Not Leaving {The Book Thief}

12

Liesels POV
I woke up like usual, rising from my lumpy couch and walking to the tea kettle. I peaked out the window and noticed the mail man drop something off on the front step way earlier than usual. I ran over to the door, I was so anxious to open this oh so important package that I swung the door right into my forehead leaving a large pink mark. I ignored the sting and bent down to read the package. "Southwest border hospital" I said in a hushed breath. Who did I know in the hospital? Unless... I tore the packaging to shreds and read the paper with hunger. "...been in war six months... heatstroke...'the bird has flown to Norway'..." I muttered bits and pieces of the letter under my breath. "Oh will somebody just win this war already!" I shouted a bit too loud. I sat in the open doorway with the letter pressed against my chest. "Grave news has arrived!" A man yelled in the distance. I walked to the gait to hear him better. "The war has ended! We lost! The document was signed not long ago in Tokyo Bay! Curse those Japs..." the voice rambled on. Had my prayers been answered for once in my life!? "Rudy is coming home!" I cried aloud. Now what could I do? Alex! He told me as soon as I hear from him I should go straight to him to tell him everything. I scribbled a note on the table and bounded down the street in my nightgown with a blue knit sweater pulled around me. I only realized halfway there that the shop was most likely closed but I couldn't dream of going back home and waiting so I decided to wait outside the shop. I had been there but a half hour when people started flowing down the streets and giving me strange looks. I didn't even think about what a busy day I would have at work and how harsh people would be on me for being late.

A few minutes later the shop keeper came and unlocked the door. He glanced at me briefly and looked away but then he completely turned to me when he noticed a girl was sitting outside his shop in only a nightgown. "May I help you?" He asked wearily "When will Alex Steiner be here? I have news for him!" I exclaimed. "Is this about the war ending? Because I'm pretty sure the whole world knows my dear." He replied in a know it all tone. "Well, um, yes and no. The war has ended meaning his son will be back, but he didn't know his son was in the war to begin with!" I said, realizing that I was being slightly overbearing. He grinned at me cheerfully, "I guess you can wait in the shop until he gets here, it won't be long." I sat on a stool behind the desk and helped a bit until Alex arrived. Alexs eyebrows shot up in suprise. "Well what brings you here on this, erm, sad day?" He asked. "Rudy! I heard from Rudy! He's in the war! Or he was... he'll be home soon! Can you believe it?" I yelled. "My son is... he is coming home? When?!" He yelled excitedly. I hadn't thought of that. "I don't know maybe a few days? He at least knows we, I'm, in Munich... but he doesn't know your here!" I replied "We should get him a gift of some sorts I suppose..." he suggested. "He wouldn't want us to spend money on him, we are his gift." I interrupted. "How did you come to know him so well? How about tomorrow we go to the train station and wait for him, we can wait until he appears." He smiled. "But I have work so I can't stay all day." Sarah and Charles would kill me if I missed work. "We can take shifts, you wait in the mornings and I will wait in the afternoons." I agreed. I recalled the many dreams I had of him, but none of them were really him. He is a man now, he will look different.

     This thought saddened me. All the countless nights I have dreamed of him I have never really seen him. Every time I saw him and felt close to him I was farther than ever. I tried to think of a night I hadn't dreamed of him but nothing came to my mind... except... "Alex, did you know my mother?" I questioned. "Rosa? Of course, oh Liesel I'm so sorry for your loss. I never really thought about it." He had tears in his eyes. "No, my real mother. I remembered her mentioning your family a year before I arrived at Himmel street. Her name was Sophie Meminger." Alex looked at me, his eyes the size of saucers. "How did I not make the connection? You are Sophie's girl? Me and... Barbara... we were good friends with your mother back in Berlin. We had lived there until we had Janet, our eldest. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph... I can't believe it." His oak face cracked into a smile. "I last heard from her months before you were born. I remember Rudy had just been born. I never met your father sadly, but he must of been a good man if Sophie married him." My father, I never thought of him. I assume I take after him since my mom had angular features and dark hair, a perfect contrast to me round face and golden curls. "I should be going, I'm far from ready for work."I sayed as I hurried out the door, snapping back into reality. "You may come back anytime you like Liesel!" He yelled at me from down the street. "Danke!"

     When I arrived home Sarah was resting on the porch. "Oh Liesel! The war has ended! And your little Rudy will be back for you! Do you think you two will marry?" Sarah sayed as she tightened me in an embrace. Sarah was still young like me and still had the spirit of a school girl. I blushed scarlet. My breathing quickened "I don't know, I'm only 17, he is only 18!" I felt dizzy. Marry Rudy? Marry the boy who has loved and teased me for almost 10 years? I might actually faint. The boy who died and came back in my arms? My stomach churned. My Rudy? My handsome Rudy who swam into a frozen lake for a book? I buckled over. My Rudy who raced me only for a kiss? My vision blurred over. My Rudy. Why did I keep calling him mine? But of course, he was mine. Ever since that kiss... My head it the porch with a thud.