirch too tight too tight" he let go
"Sorry it looked like you needed a hug"
"Its allright my what a handsome young man your growing up to be" she said sweetly
"Thank you i just wish father would see that too and stop treating me like a child"
"Dont worry about father hes just in pain we must let him heal then he will be his oldself again" she lied
"Im not so sure about that he seems to grow colder by the day" he said dejectedly
"I know but give it time" she said half heartedly she made her way to her bed as he made his way to his oh well how to spend the rest of the night oh she knew she would read one of her favorite stories "The Wizard of Oz" by Frank L Baum she began to read softly " "The cyclone had set the house down gently, very gently – for a cyclone—in the midst of a country of marvelous beauty. There were lovely patches of green sward all about, with stately trees bearing rich and luscious fruits. Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes. A little way off was a small brook, rushing and sparkling along between green banks, and murmuring in a voice very grateful to a little girl who had lived so long on the dry, gray prairies."
She often felt connected with Dorothy and longed to go on an adventure like her something to take her away from all this as she continued to read Liesel felt her eyes get heavier and heavier until she was fast asleep and she awoke to find herself in a farm house much like the Gales had been in the book and yes next her feet was toto the little brown terrier and then suddenly the house landed with a great thud and she looked out with toto in hand the land of oz and she said as if on cue "I don't think were in kansas any more" as she stepped out she was greeted by the silence of Oz here she was alone in this strange and familiar land with nothing more than a dog and a wicker basket and she looked down of course they were there the sliver slippers worn by the wicked witch of the east and all
she said "Oh Dear i feel like i have gone down the rabbit hole with this dream" she then heard a voice say then all you have to do dear girl is wake up and just like that she was awake and both her siblings sleeping in their beds she would have to rest up for tomorrow today was a big day new governess a new way to get rid of her her rendezvous with rolfe in the gazebo she would be his lady fair and him her gallant knight searching for each other on the moonlit lake but until then she would need her sleep and so Liesel von trapp dreaming of oz and knights fell fast asleep into the land of dreams.