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RP
Aug 29, 2004 11:36:15 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Aug 29, 2004 11:36:15 GMT -5
"So," Georg said, looking up to Louisa and waiting for her to speak.
"Er," she began.
"Go on," Liesl demanded.
"ItwasmyideatoputglueonFräuleinJosephine'stoothbrush. Martahadnothingtodowiththat," she said in a rush.
"I'm sorry?" Georg asked. Now they had gained their attention. What on Earth was going on with his children?
"What?" Louisa asked absently.
"I didn't understand what you said," he explained.
Annoyed to have to say it again, Louisa began, 'It was my idea to put glue on Fräulein Josephine's toothbrush."
Her Father looked at her with a confused expression.
"Marta had nothing to do with that," Louisa completed.
Georg was overcome by guilty. He had wrongly punished Marta.
Liesl was relieved. But, above all, surprised. Louisa had told them she would confess her guilty only if all of them took the blame together, and now she was taking it all alone.
Georg was so worried about Marta that he didn't even bother to punish Louisa.
The children looked at each other with a grin on their faces. It seemed everything had turned out much better than they had imagined.
"Come here, Marta," Georg called
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Aug 29, 2004 12:29:36 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Aug 29, 2004 12:29:36 GMT -5
Marta hesitated for a moment. What she still in trouble? She walked over to him. Nervously, she fiddled with her dress. "Yes, Father?"
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Aug 31, 2004 10:44:23 GMT -5
Post by Liesl on Aug 31, 2004 10:44:23 GMT -5
(psst* May I be Liesl...?)
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Aug 31, 2004 12:08:08 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Aug 31, 2004 12:08:08 GMT -5
Yes, as Aline was temping.
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Aug 31, 2004 17:18:07 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Aug 31, 2004 17:18:07 GMT -5
"Here," Georg said, moving the chair he was sat in backwards and pointing at his lap.
The girl accepted his calling and sat on his legs.
"You don't need to be in your room anymore, Marta. I acted in a wrong way. Do you forgive me?" he asked and waited ansiously for her answer.
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Aug 31, 2004 20:35:54 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Aug 31, 2004 20:35:54 GMT -5
Marta nodded "Of course, Father." she hugged and kissed him.
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Sept 1, 2004 18:26:06 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Sept 1, 2004 18:26:06 GMT -5
All the other children had already left the study, but Marta stayed there, in her Father's arms. Georg held his daughter for a while; he realized she was sobbing. He couldn't think of nothing to say, so he kept caressing her head until the moment he noticed the sobbing had stopped. Marta had fallen asleep, her head buried against his chest.
Georg stood up carefully so he wouldn't disturb Marta. "She is so unprotected, so fragile," he thought in pain. "Oh, Marta, I'm sorry," he spoke to himself. "It will never happen again, I promess."
He was being consumed by his guilty, not only in what concerned this last episode, but also considering his late behavior towards his children, his lack of caring and loving. They needed it so much! "Why can't I give it to them?"
With this last thought he left his study intending to take Marta up to her room.
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Sept 3, 2004 9:44:46 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Sept 3, 2004 9:44:46 GMT -5
Gretl was in their room and playing with her doll. When she saw it was her father, she grabbed her book and started studying from it, to make him proud.
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Sept 3, 2004 18:53:34 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Sept 3, 2004 18:53:34 GMT -5
"Gretl, are you studying?" Georg asked indeed proud.
Gretl nodded and smiled at him.
"Good!" he said. "But I'm afraid you will have to go somewhere else. I'll put Marta in her bed now. She is sleeping," he said putting his dark-haired daughter on her bed.
He kissed Marta's forehead and smiled at her angel-like face.
Gretl observed her Father stand up and look at her.
"I'll get your books. You can go to one of your sisters' rooms. They are supposed to be studying as well," he whispered.
Gretl agreed and placed her books on his hands.
"Come with me," he called offering Gretl his hand, which she accepted.
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Sept 7, 2004 19:50:56 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Sept 7, 2004 19:50:56 GMT -5
Together, they went into Lousia and Brigittas room.
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Sept 8, 2004 20:25:20 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Sept 8, 2004 20:25:20 GMT -5
Georg held Gretl's books in one hand and held the girl's hand in his other one. "Knock first," he said when Gretl motioned to open the door.
She looked up to him and obbeyed.
But nobody answered.
Georg decided to step in anyway. "Open the door, " he told Gretl.
Surprisingly, Louisa and Brigitta were so deep in their books that they hadn't even heard the knock.
Georg was going to complain about his daughter's lack of attention when he noticed they were studying. He smiled and cleared his throat,
"Brigitta, Louisa," he started.
The two looked up from their books and stared surprised at him.
"Gretl will be studying here with you, alright? Marta is asleep in their room," he said.
Brigitta agreed. Louisa said nothing. "One of you make room for Gretl!" Georg asked after seconds of inactivity.
Brigitta began to move her books aside, but they were so many that even then there wasn't much space left.
"Alright, come here, Gretl," Louisa called, moving her chair aside and holding up her only book to make space for Gretl's.
Georg took a chair from the corner and settled Gretl on it.
"Make sure she studies everything she needs," he said before taking an overall look at his daughters and leaving the room.
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Sept 8, 2004 21:42:47 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Sept 8, 2004 21:42:47 GMT -5
"Louisa, are you in trouble with Father?" Gretl asked her big sister
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Sept 8, 2004 22:03:38 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Sept 8, 2004 22:03:38 GMT -5
Louisa stopped reading and looked intrigued at her little sister. "Why are you asking me that, Gretl?"
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Sept 8, 2004 22:05:23 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Sept 8, 2004 22:05:23 GMT -5
"Because you took the blame. Are you?"
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Sept 8, 2004 22:16:48 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Sept 8, 2004 22:16:48 GMT -5
Louisa had been quite nervours half an hour ago, when she confessed her blame. In fact she didn't know what had come over her that made her do such thing. But it seemed that her Father had accepted it well. At least he hadn't even wanted to have one of those little chats, like he himself called. As it is, maybe everything had turned out fine.
But now Gretl mentioned the fact again Louisa became worried about that once more. After all, it was not like their Father to forget this kind of things. And then, Louisa noticed he hadn't really paid attention to her, but mostly to Marta. Well, she would have to pray that he wouldn't return to the subject later.
Holding Gretl's look, Louisa replied. "I think everything is alright, Gretl, don't worry," she assured. "But don't think I'll take the blame every time we play some trick on governesses," she added playfully.
Gretl giggled and even Brigitta laughed.
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