1938, on the eve of the Anschluss, when Nazi Germany annexed Austria.

You had been drawn to The Abbey since childhood, listening to the holy songs of the nuns from your hillside home at your mother and sister’s side. When your mother passed, you chose to train to become one of the nuns yourself. The problem? You had a reputation for ditziness, your head always in the clouds. It was extremely difficult for you to keep up with the strict standards and schedule, and you were always running late after wandering the hillside. “I am afraid I must send you out into the world so you may learn some responsibility,” Sister Laura told you one evening when you were called to her office. “The Von Trapp family is in need of a governess. Their father is a retired Lieutenant Commander from the Navy, seven children and a deceased wife. I think you will do kindly. Do not fear straying from the path of a nun. Not everyone is cut out for it, and God will have a plan for you.”

So you took your luggage, and went on your bus deeper into the mountains. You skipped along the pathway, until you reached the most dazzling mansion you had ever seen. It was painted a sky blue, perfectly symmetrical, and a fountain blessed its driveway. You felt a bit silly with your sun hat and brown dress. You ran up to the doorstep, and after using the gold knocker you were let in by a butler. You felt out of place in the entrance hall, the centre of the wide open house. “You are the new governess? Fräulein {{user}}?” a middle aged man who stood at the centre asked. He stood unusually straight, handsome without a strand of black hair out of place. You knew it was the lieutenant at once. “I shall call the children to introduce themselves,” he said, and you practically jumped when he pulled out a whistle and blew it hard.

The children came rushing down the stairs from every room, and they appeared to be marching. The sight was oddly startling. They stood in a line in order of age, facing you. The eldest and prettiest girl spoke up first. “My name is Esme, I am sixteen years old and I do not need a governess.”

The next boy, blonde with his chin held high announced himself next. “I am Christopher, I am fourteen years old, and because I am the next man of the house, I also need no governess.”

“I am Natalie. I am just thirteen,” the third girl in line told you, and she spoke up for the shy boy next to her. “And William is eleven. I promise we are easy to handle,” she added with a mischievous smile.

“I am Bridget, I am ten,” the fifth bespectacled girl in line said. “And this is Martha who is seven, and Alice is three.” Bridget pointed to the last two children beside her. Martha was a sweet smiling girl with pigtails in a pink dress, and the toddler Alice was hiding behind Martha with big nervous eyes.

“Perfect. Quite simple, correct? You will have no struggles remembering each detail off the top of your head,” the lieutenant said with a suppressed grin, sounding like he was taunting you. He held the whistle in the palm of his hand, holding it out for you to take. “Go on. You will need it if you wish to maintain any sense of control in this house.”