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1967
Jan 22, 2005 23:38:40 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 22, 2005 23:38:40 GMT -5
Hey y'all. This takes place in the 60s, when all the Von Trapp Children would be grown and have their own children. Gretl passed on about a year before and her husband was arrested for child abuse. So Gretl's children go to her family, who live together in Stowe, Vermont. Louisa and her family lives with her parents at the lodge, and Liesl lives down the road with her family and she works at the lodge. All the others live in their own places (excpet Gretl, duh)
Characters Captain Georg von Trapp: Fraulein Maria: Liesl: Liesl Friedrich: Louisa: Aline Kurt: Brigitta: Marta:
The Grandchildren: Gretl's Children: [played by Buzzer] Danielle, 11 Denise, 5
Dani is tough and was involved with a bad crowd and still is somewhat. She's very protective of Deni, her little sister. She's been arrested a few times and lived on the poor side of town. Deni is very much a child and very spoiled. Deni gets when Deni wants, which led to Dani pick pocketing. But she also did it for food. Deni didn't get hurt as much as Dani because Dani was so protective of her. She would die for her and came close to once.
Danielle Maria Delaney looked up from her photograph of her mother as she heard, "Stowe, Virginia next stop." Her stop. Where her new home was. Her mother, had caught a really bad flu and she didn't make it. She missed her family alot but her Dad hadn't allowed her to visit, only write, saying everything was great. She escaped from the Germans when she was five, only to die a little over thirty years later. As the train slowed, the child put her mothers picture into her backpack carefully. She stood up and followed about two dozen of people also getting off in Stowe. When she reached the doorway of the train, she squinted in the bright light and the conductor lifted her to the ground, as it was a bit of a drop. She looked around for her little sister, Denise. She had been sent about a month before,as Dani had to stay to help the police put her dad in jail and she tesitfied against him in court. It was all over and he was in jail, for fifteen years. She didn't see her sister anywhere. She sat down on a bench and on the side, there was a puddle of water. She looked into it at her reflection and made a face. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail and one of her eyes were still black, from the beating she got from her dad. Her t-shirt was really old and too small and her jeans were worn through at the knee. Her sneakers were on the verge of falling apart. Oh, well. She didn't have anything better.
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1967
Jan 25, 2005 20:59:53 GMT -5
Post by Liesl on Jan 25, 2005 20:59:53 GMT -5
Liesl had been praying that Danielle would get there alright. Seeing the condition Denise was in made her pray even more. She had become more religious these days. She'd go to church with Maria when they had time off from keeping the lodge going. Louisa helped Georg when they were out so they had nothing to worry about. Liesl was happy that she could look to God for answers and always have him to trust which she didn't need being that she was married with a child, and still had five of her siblings along with their families.
The bus station was not too far from the lodge so Liesl decided to walk. She liked walking, she always walked to the lodge (even though she only lived next door) Liesl just liked the feeling of the fresh air, it was so pure and just made her let go of her worries.
She decided to take the bus back with Danielle, that way she did not have to walk. It must've been a long trip for her, Liesl thought. She didn't want to make her more tired.
Liesl finally got to the train station. It wasn't too crowded, so she would have an easy time looking for Danielle.
The windblew as Liesl looked for Danielle in the waiting area of the station, the wind got to her hair and messed it up a bit. She put it back the way she had it. Realizing her bright brown hair had faded a bit scared her.
Liesl hurried to the other side of the station, where the train lets its passengers off. If Danielle looked anything like her younger sister then Liesl would just have to look for a young blonde girl. Pushing through the crowds, she spotted one. The girl was on the bench alone, with nothing but a backpack. She looked quite small for eleven. Liesl persued her path anyway.
She came around the side of the bench and looked at the girl. She hadn't noticed Liesl. She wasn't even sure Danielle would remember her. the last time she saw her was when Gretl had been alive, and that was some time ago. Liesl studied the girl. She noticed her clothes, they seemed unfit for that of an eleven year old. She looked very tired. "Dear God" Liesl thought at the site of that black eye. Danielle was looking at her. Getting away with staring at someone wasn't easy anymore.
Liesl knealed down to be at her height and softened her voice. "Danielle?" the girl nodded. "I'm you're aunt Liesl. I don't think you remember me..." She waited there for the girl to answer. When she received no reply she stood back up. "how about we go do some shoppig before we get to your sister? We can get you new clothes." Liesl looked down at her worn sneakers "and new shoes. Denise will be glad to know you are well dressed like she is now." Liesl still waited for a reply, a smile, anything.
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1967
Jan 25, 2005 21:17:17 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 25, 2005 21:17:17 GMT -5
Dani had looked up from the puddle to see a pretty dark haired (With a few grays) was staring at her, taking in her black eye. She seemed appalled by her apparence. Lady, that's nothing, she thought. She had more bruises under her clothes. She didn't doubt that she would be to scared to venture into their neighborhood-even in broad daylight.
The lady came over and knelt down next to her. "Danielle?" The lady asked, in the same voice that the lawyer used when talking to her in the trial. Dani nodded. "I'm your Aunt Liesl. I don't think you remember me..." Dani just stared at her and the lady stood up. "How about we go do some shopping before we get your sister? We can get you new clothes." Glancing down at her shoes, she added "And new shoes. Denise will be glad to know you are well dressed like she is now."
Dani would have preferred to see Deni first, she had missed her, but Mom had always said to listen to what her brothers and sisters said. They were real smart. And it sounded like Deni was dressed like them too. So she wouldn't fit in a bit if she stayed in these clothes. So Dani nodded, but didn't say a word or even smiled.
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1967
Jan 25, 2005 22:41:24 GMT -5
Post by Liesl on Jan 25, 2005 22:41:24 GMT -5
Liesl had to pick Danielle clothes out for her. Danielle wouldn't tell her what she wanted. Liesl figured she was just shy. When it came to getting the sneakers, Danielle didn't know her size, so she had to be measured for them. Liesl was happy that Danielle would at least be dressed approprietly.
"It looks like we've got everything you need. Is there something you want?" No answer. "Well, let's get to the lodge then so we can see Denise and the others. They're waiting for you, they're really happy you came to stay."
Liesl studied Danielle some more. She wasn't a little baby, she now had her own distinct features. The hair and eyes were that of Gretl's, but her face and nose was definetly from her father. Seeing her eyes made Liesl miss her youngest sister. She felt it was unfair that Gretl had to leave this world before her. She was so young. She would always be remembered as the "baby" of the family.
Liesl came back to reality. She put the bags down and stretched. "We'll have to wait for the bus. we can go sit over there" she pointed to some benches "thats where it comes to pick us up." They walked over and sat down.
"You're going to have your own room you know." Liesl saw some interest in the child's eyes. "It's big too. You can do whatever you want in it. It's all your's. If it's too big, you can share a room with Denise if you want." No answer. "But I think you're going to like it. I can't tell you why yet."
Their bus came and they stepped on and took their seats.
It was a very short bus ride. The two stepped out right in front of the road leading to the lodge. They walked up it and Danielle saw her first look at her new home. There were smaller cabins in one are, that was where the guests stayed. The lodge could be seen in the middle of all those green feilds. That's where Maria and Georg still lived along with Louisa and her husband, along with their two children. Then there was a house up another road off to the left. " The rest of your aunts and uncles live in town. That's my house down there. I work at the lodge so I'll see you almost every day when you're not in school." Liesl saw Dani look at her awkwardly. "that's right, you and Denise have been enrolled in the catholic school in town. It's very nice, I checked it out to make sure it was fit for you and your sister. The nuns seem really nice." Liesl walked in front of Danielle so she could lead her inside the lodge. "You'll meet your cousins later, they're all at school now. Denise wanted to stay home till you came." she opened the door and stepped in. Everyone was waiting inside.
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1967
Jan 26, 2005 1:25:04 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 26, 2005 1:25:04 GMT -5
Dani had been in awe when she saw the beautiful shopping center. She had never been in such a nice place in her whole life. She kept staring at the mannequins and touching their eyes. When Liesl pulled a wad of bills out of her purse to pay for it, her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. She never saw so much money. As they left the register, her aunt asked, "It looks like we've got everything you need. Is there something you want?" Dani didn't say anything, she felt guilty that her aunt paid so much money when she easily could've gotten it herself, even though her way WAS illegal. Her aunt kept talking, "Well, let's get to the lodge then so we can see Denise and the others. They're waiting for you, they're really happy you came to stay." Dani had to wonder about that. She heard her fathers voice, in the Irish lilt, "They won't want ya, me girl. I don't, so why would people who don't even know you?". She firmly pushed his voice out of her head. If they didn't want her, she'd be in an orphanage. So they had to want her and Deni. She glanced at her aunt and she realized she was staring at her again. Why? Did she do something wrong? She then realized they were outside and her aunt pulled her gaze away, putting the bags down and she stretched. "We'll have to wait for the bus. We can go sit over there," she said, pointing in the direction of some benches, "thats where it comes to pick us up." Dani followed her over and sat down next to her.
Her aunt started to chatter and Dani listened. What else was there to do? "You're going to have your own room you know." Dani perked up. Her own room? She hadn't even had a bedroom back home. She and Deni had slept on the couch, but they grew too big so on warm nights, they'd sleep in Central Park, at the risk of being arrested. A jail cell was better than home. Home to them was where you kept your mouth shut and did what he said, or else. Where he could hear him doing the bad things to Mom and after she was gone, and a couple times before, other girls. Girls that wore too little clothes and too much makeup. She forced herself to listen to her aunt. "It's big too. You can do whatever you want in it. It's all yours. If it's too big, you can share a room with Denise if you want." She loved Denise and all, but she wanted her own room! She'd have more privacy than she'd know what to do with! "But I think you're going to like it. I can't tell you why yet." Why was that? What would there be in it? The only thing that could make things better was her mom. And she was long gone. She looked up as she saw the bus come and they climbed on and took some seats.
Before she knew it, they were getting off the bus and walking up to the lodge. Dani looked around her new home. There were smaller cabins to the side, and the biggest building was right in the middle, surrounded by fields. Then there was a house on another road that went to the left. "The rest of your aunts and uncles live in town. That's my house down there. I work at the lodge so I'll see you almost every day when you're not in school." Dani looked at her. School? She hadn't gone since she was eight. She had been expelled. Mom had tried to find another school, but Dad hurt her and told Dani it was her own fault and she'd be stupid forever. "That's right, you and Denise have been enrolled in the catholic school in town. It's very nice, I checked it out to make sure it was fit for you and your sister. The nuns seem really nice." Catholic school? Public school was bad enough, but that was easy to ditch. Catholic school had uniforms and nuns. Nuns scared Dani. Mom had said that nuns were the Brides of Christ, but if that was so, why did they wear black, horrible, dresses? Brides wear white dresses!
Liesl stepped in front of her and she followed her. "You'll meet your cousins later, they're all in school now. Denise wanted to stay home till you came." Dani knew that meant Deni refused to go and when they tried to talk her into it, she kicked and screamed. Liesl opened the door and stepped in. Dani took a deep breath and followed her.
Dani looked around the room. There was a fire crackling and Deni was sitting on an old man's lap. When the door opened, Deni leaped off his lap and came running to her big sister. Dani's face lit up and she grinned and knelt down on one knee and hugged her little sister tight. They pulled back and Deni studied her face. "He hurt you." Dani shrugged. "He can't really hurt us. Not really. Remember what Mommy said? That he'll only hurt us if we let him. And we don't. We're better than that." Deni nodded and kissed her big sister. "I missed you." "Missed you too."
Dani stood up, holding her sisters hand and dug into her pockets and got out some chocolate she had bought with the five finger discount (aka stole) at the Train Stop "Here, your favorites." Deni's eyes lit up and tried to open the bag, unsuccessfully. She put it aside on the table and said "C'mon, I'll show you your room. It's next to mine!" She led her up the stairs, running past two women and into a HUGE room that was pretty and had a picture of Mom when she was younger-maybe eighteen? She went over to it and picked it up. She grinned and put it down. She looked around and saw the bed. She grinned at her sister and pulled her over to it and lifted her up and they jumped on it together. They could hear someone outside in the hallway and they stopped jumping and burst into laughter. Dani stood up and opened the closet, and saw some uniforms hanging there. She made a face and took her bag off and unzipped it and emptied the stuff out onto the floor. Her knife, some more stolen stuff, her picture of Mom, and her baseball that Mom had gotten all the Yankees to sign. She tossed the ball in the air and her eyes caught sight of a rag doll. Not hers or Deni's. Was it Mom's? Must have been. She picked it up as some people came into her room. Liesl and the two women she ran past and the man that Deni had been sitting on. Deni waved to them "Hi Grandmother! Hi Grandfather! Hi Auntie Liesl and Auntie Louisa!" Dani's gaze flicked to her knife that was on the floor. Maybe they wouldn't notice it...
MODIFY: Deni's name is gonna be changed to Michelle-Deni is to close to Dani. Her nickname is now Ellie. Leave your posts!
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1967
Jan 26, 2005 9:34:46 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Jan 26, 2005 9:34:46 GMT -5
Louisa stared at the floor. Her eyes had been caught by something silver bright. She had to look twice, one time to realize what it was and the second to see if her eyes didn’t lie. She swallowed hard. Liesl had told her all about the situation, what the two girl had been through and how bad they had been treated. She imagined that something like that was expected, and she prayed that they wouldn’t have troubles with the girls. Now she realized for the first time they would have to be very careful with them. When Michelle had arrived there, she was shocked at her state, of course, and her heart ached. At first she thought it wouldn’t be that difficult to deal with her and her sister, that all they wanted was some good care. It wasn’t that simply, though. Danielle and Michelle would need so much love! Louisa’s heart ached again, even though the girls semed happy that moment. Her mind went over to her beloved and now gone sister, and she wanted to cry. Her little sister. Little Michelle resembled Gretl so much.....Louisa felt helpless. She looked over to Liesl and could see she wasn’t feeling different, nor were her Father and her Mother.
Louisa now thought about Gretl’s husband. What was his name again? She didn’t remember right then, and she thanked God for that. She wanted to forget everything about him. It was not possible, though. Not when she looked at her two nieces, at the bruises spread all over her bodies. How could anyone do that to two undefended girls? She thought of her own husband, Anton, and of how loving and sweet he was as a husband and Father. How could such a bad man like Gretl’s husband even exist? A knot formed in her stomach. She fetl sick. Her sister was gone forever, and now they had her daughters to take care of. Louisa told herself she would do her best to make the girls feel at home, to feel as part of the family, what they were, after all. She owned it to Gretl, it was the least she could do. The least they all could do. Feeling a tear run down her face, she whipped it off and tried to smile at the girl who stared at her. The eleven-year old Danielle. Of course she had to be sort of scared; they hadn’t met yet.
Trying to seem cheerful, she stepped closer and greeted, “hello, Danielle, we’ all have been waiting for you,” she said, studying the girl anxiously. The girl was scared, she could tell. Maybe she was just worried about the knife she knew her aunt had noticed. But Louisa knew it wasn’t the only reason. After all, they were all strange to her. There was a long path ahead of them.
“How do you like your room?” Louisa tried again. Once more, the girl didn’t reply. Louisa kneeled down, knowing everyone in the room was looking at her, and feeling as anxious as she did. She reached to Danielle's hands and gently took in her hands the raged doll that Gretl had gotten for her sixth birthday. “I imagine you have already guessed who was the first owner of this doll,” she said and smiled awkwardly, looking from one girl to another, studying them, and waiting for some reply.
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1967
Jan 26, 2005 17:03:32 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 26, 2005 17:03:32 GMT -5
She eyed her aunt as she came over and said “hello, Danielle, we’ve all been waiting for you,” looking at her. Dani had figured that out long ago. What else would they be doing? “How do you like your room?” she asked, trying again for conversation. She knelt down as everyone in the room watched her, she took Mom's doll from her hands. “I imagine you have already guessed who was the first owner of this doll,” she said, looking between the sisters.
"It was Mom's wasn't it?" Dani asked, speaking for the first time to her. Her aunt nodded and Dani smiled. "There used to be a picture of her holding this, with the rest of you, but Dad made her burn it." She said casually. She easily could have been talking about the weather. She was used to this. "She was seven in the picture, it was Christmastime."
Someone enterd the room, a man wearing a police uniform. "Hey, no one answered my knock downstairs so I came on up. Here's the records of the kids. School stuff, their police records, everythings there. Need anything else?"
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1967
Jan 26, 2005 17:18:21 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Jan 26, 2005 17:18:21 GMT -5
Startled, Louisa turned to the man and stood up, giving the doll back to Dani. She eyed the girl and and then her sister and parents. They all looked as if they weren’t expecting this arrival.
All of sudden Maria, who still looked very young for her age, stepped into the conversation.
“Will you follow us, Sir?” she called to the policeman, worry spread on her face.
The man nodded.
“Georg?”
Georg stared firmly at her and put an arm around her shoulders, and the two led the way out of the room.
Liesl and Louisa watched them go, having no idea of what to do next. They too haven’t been expecting a policeman to come with the girl’s police records. What was it? Louisa didn’t know, but as she looked at Liesl she realized she knew something. They stared at each other for a brief moment before turning to the girls again. Louisa could see the worry on Dani’s expression, and the sad look on Michelle’s face.
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1967
Jan 26, 2005 17:23:51 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 26, 2005 17:23:51 GMT -5
Dani's heart sank as the policemen said "Police records" Why did they have to have that? Now they were sure to be sent away! Then they'd be seperated and never see each other again. Dani determindely said "Never you mind, Ellie. Let's play with Mom's doll." She glanced at her aunts. "What's her name?"
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1967
Jan 27, 2005 22:18:22 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Jan 27, 2005 22:18:22 GMT -5
Louisa shared a look with Liesl, whose expression told she didn’t remember the doll’s name. Nor did Louisa. She thought of inventing a name, but she knew they’d better be honest with the girls. Besides, the two were too smart to be fooled.
So Louisa stared intensily at Dani, hoping she would hold her look. “I don’t know, Dani, but we can choose a name for her,” she smiled. “Don’t you think so, Ellie?” she asked, turning to the little girl, who seemed a little more approachable.
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1967
Jan 28, 2005 9:40:12 GMT -5
Post by Buzzer on Jan 28, 2005 9:40:12 GMT -5
Dani glanced at Ellie while her aunts looked at each other. Something wasn't right. Then Aunt Louisa turned to look at her. "I don't know, Dani, but we can choose a name for her," she said, smiling. She turned to Ellie, asking, "Don't you think so, Ellie?"
Before Ellie could answer, Dani said, "You don't know your own sister's doll's name? I remember when Ellie had her doll, she named it Colleen." Ellie didn't have the doll anymore. It had been destroyed, Da's orders.
Ellie said "I think we should name it Gretl, after Mummy."
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1967
Jan 28, 2005 9:49:49 GMT -5
Post by Liesl on Jan 28, 2005 9:49:49 GMT -5
"That's a lovely idea." Liesl said smiling. "Ellie, why don't you show your sister where the bathroom is so you two can wash up, Dinner should be ready soon." She looked at Louisa who should have started dinner. "And Danielle, you can change into your new clothes so you're more comfortable." Liesl started backing out of the room. Louisa followed. "You did start dinner right?" Liesl said as she shut the door.
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1967
Jan 28, 2005 10:30:13 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Jan 28, 2005 10:30:13 GMT -5
Louisa thought of the two girls before getting aware of Liesl’s question. They would have to be very patiente. “The children will help,” she told herself.
Then she turned to Liesl, “Yes, Liesl, the cooks are taking care of that. I told them to prepare something special. Michelle told me what Danielle likes. We have to make them feel at home,” she said serious. Liesl nodded in agreement.
“And Liesl,” Louisa started. She looked from side to side to make sure nobody was listening to them. “What about those police records?” she asked in a whisper. “I didn’t know about that.”
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1967
Jan 28, 2005 10:49:43 GMT -5
Post by Liesl on Jan 28, 2005 10:49:43 GMT -5
"Me neither" she said, she was thinking the same thing.
"I don't really want to look at them. I don't think it's important now, seeing as they'll live here and their safe."
Liesl could tell Louisa felt the same. The two girls could put the past behind them and live without care.
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1967
Jan 28, 2005 11:02:04 GMT -5
Post by Aline on Jan 28, 2005 11:02:04 GMT -5
“You are right, Liesl, we have to worry about how it will be from now on, and make sure it is different from their past. Poor girls,” Louisa said sad. Then she remembered, and had an idea. “I have to take Jan and Nina at school. Do you think the girls would like to go with me?”
Liesl was thinking.
“And Dominic, is he coming alone?” Louisa asked. “I can bring him with me if you want. I think Danielle will like to meet them, don’t you agree?”
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