Max's Mein Kampf

A Snowball Fight

    December 24, 1938

Today was an especially cold day in the town of Molching. I know this from what I was told and the incredibly cold cellar throughout the day, but I never saw it first-hand. I was starting to miss being free, being outside, seeing the outside world. I was starting to miss the feeling of clean, fresh air in my lungs, and the light, warm touch of the sun in my skin. I felt like a caged bird, and I was overcome with sadness. The idea of ever coming out of this cellar was slowly fading away.

I couldn't possibly exit the house, unless I was willing to pay the very heavy price of death, so I asked Liesel to describe what the day was like outside.

"There is a very pale gray sky-she said plainly-and snow is falling."

"No, Liesel, not with your words, but with your eyes."

"I don't understand-she answered confused- what do you mean?"

"Just imagine I was blind. If your eyes could speak, what would they say?"

At that moment, I knew I had done it, she had finally understood what I meant, and her description was so beautiful that I could picture 33 Himmel Street in a snowy day as if I were standing right before it. I thanked her for it and closed my eyes to try to see the moving picture again.

Later on, when she came home from school, she brought me a bit of snow. I was so amazed and told her that she was full of marvels. Because of this, or maybe because of a child's excitement, she started to bring into the cellar buckets of snow with the help of Hans. The end result was a fun snowball fight, a small snowman, a gathering of the whole family, and a warm fire that I hadn't felt in a while.