Not Leaving {The Book Thief}

21

     Oma was thrilled when we returned from our little picnic that became the happiest memory of my entire life. The memory of Rudy fumbling around in his pocket for the velvet box and blushing when he realized it had fallen out when we sat down.

    The trees had all dried up and the air was soft and crisp as it often was. I will forever remember the feeling of the thick green sweater and the blush covering mine and Rudy's faces. Most people say their wedding day is their happiest day but I know that even when my wedding comes this crisp plainly extraordinary morning will reign supreme in my memory.

    Max was off at work when we returned but the now heavily pregnant Zipporah was waiting ready to hear the news. Her angular bird face was bright red even while she lounged in the parlor, we all knew this was one of those excruciating pregnancies. Poor fragile Zipporah was constantly uncomfortable.

    As soon as Oma heard the news of Rudy and I she shrieked and squeeled and kissed and hugged. "Oh, do come on and show poor Zipporah. This morning she is feeling even worse." She frowned at us slightly and then lit up like a light bulb when she remembered the news.

    "Rudy? Liesel? Are you..." she coughed abruptly, "... are you back already?" She said in her lilting voice from the lounge. I envied her so. She was a porcelain doll in every way. "Yes, Zipporah. We've brought you a supprise as well!" Rudy heald my hand and pulled me in to the lounge. Zipporah and him had formed a great friendship, though it was nothing to be jealous of.

     She tried to get up off the sofa but Oma eased her back down quickly. Oma always treated her like a daughter since she had practically raised her. "What's my suprise?!" She rubbed her little hands together and grinned. "Well..." Rudy looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I lifted my hand with the silver band and it glinted slightly.

    Zipporahs hand flew to her mouth in suprise. She launched her and her large belly off the sofa and landed in both of our arms, nearly toppling us over. Oma scurried over and sat her back down. "Zippy!" As she had taken to calling her, "You are in the most delicate situation! You mustn't only think of yourself anymore!" Oma patted her hand.

     "Oma! Aren't you at all moved by the recent events?" Zipporah took my hand and admired the thin delicate band. I noticed her own which had Maxs' name etched into it and hers was on the absent Maxs'. "Of course I'm excited! But I'm also excited for you to get that baby out!" She rubbed the large belly.

    When I marry Rudy I will have children, hoards of them. I will have a little Hans and Rosa and a Barbara and Alex. Named for all those we've loved and lost. Max and Zipporah often talked about naming it Rebecca or Abraham, they were both so happy.
    But of course this family couldn't stay happy for long...

    I woke up in the middle of the night to screaming just down the hall. I shook Rudy awake and he ran down the hall quickly to the source of the ruckus. The guest room.

    Zipporah was staying the night here as she felt to ill to move to her home. I flung my robe on and ran into the room to meet up with Oma, Rudy, and the wailing Zipporah. Her face was a magnificent scarlet red and her night gown was soaked through with sweat.
     "Rudy go to Max at the shop and get him here. Now!" I ordered him and he was gone in a flash. "Oma? Is it coming?" I asked nervously. Oma stroked her sweat streaked face. "Yes, but not for a few more hours at most." Poor Zipporah would be going through far worse than even this.

   Max pounded up the stairs and flung himself by his beloveds side where she was now smiling at his reassuring face. "It's Rebecca." She smiled up at him deliriously. "Or Abraham." he smiled back. They, like most married couples, had a preference gender they would argue over. I had tears in my eyes but Oma finally cleared her ready to deliver. "Get my warm water and rags, lots of them!" She ordered me. "Max, keep her calm. She will need to remain calm to get through this." She said to him soothingly. He nodded and stroked her hand and kissed her forehead. "Think of the precious little clothing, darling." Her rubbed her hand gently. "The tiny sweet shoes too?" She piped up.

    Rudy was fretting and pacing  outside since he didn't have a strong enough stomach to witness the birth. At 1:02 Oma brought forth little Rebecca just as Zipporah predicted. She already had thick black curls like her mother and swampy eyes like her father. Oma clapped with glee when she saw the already opened eyes.

    Zipporah was going so well and was recovering quick. She was able to feed Becky (Rebeccas' immediate nickname) soon after giving birth without trouble. Oma was so proud of the successful birth and the predicted excellent recovery. Rudy and I went back to bed a hour after the birth and Max stayed with Zipporah in the guest room.
  
    Sadly the recovery wasn't going too well. At 7:00 in the morning a heard Max crying down the hall. I didn't wake Rudy and flew down the hall to Max. Laying there on the quilt was a sweat soaked Zipporah. She was gasping for air but never seemed to breath. "Oma! Oma please get here!" I screamed, traumatized by the writhing Zipporah. Max grabbed her hand and whispered to her things I couldn't hear. Oma waddled into the room as quickly as she could but Zipporah was worse than she was just a few seconds ago.

    She was choking we all thought but even when we turned her over and patted her back she couldn't get any air in. Oma was weeping terribly and little Becky was wailing bitterly. I stumbled over to the small healthy baby and rocked her gently. I watched as Max and Oma weeped around the dying Zipporah. We couldn't do anything. Finally Rudy ran in. The moment he saw the awful sight he stopped in his tracks and fell to the floor and started crying just like the rest of us. She was the purest, most gentle thing we had known. She was a perfect porcelain doll. She broke just as easily as one too.