The Sound of a Musical

3 - Once in a Blue Moon

"Maria's under seclusion. She hasn't seen anyone. It's funny. She seems happy to be back here, but she's unhappy too."
"Bring her to me, even if she's not yet ready."

"Ave." Sister Margeretta opened the large black door with Maria standing awkwardly behind it. The new postulant solemnly passed her.

Once she left, Maria raced to the centre of the room and knelt down and kissed my hand. She's been unhappy, and I am truly sorry for her. But whatever can be keeping her down? I requested her to sit and tell me the events of why the Von Trapps sent her back to us.

"Were they unkind?" She shook her head gleefully.

"I was confused.. I felt.. I've never felt that way before. I knew that here I'd be away from it, I'd be.. safe."
"Maria." I told her that Nonnberg isn't to be usedas an escape and she gravely nodded. What is it she can't face?

"I can't face him again." Him? Him?! Why... The Captain....

"Captain Von Trapp?" I walk around her and stop in front of her to find that her radiant blue eyes are looking hazily in front of her and her eyebrows are slightly raised. Her lips are also slightly parted. "Are you in love with him?" I looked questioningly into her eyes and she avoided my gaze. She refused to meet it. She refused to say yes or no...

Large, gallant gestures took over her body as she spoke, "I don't know, I don't know! The Baroness said I was, and that he was in love with me, but I didn't want to believe it!!" Solemnly she walked up to the statue enpicted of Jesus' crucifixion. Ready to take her vows.

So I asked her again, "are you in love with him?" and she again refused to meet my eyes. Until... She looked up at me with a plain expression and said, "I,... mother, am not in love with Captain Von Trapp." But I could see the passion in her eyes when she spoke his name. She loved him, I knew it. So I just had to say so. "Oh, but you are, Maria. There's nothing wrong with falling in love -"
"But it's Captain VON TRAPP!"
"Yes, I know, my child," I made thesign of the Cross in front of her flustered - and slightly, very annoyed face, "but if you love this man, it doesn't mean you love God less."

She then told me that she had dedicated her years in the world so far to helping and making God happy. Again, it was something I alreadyknew. Holy matrimony... Loveshared between a man and a woman is holy in God's eyes. Love is the most powerful thing... next to belief, of course.

How do you solve a problem like Maria? How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? How do you find a word that means -

"Maria!"

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The piano sounded as harmonious as ever. Kelsi made it sing, just as she always did. I remember when I first sang on the stage, in front of what seemed like a million people. Nerves controlled me, like a robot dependent on its controller. That, however, was only until I was gently comforted by the one who sang with me that day, and the one who is singing with me right here, right now. See who I mean?

As he's watching us, a pleasured but knowing sigh escapes Ryan's lips. He warns us that we should keep this melody and these words a secret because his sister will want to use them as ammunition against us. She's been at it now for three years. Will she ever give it a rest?