A Problem Like Maria

Chapter 10

As autumn progressed so did the unconventional family. Aunt Helen began eating with her nieces and nephews, Maria didn't have to constantly keep an eye on all of the siblings to prevent them from fighting and Georg was slowly getting to know his little brothers and sisters again.

As the soccer season drew to a close, Maria thought it would be fun for all of the kids to go show support at a game. Friedrich and Liesl had gone to a few games and Louisa, Kurt, and Brigitta had been to only one each.

Max was over at the house the day before the game and had given Maria the details since she never paid attention to the morning announcements.

"Uh, Max?" Maria stopped him before he could walk away

"Yeah?" He turned to his new friend

"Will he be okay if we all come watch? It's just that it might be a bad time to get that emotiona-"

"He'll be fine Maria" Max slumped his shoulders dramatically "seriously, don't worry. It'll be good for him."
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The next evening Aunt Helen drove a car with Louisa and the three youngest girls while Liesl drove Maria and they boys. It wasn't that Maria couldn't drive, she just didn't feel comfortable driving their cars.

After noticing that the boys were occupied on their phones Maria plucked up the courage to ask Liesl "how's Rolf?". The couple had just become official two weeks prior and Maria held her own opinions about it, but wanted to know the truth from Liesl.

"He's fine" Liesl blushed and beamed. "He's coming tonight and we planned on sitting together."

"Ohhh" Maria smirked

"Yuck" Kurt said from the backseat

"Oh shut up" Liesl rolled her eyes.

"Speaking of couples, do you talk to Ellie often?" Maria asked

"Sometimes" Liesl shrugged "why?"

"I haven't seen her around the house in the past few weeks and rarely at school." Maria fiddled with her phone

"She's been so busy prepping for dance team. She's head of the basketball season them and pre-choreographs dances. She always prepares way ahead and then has like three weeks where she doesn't have anything to do" Liesl explained

When they pulled up to the soccer game the sun was halfway set. Aunt Helen pulled in beside them and the girls in her car all bad green streaks on their faces for school spirit she the boys had knockoff jerseys on.

"Maria, this is so cool. I've never been to a soccer game before" Marta ran and jumped on Maria's back.

"Ever?" Maria was shocked.

"We'll the boys did pewee soccer but I was a baby. Anyways this is big people soccer"

Before the group could walk away Aunt Helen called out "this is too loud for me, I'm going out with Leon" she swatted her hand and everyone laughed. Helen was fun but she was quiet, besides Leon was the cats meow of the early bird special.

"Lets go!" Liesl led the pack.

By the time they got settled in the bleachers Liesl had darted off to find Rolf while Friedrich had found a group of guys from his school who were vying to make the team next year.

Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Gretl, Maria and Marta sat far up the bleachers and watched the players warm up for a bit until Maria felt her phone buzz in her back pocket.

It was Rafie "Where u at" she texted

"Far right bleachers, about 7 rows up"

Rafie responded with a thumbs up.