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

cook, and to be waited on hand and foot,” replied Mrs. Ross.
    â€œWe certainly don’t eat like this at our house either.” Mrs. Anderson wiped her mouth with a napkin. “I agree with Amanda, that was an excellent apple strudel.” She looked out the window in front of them. “Oh look, it appears we have arrived at Vienna.”
    The twinkling lights of the city pirouetted in front of the boat, as if guiding them to the port.
    After dinner, many of the passengers met in the lounge to listen to Michael do a presentation on the Hapsburgs, the Austrian royal family. Jozsef, the musician they had met at the start of the cruise, ended the evening by entertaining them with his violin.
    Amanda couldn’t wait to explore Vienna the next day. She just had to figure out how to get the violin off the boat and delivered safely. David’s life depended on her.

13
    I can’t believe I’m going to spend the day in Vienna!” Amanda’s mom’s eyes danced with excitement. “This is a dream come true. Ever since I took the History of Classical Music course in university, I have longed to see the Vienna Opera House where Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss performed.”
    â€œI didn’t know you took a course in music. I thought you studied accounting in university,” said Amanda.
    â€œAccounting was my major, but I wanted to study other things as well so it wouldn’t be so boring,” replied Mrs. Ross.
    Amanda spotted Jozsef walking through the dining room with a violin case under his arm. She jumped up from the table and ran after him. “Jozsef.” When he didn’t hear her, she called again, “Jozsef! I want to tell you something.”
    The musician turned around. “
Ja, fräulein
.
Was ist
? I mean, what is it?”
    Amanda caught her breath. “I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your music last night.”
    â€œ
Danke schön
, thank you. I am pleased you took pleasure in listening to me play my violin.”
    â€œAre you coming with us on the bus tour of Vienna?”
    â€œNo, I have lived in Vienna a few years ago and know every part of it well. I will spend the day with my daughter who is studying here.”
    â€œAre you taking your violin?”
    â€œNo, I am just about to put it in the boat’s vault.”
    â€œIs it valuable?”
    â€œNot as valuable as some, but I would be unhappy if it was lost or stolen.” He patted the violin case. “Enjoy your visit to the city of music.”
    Amanda grinned. “Enjoy your visit with your daughter.”
    She returned to the breakfast table, just as everyone was getting ready to leave for the early morning tour.
    â€œI’ll meet you at the bus. There’s something I need to get.” Amanda darted out the door and down the hallway to her room.
    A few minutes later, Amanda boarded the bus with everyone.
    â€œWhat have you got there, sweetie?” asked her mom.
    â€œIt’s a violin that Jozsef asked me to take to the Opera House for him.”
    â€œReally!” Leah’s eyes almost popped out of her head. “He is trusting you with his violin?”
    â€œOh, it’s not his good, valuable one. This is just a practice violin.”
    Shocked, Leah stared at her friend. “What do you think you are doing?” she mouthed.
    Amanda shrugged. “I know it looks bad, but it’s not as bad as you think.” She carefully placed the violin under the seat and settled back to view the sights.
    â€œNow I am convinced you are barking mad!” Leah leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.

    The bus took them around the beautiful city of Vienna. The tour guide pointed out the home Beethoven lived in, the ornate Parliament buildings and the grand Opera House.
    The attractive guide explained, “In Vienna, there is music everywhere. It is best known as the land of the waltz. We have our very own ‘Waltz Kings’, father