Liesel Von Trapp woke from the haze of her joy to discover rolfes bike by the gazebo but no rolfe she whispered " Rolfe are you there?"
"Liesel" rolfe said appearing from a tree
"Rolfe it's so good you came" she said smiling she leaned into kissing he stopped her she wasn't going to lie she felt kinda of hurt
"No, Liesl. We mustn't!"
-Why not, silly?" She asked
"-I don't know" he said
"Isn't this why you're waiting?"she said
"Yes, of course."
"-I've missed you, Liesl."
-"You have? How much?" She asked grinning from ear to ear
"I even thought of sending a telegram, so I'd be able to deliver it here."
"Oh, that's a lovely thought! Why don't you, right now?"
"-But I'm here!"
"Please, Rolf. Send me a telegram" she pleaded with her best puppy dog impression "I'll start it for you. "Dear Liesl. . . . "
"Dear Liesl: I'd like to be able to tell you. .. . .how I feel about you. Stop. Unfortunately, this wire is already too expensive. Sincerely, Rolf. "
-"Sincerely"? She said offended you won't be getting away with that mister
"-Cordially."
-"Cordially" keep digging that hole
-Affectionately?" That's better she smiled
Will there be any reply?"
"Dear Rolf: Stop. Don't stop! Your Liesl. " She giggled as he kissed her neck "if only we didn't have to wait for someone to send Father a telegram "
I could come here by mistake with a telegram from Colonel Schneider he's in from Berlin but please don't tell anyone I told you that no one's supposed to know he's here especially don't tell your father
Well why not " asked Liesel
Because well he's so Austrian "said Rolf
Well we're all austrians silly" she replied
Well there are some people who think we should be German and they're very mad at those who don't think so I think they're getting ready to well let's hope your father doesn't get into trouble "
Father is a big naval hero he was even decorated by the emperor himself" she said she always found that fascinating to meet an emperor what it must have felt like she didn't know
I don't worry about him I worry about his daughter "
Why silly "
Because well you're such a baby
"I'm a baby?" She said taken aback
"Im 16 whats such a baby about that?"
Of course you are you don't know what it's like in the real world liesel you think the whole world's a fairy tale"
That's not true and you know that's not fair rolf I've gone through enough heartbreak to know that life is not a fairy tale" she said just a little hurt
I'm sorry I didn't mean to it's just I worry about you I mean I just don't want you getting taken advantage of"
I can handle myself thank you very much"
I'm sorry I know you are brave you are kind and you are the most pretty girl I have ever seen in my life Liesel there's something I want to tell you" this was it this would be the moment he would say I love you well please please let it be she was hoping and praying that he would say those three magic words and she knew in her heart she would say I'm back
"I I love you Liesel" her mind was in an uproar he had said it and she felt like she was on cloud nine so the only appropriate response to that was
I love you silly"she didn't know why she said that last bit but it felt right in the moment she couldn't care what she said she felt like she was being awoken from true love's kiss and nothing could sour her mood not father not the new governess Maria now she felt like she could take on the world and all its challenges because she wouldn't be alone anymore then a crash of thunder was Heard and where there was thunder there was lightning where there was lightning there was rain they both retreated into the gazebo gazing deeply into each other's eyes and they danced and danced till the spun into eachothers arms not once but three times and on the third time as if decreed by fate or some higher power he pulled her into a kiss and. And it was WONDERFUL Liesel felt as though she was on top of the world she wanted this feeling to last forever. Her first kiss was the kiss of true love she knew in her heart but for as long as it lasted she was sad to see it end as Rolf sped away. Liesel felt like all the troubles of the past few days melted away but still she couldn't shake this nagging feeling that the dream she had of her and Rolfe was some dark omen yet to pass. But he would not do anything to her she was sure of it. Her head was swimming she wanted to shout and laugh and cry but all she did was say "WEEEEEEEEEE" she didnt care if people thought she was mad she was in love but as broken out of a spell she heard the thunder again and remembered it was raining. What could she do? She could wait the night out in the gazebo? Yes make a night out camping no that was a silly idea she didn't even know how to start a fire and she didnt want to get a cold. The only option was clear: she would have to run back to the house and hope the doors were not locked. So she ran as fast as she could and ran until she could run no more she crept up to the doors leading to the drawing room oh no they were locked but "wait what light through yonder window breaks" even she said "that was very corny wait who am i talking to" she shook her head and saw indeed a light from the second balcony was lit and yes! A window was open oh no it was the governesses quarters. Well she would just have to be extra sneaky in order to not get into trouble. So she crept up to the window and climbed up to see maria peeking out the window she ducked so as not be seen Liesel peaked her head up again and saw she was praying this was perfect moment
"And God bless whatever his name is" Liesel crept by but she heard the wood creak as she made her way to the door
"And Dear Lord about Liesel Help her know that im her friend and help her tell me whats shes been up too" she said laying the guilt on thick liesel felt ashamed
"Are you going to tell on me?" she said downcast
"Shhhh help me to be understanding so i may guide her footsteps in the name of the father the son and the holy ghost amen" She got up from the bed and simply smiled at Liesel
"I was out walking. Somebody locked the doors early and i didnt want to wake everybody so when I saw your window open you're not going to tell father are you?" she pleaded
"However in the world did you climb up here" inquired maria
"Its how we always got in to play tricks on the governess lousia can make it with a whole jar of spiders in her hand" she said with a touch of pride
"Spiders!" said maria a little bit stunned then she said in a motherly tone of voice "Were you walking out all by yourself Liesel?" Liesel shook her head to say yes but she saw marias expression then meekly shook her head no "No i wasnt i was walking out with a boy his names Rolfe"
"Hmmm all right i wont tell your father"
"Thank you" she looked at her pink dress it was a cheery sort of brown "Oh its my favorite dress"
"Tell you what if we wash that dress tonight nobody would notice it tomorrow" she made her way to the closest "here put this on and take your dress and let it soak in the bathtub"
"Okay thank you so much" she said and as she made her way to the bathroom she heard maria say
"Come back here and sit on the bed and then we can talk"
Liesels mind was racing all at once she couldn't place her finger on it but the feeling she got from maria was the same feeling she got around when she was with her mother she didnt understand why but she felt safe with her and so she said" You know when i told you i didn't need a governess i was wrong maybe i do" she smiled at Maria who smiled back at her "We'll get washed up and we will talk" maria smiled as liesel went into the bathroom she took off the dress and her pink slippers and let them soak and she got dressed into the dress maria had given her. It would have been so easy for her to tell father but she chose not too. She felt safe with her and now she felt sad that she had been so mean to her truth be told she didnt even mean to hurt her she just wanted to get her fathers attention and torturing the governesses seemed to do the trick however fleeting. as she brushed her hair she looked at the jewel encrusted hairbrush she realized it was exactly like the one her mother had when she was growing up and suddenly she was bac k in another memory "Stay still darling"
"But mommy i want to sleep"
"Hush now you cant sleep with you hair all a mess" said liesel
"how come Fredrich doesn't have to brush his hair"
" Friedrichs hair is very short and yours is very long it takes more time to comb your hair than his"
"Momma?"
"yes my pet"
"will you tell me a story?"
" Did i ever tell you about the moon and the sun"
"no whats it about"
"Well once upon a time the sun and the moon were joined together in love and they stayed that way for quite some time until the first human appeared and asked to be warm by mother sun and so the sun did what was asked and the man was satisficed then he asked father moon to keep him cool and man was satisficed once more but more and more humans kept appearing asking more and more that they never got a rest"
"Oh thats so sad what happened next?"
"Hush i will tell you any way the demands kept getting higher and higher until one day they could no longer take it they then had to with heavy hearts separate and so mother sun gave birth to a child known as day and it would keep man warm until father moons child came along she was called night and they would spin around and around is if in an endless dance always so near yet so far. but ever so often Moon wont appear in the sky thats when you know hes with his beloved sun" She smiled and said "the end"
"that was beautiful mama another one another one"
"No more stories for you young lady time to go to bed" as she kissed her good night and went out of the door to turn off the light liesel said
"Mama is it true about the sun and the moon"
"Of course and know my darling that true love conquers all"
"I love you mommy"
"i love you my sweet girl good night"
"Good night mommy" and again liesel was in the bathroom holding the brush she was weeping she really did miss her mother. but she couldn't do anything about it which made it all the worse so she screwed up her face and was ready for the talk. but then She heard footsteps and the door swinging open it was Gretel she heard Maria ask
"Gretel are you scared your not frightened of a little storm are you? Where are the others?"
"They Are asleep theye not scared" gretel said
Liesel heard more footsteps
"Oh no? Look"
"Can we stay with you" asked marta
"Well just this once come on now we will just wait for the boys"
"You wont see them boys are brave" said lousia
She heard more footsteps and she giggled the boys had arrived
"You werent scared were you?" said maria
"Oh no we just wanted to make sure that you werent " lied Fredrich
"That was very thoughtful of you"
"It wasnt my idea it was kurts"
"Kurt! Thats the one i left out God bless kurt" just then lightning struck followed by the thunder
"Why does it do that?" asked marta
""The lightning talks to the thunder"
"But the lightning is so nasty" said marta
"Not really" said maria
"Why does the thunder get so angry it makes me want to cry" said marta scared
"Whenever i feel unhappy i try to think of nice things"
"What kind of things:" asked brigitta
"Well lets see nice things… daffodils green meadows skies full of stars raindrops on roses"
"Whiskers on kittens" said gretel joyfully
"Thats right bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens brown paper packages tied up with strings these are a few of my favorite things when the dog bites when the bee stings when im feeling sad i simply remember my favorite things and then i don't feel so bad" Liesel stepped out of the room as maria asked
"What are you favorite things?"
"Bunny rabbits" said gretel
"Pussy willows" said marta
"Choclate cake" said kurt
"Telegrams" said liesel she said as she tickled gretel and indeed she was having a wonderful time that is until her father apppeard at the doorway looking as stern as ever they all lined up in a row
"Fraulein did or did i not say that bedtime was to be strictly observed?"
"Yes captain except the children were frightened of the storm and -"
"Thats quite enough Liesel i didnt see you tonight where were you?" he asked coldly
"Um " she began trying to think of something
"She was here with me sir you see she wanted to talk and to get know me better" lied maria
Liesel "yes fathers thats what happened" she was truly grateful that maria didnt tell him there it was again that feeling of safety and warmth the only other time she felt that way was with her mother
"Hmm indeed allright everyone march and go to bed" he said and they followed his instructions as they marched out Liesel heard bits of an argument
:"You really shouldnt be so hard on the children captain if only you would listen"
"Fraulein this is my house and those are my children you wont tell me how to discipline them good night"
Liesel was impressed she actually fought back she didnt take anything lying down and so as she entered her room she would have to do something nice for maria too make up for the toad and for keeping her secret but that could wait until the morning. She looked on the bookcase next to her bed she took out the many adventures of winnie the pooh it was one of her favorites she even had a stuffed pooh bear that truth be told would still cuddle from time to time. She wished she could live in the Hundred Acre Wood with Christopher and All his friends just to forget but she had to live in the here and now. Still it would be nice but tonight she would dream of honey and pooh bears. Or so it seemed liesel had another dream more like a nightmare
There he was gun in hand ready to shoot he said
"Stay Back i will shoot you"
"Rolfe listen to yourself you dont mean that its me its your liesel"
"I SAID GET BACK" this time he pointed it at her she found herself crying but also angry like burning hot anger, anger at this monster who would kill her and her entire family
She said defiantly" You wont shoot me" She slapped him hard across the face the gun fell out of his hand she whispered to him "You'll never be one of them" he seemed to take it poorly as he dived for the gun he was shouting for the guards and they struggled for the gun as they fought for it the gun went off and liesel fell to the floor eyes going dark as she felt all the pain drift away she
She awoke with a gasp and in a cold sweat the dream was longer now more vivid more real these dreams had to mean something. Another omen maybe it meant nothing but it was so clear she could feel the pain of the bullet and she could hear her father cry out no as it all faded to black. Liesel von trapp would have to think some more she hoped that this dream meant nothing but she knew what was ahead of her was another restless night and no one could hear her weep softly into her pillow.