Not Leaving {The Book Thief}

7

                  Liesels POV  (again)
    The next morning I started screaming for dear life, I screamed Rudy and Maxs names. I screamed for Mama and Papa. I even manage to yell for Mother and Warner. One of the maids stomped upstairs and flung my door open. "YOU ARE THE ONE WHO TRIED TO ESCAPE YESTERDAY AREN'T YOU?! YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH OR YOU WILL BE OUT ON THE STREETS!" She yelled in her harsh voice. "I would rather be on the streets with Rudy than here!" She slapped me and dragged me into the kitchen by my ear. "YOU WILL SCRUB THIS STOVE CLEAN OF ALL THE ASH! DO YOU HERE ME YOU LITTLE MONSTER? AND DONT YOU DARE TRY TO RUN OFF!" I grabbed the dust pan and swept all the ashes and bits of burnt wood into a bin and carried it out into the back garden. As I was pouring out the ashes into the ally I picked up a but of coal and scratched my name onto the outer wall, so maybe Rudy could find me a bit easier.  It was five months until I caught a glimpse of lemon hair again. I sat on my bed looking out the foggy window, watching the savage beggars chase a dog through the ally. I could never understand why people will chase and punch animals. It's not like you can cook a dog, it probably wouldn't even taste good. I couldn't bare to look at the savage beggar boys any longer so I turned my attention to the street. 50 or so trucks slowly made there way down the street. They were collecting people for the army. One of the kitchen boys was taken away last week. I watched as the beggars doubled in numbers and all flew behind the stone wall of the back garden. But then something caught my eye. A lemon haired boy and a dark haired man flew behind the back garden too. "It can't be!" I whispered to myself. I was all alone in my room. They must live here in Munich now! Had Rudy actually believed it was me? Or had he convinced himself it was only a dream? If I had been on the 2nd or 1st floor I would have simply dropped into the ally way, but the 3rd floor was much to high. I sat there, breathing in every aspect of them I could make out. Rudy was definitely taller, but obviously skinnier. Max had somehow managed to keep his hair feathered, and was clean shaven. But like Rudy he was devastatingly thin. I wanted to open the window and wave to them but there was no ledge, just a clean drop. I ran to a little cheap desk and scribbled a quick note.

       Rudy und Max, Liesel ist gut!

I ran to the window and dropped it out the thin venting crack. I watched it flutter to the ground but a sudden gust of wind blew it into the street. I screamed and sobbed with frustation. The maids have stopped coming up to yell at me, but they only give me half a biscuit at lunch as punishment. "8 months, in 8 months I will almost be 16. 1 week and I will be 15. I combed my hair out with a flimsy comb they gave everyone for Christmas. I pulled a jumper over my dress and pounded down the steps, taking advantage of this chance to make a ruckus. A maid pinched my ear and told me to clean the stove. I ran and swept only half of the ashes into the bin. I peered over the wall to find nobody but a lousy rat. I dumped the ashes and pounded my way back upstairs. I pulled a sheet of paper out of the cheap old desk and started to right a proper letter. Each child was given the chance to send one letter. I however knew no one other than Max and Rudy who I'm convinced are posing as beggars. What would I say to them? I shouldn't mention Max incase a Nazi finds the note. I don't even know the address of this complex. I decided to make a letter about where I am and my plan to escape.

    Dear Rudy,
             I have been here for 5 months continuing my plan to leave here. I have been causing ruckus after ruckus and leaving my chores half done. I think my plan quite genius! They don't release children until they are 18 but I'm sure they will make an exception for me. Hopefully I will see you in 8 months (when I will be almost 16).
    (P.S. BRING ME A BOOK)
         Love,
Liesel Meminger
   
I tacked this on the back fence with a old hat pin I found in the restroom. I pound down the stairs every morning to make sure my letter is still there. If it isn't I pull out a clean copy and pin it there in place. The original copy flapped in the wind for a week until it finally was free. I dreamed of collapsing into Rudy's frail arms, smelling the apple scent that always clung to him. When was the last time he had eaten? Was he very hungry? On my birthday nobody cared. My roommates were bored of my insanity and just smiled at me and walked back downstairs. I did however get a full biscuit. I nibbled half of it and then set the other half under my pillow so I could drop it down to Rudy should he ever pass under the window again. God, I miss him.