Caught

[Buzzer]

Gretl smiled. She had missed her brothers and sisters very much. She hugged and kissed Louisa and said "I missed you."

[Aline]

"I missed you too, Gretl," Louisa said motioning to hug her little sister, but felt Liesl's hand against her chest.

"No, Louisa," Liesl adverted.

"Why-" Louisa started, but Liesl's eyes answered.

"You know what, I'm hungry," the thirteen year old girl changed the subject. "What about you?"

Gretl nooded.

"Yes, let's see if Father is awaken. He will tell us what to do," Liesl said, making an effort to stand up with Gretl in her arms.

"Do you want me to take her?" Louisa offered.

"No, it's alright," the older sister assured.

The three then headed to where they would be able to find their Father.

[Buzzer]

When they reached the room, they saw that their father was still asleep, snoring slightly.

[Aline]

Liesl put Gretl on the ground and looked at Louisa with a 'what-do-we-do?' expression. But the blonde girl shrugged her shoulders showing that she had no clue about that.

Gretl hurried to her Father, but Liesl stopped her. "Shhh, he needs to sleep," the oldest sister said.

The little one seemed disappointed but didn't protest.

Liesl and Louisa shared a smile. "Let's wait outside," Louisa called, montioning to her sisters to follow her.

But this time Gretl protested.

"May I know what is happening here?" a hoarse voice asked.

The girls turned startled to the source of the voice. Their Father had been awaken by the noise and didn't seem satisfied about that. The three looked at each other not knowing what to do. Their will was to run away, though.

[Buzzer]

Gretl said quickly, "Nothing Father, you're dreaming that you've been woke by your three favorite children, so you're actually asleep, so go back to dreaming you're asleep." She hurried out of the room trying not to giggle. After all, he had stayed with her all night long. He needed his sleep.

[Aline]

Liesl and Louisa stayed there motionless.

"Now that's great!" Louisa thought. Liesl must have thought the same.

Georg didn't managed to go back to sleep, though. Actually he didn't even try. "What time is it?" he inquired sleepy.

The two sisters looked at each other surprised. "Isn't he mad at us?"

"What?" Liesl asked.

"What time is it?" he repeated.

"No, I mean- well-" the brunette girl tried to answer.

Louisa giggled at Liesl's confusion. Georg forced his eyes open and stared at his oldest daughter. He had a puzzled expression.

"Are you alright, Liesl?" he asked at last.

"Yes, yes. Er, have you slept well, Father?"

"Hum, yes," he replied absently, even more confused. "It seems YOU haven't," he mused.

"Great!" Louisa exclaimed, catching her Father's attention.

"What?"

"Then you can show us where we can eat. We are hungry," she stated.

"Yes," he started. "But first we have to go after the others. Have they awaken yet?"

"I don't know," Liesl said.

"We can check," her sister added.

"What about Gretl? Is she better?" Georg asked concerned, getting up from the bed.

"She is still suffering. But she will be fine. Look how she's just hurried out of here," Liesl said in a assuring way.

"Let's find her and see how the others are," Louisa called.

None of them needed to change, since their only clothes were the ones they were wearing right then.

[Buzzer]

Gretl had been leaning against the wall, but her foot was up so it wouldnt hurt so much. She looked up as they came out. "Are we in trouble?" she asked Louisa. She hoped not.

[Aline]

But it wasn't Louisa who answered.

"In trouble?" Georg asked amused, picking up his youngest daughter as he walked out of the room. "What did I do to be in trouble?" he joked, staring at her.

Gretl giggled.

"How are you feeling?" he inquired serious this time.

Before she had the chance to reply Louisa asked, "Can we go see if the others are awaken?"

Georg looked at her. "We are going with you," he said. "Aren't we?" he asked turning his attention back to Gretl, who nodded.

"So, how are you feeling," he inquired again on their way to the other room.

[Buzzer]

"Better than the other night." she said truthfully. She was glad that he was carrying her because her foot HURT. It wasn't broken, she knew that. But it hurt. She gave him and kiss on his cheek. He smiled at her and kissed her back. They went into the other room. The other children were there, and they swarmed when they saw their baby sister in Georg's arms.
"Gretl!"
"You're back!"
"How are you?"
"Was it scary?"
"What happened?"

Gretl said, "They cut a three inch hole in me, stuck their bare hands in me and pulled out some of my guts!" Since Georg would have been told if that had happened-or at least, he hoped so, he said "Gretl." Giggling at her siblings faces, she said "Alright. They didn't really."
"What really did happen?"
"You don't want to know." Gretl said softly.

[Aline]

Liesl and Louisa looked ta each other. They both knew what had happened; Gretl had told them. It made them worry just to recollect what Gretl had said. However, as the little girl seemed better and was safe with them again, there was no need to worry. Why make the other children worried, then? Maria must have thought the same. Even though she didn't know about Gretl yet, she agreed that it wouldn't be wise to let the other children know the details. Besides, she knew that Georg or one of the oldest girls would tell her some time later.

Maria approached Gretl before she could say a word. "Well, darling, I know you are well now, aren't you? Why don't we go look for our breakfast? I'm sure everyone is hungry!" she exclaimed, getting nods of agreement from all of them, specially Georg. He was glad Maria had taken them out of that situation, for he wanted to do it himself but didn't know why. Maria had been faster.

Georg picked Gretl up once more and made his wy to the door, montioning for everyone to do the same. Together, they headed to the main hall in the Abbey, where the nuns used to have their breakfast every morning, and where they were, hopefully, waiting for them.

[Buzzer]

They sat down at their places and started eating. Gretl was looking around at all the nuns. She turned to Maria who was right next to her, "Mother, how come they all dress like that?"

[Aline]

Louisa muffled a laugh at Gretl’s comment. Immediately Maria shot a stern look at the girl, making her feel regretful. She muttered, “I’m sorry,” and lowered her head, looking at her own lap.

Maria then turned to Gretl and tried to explain, “those are the clothes that nuns wear, dear.”

Gretl looked at her, still confused. “It’s a kind of uniform,” Maria said.

Everyone at the table listened attentiously to her explanation.

“Were you going to wear it too, Mother?” Marta asked innocently.

This time it was Georg who couldn’t hide a grin. Maria didn’t resist and smiled back at him.

“Yes, darling,” she replied kindly.

“They seem to be suffocating with those things all around their necks,” Friedrich said out of nowhere.

“Don’t be silly, Friedrich,” Brigitta spated angrily.

“But it’s true,” the boy defended himself.

“That’s enough, children,” Georg said when he felt that their moods were raising, and that Mother Abbess was approaching their table.

Instantly it all became quiet.

[Buzzer]

Gretl, one of the boldest of the children, said "Hello Mama Super." She confused it with Mother Superior. When her brothers and sisters laughed, she looked around and asked "What?"

[Aline]

Maria and Georg looked at each other with a weird expression on their faces; they felt utterly embarrassed. Even Liesl, who had laughed, regret her action and took a hand to her mouth. And Louisa, who had laughed as well, wished she hadn't done done. In her case, though, it wasn't due to embarrassment, but because she had remembered Maria's reaction to her last laughter.

Maria looked at Gretl. The little girl was still waiting for an answer.

“Gretl,” Maria said firmly.

Mother Abbess had held a confused expression, but quickly realized that Gretl hadn’t done it with a bad intention. The woman even grinned when it dawned on her. She also noticed Maria and Georg embarrassment, and tried to tranquilize them. “You are an adorable family, my dears,” she started, smiling.

The couple breathed relieved. “Thank you, Reverend Mother,” they said together.

“I’m glad you are safe now,” the woman continued. Then she whispered to the couple, so nowhere else would hear, “But I believe we have to see what to do now. Come and talk to me later,” she said serious.

Georg nodded, and so did Maria.

Reverend Mother thought nobody had heard, but Liesl and Louisa had. The shared a scared look.


Hey, Buzzer! Why don’t you play some of the characters that are not claimed yet too? It would make the story more dynamic! Well, it’s only a suggestion, you know.

[Buzzer]

I would love to, but, I'm afriad I don't know their characters well enough. I'm not very good with Gretl.

Louisa and Liesl weren't the only ones who heard. Gretl, being right next to Maria, heard them, but pretended not to. She was awfully good at pretending. The Von Trapp children were, the whole lot of them. She ate a little bit of her breakfast and Mother Superior bent down and said "I hope you are feeling better, little one." Gretl nodded. "I am, thank you very much for asking after me."