Amanda on the Danube: The Sounds of Music by Darlene Foster

1
    P leeease, Mom. Can we go? Please. Please?” Amanda Ross stared at the computer screen. “Come and look at this website. The boat looks awesome, and the scenery along the river is amazing.”
    Mrs. Ross approached the laptop. “A river cruise on the Danube would be nice, Amanda, but I don’t think your dad and I can get the time off.”
    â€œBut, Mom, it would be so much fun and you’d get to meet Leah’s parents. They’re real cool. I know you’d like them.”
    â€œThose river cruises are quite expensive. I’m not sure we can afford it.”
    â€œIt says here in Leah’s email that if we book now, we can get a big discount. I really want to see Leah again.”
    Amanda’s mom sighed. “It was nice of the Andersons to invite us. I could use a holiday. I’ll discuss it with your dad and we’ll see. Don’t get your hopes up, sweetie.” She patted Amanda’s head.
    Amanda sent an email back to Leah, “This just might work out.”

    â€œ
Guten Tag, fräulein
.” The young, blond flight attendant smiled at Amanda as she left the plane.
    â€˜I like it here already,’ Amanda thought as she saw a large sign.
    WILLKOMMEN TO NUREMBERG
    â€œCan you believe we’re in Germany, Mom?”
    â€œJust stay close to us, Amanda. I don’t want you getting lost in this big airport.”
    â€œMom, you seem to forget I have been to big airports before. This isn’t any bigger than the ones in London, Madrid or Dubai.”
    Mrs. Ross rolled her eyes. “Are you going to remind us this entire trip that you’ve travelled more than we have?”
    â€œThis way to the baggage.” Don Ross pointed to a sign.

    After a comfortable sleep in a squeaky clean hotel with the biggest, fluffiest pillows Amanda had ever seen, the Ross family was ready to start their trip down the Danube River.
    â€œThere’s our boat!” shouted Amanda as she peered out the cab window. “
The Sound of Music
. That’s our boat. I wonder if Leah and her parents are here already.”
    The cab dropped them off beside a long, low boat with
The Sound of Music
written in large letters on the side. The ‘f’ was replaced with a treble clef.
    Once on board, they entered an elegant lobby furnished with blue velvet chairs and couches. “This is sooo adorable,” Amanda said. “You love
The Sound Of Music
movie, Mom, and there are pictures of the von Trapp family all over the walls.”
    Her mom’s face lit up when she saw the familiar scenes.
    Suddenly, everything went black and Amanda couldn’t see a thing.
    â€œHiya, Canadian girl.”
    Amanda recognized that English accent. She peeled off the hands covering her glasses and turned around. “Leah!” She gave her tall, blonde friend a huge hug.
    â€œWe only just got here ourselves. Mum and Dad are putting the luggage in our room. Your room is just across from us.” Leah flashed a wide grin at Amanda’s parents. “I’m so glad you could make this trip. We are all going to have loads of fun. Come, Amanda, let’s explore the boat.”
    â€œSee you later.” Amanda barely looked at her parents as she tripped down the narrow hallway behind Leah.
    First stop was a large room completely surrounded by windows. Round tables with crisp white tablecloths, set for a meal—without a fork or knife out of place—indicated it was the dining room. Sparkling chandeliers hung from the ceiling.
    â€œWow! Every table has a view. This will be a fab place to eat.” Amanda looked around. “I hope we can all eat together.”
    â€œMum has already made sure of that. We got here early so we got to pick which table we wanted for the entire trip.” Leah pointed to a table at the very front of the boat. “Ours is that table for six, the one with the best view.”
    Amanda noticed an undone shoelace on her runner and