Part 7 Chapters 1-8
The first chapter of part seven was about Hans and Liesel. It was the summer of 1942, and Molching was preparing for war. In the unfortunate time though, Hans and his painting job were on good terms. This was because windows were being colored back, for the nights. Thus, he would get requested from people to paint their windows too. (Especially people with blinds.) As black paint was running low in stores, he would make his own, using coal dust, and stir it through. On some workdays, Liesel would go with him. He would paint people's windows for free if the family seemed to be going through hard times. He would pain them for a piece of cookie or tea, and even half a cigarette was enough. The other half, he would enjoy smoking with the owner. Every day when they worked together, Hans would tell her stories too, about the Great War, or how he met Rosa. During their break time, Hans would play his accordion for her too. On one of his workdays when Liesel followed along, they were offered champagne. Liesel enjoyed it, and it was kept a secret from Rosa.
The second chapter was about two main events. The first was about the races in Hitler Youth carnival; the 1500, 400, 200, and 100 meters. Rudy was going to run the four races, and so he was training hard for two reasons; to show his new Hitler Youth leader, and to show them to Franz Deutchester. The first three races (1500, 400, 200) went smoothly, and Rudy was in the first place. On the 100 meter race, however, Rudy intentionally got himself disqualified. After the event, Liesel was talking with Rudy. When she asked him why he did that, he didn't answer, and instead, she left her with three of his medals. The second event was about stealing a book from the mayor's house again, or more like taking what was given to her. Just a week before the second event, she stole her third book from the mayor's house, named A Song in the Dark, but that doesn't really need to be explained because it was basically the same front her past two times. The only thing different though, was that she went alone her third time. So going back to the second event, it happened in the last days of August. It was late afternoon when Rudy took her to the mayor's house. He had already noticed that something was different there earlier and called her to take a look. It was a dictionary/thesaurus right by the window, the one where Liesel climbed in from, in her previous times. Liesel took it, and they both started heading to the Amper River. Just then, Liesel felt like she was being watched, and when she turned back, she noticed she sure was. It was the Isla, waving at her. Liesel waved back. When they reached the Amper River, Rudy was studying the book and found a letter folded inside of it. It was written for Liesel, and so she went back to the mayor's house and tried to knock on the door, but she couldn't. What she saw there though, was her dead brother sitting at the doorsteps, just like before.
The third chapter was about the sirens that announce bombs. With the small collection money Hans had, he had brought home a secondhand radio. In September, they did not hear it as they slept. Either the radio was already in pretty bad condition, or it was swallowed immediately by the sound of sirens outside. When the sirens cried outside one night, Hans woke Liesel up, and they headed down to the basement to say bye to Max, as they would be heading to the Fiedlers house, as they had a deeper basement in their house. Weeks earlier, they discussed whether they should all stay together in their own basement, or the three of them should go to the basement at the Fiedlers and decided to go along with the second plan. When the three of them were safely inside the Fiedlers basement, there were other people there too; the Steiner family, Frau Holtzapfel, Pfiffikus, a young man, and a family named Jenson. Liesel had brought her books with her, holding it tightly in her arms. Liesel looked around to see who looked the most scared, and her list went something like this; Frau Holtzapfel, Mr. Fiedler, The young man, Rosa Hubermann. It was followed a few minutes later when the three sirens were heard. (Three sirens indicate that they are safe now.) They went back home, and the first thing they did was go down to the basement. Max was sitting there with stunned eyes and lips. His first words were, "I couldn't help it". Apparently, he went upstairs to see outside from the crack in the curtain, in the living room, just for a few seconds. He described that the stars burned his eyes, which is not that surprising because he had not seen the outside world in twenty-two months. That night, Liesel was allowed to stay in the basement with him, Liesel reading A Song in the Dark, and Max sketching in his book, until the next morning.
The fourth chapter was about the second sirens, or as it turns out, the first, as the one in the last chapter was not a real one. It was reported in the Molching express, that a certain flak tower operator had become a little too excited. He was later stood down from his original duty. On the night of September 19th, the radio made a noise and was followed by a deep, informative voice. Again, Himmel Street was a trail of people, and again, Hans left his accordion in the house. He did this simply because of the reason, "I didn't take it last time, and we lived". In the Fiedlers basement, Rosa held Liesel7s hands tightly, almost too tight until she had to tell her so. This time, they could vaguely hear the tune of the bombs, and air pressure shoved itself down like a ceiling. Liesel holding her books, she took the one on the top, The Whistler. She started reading the book, and soon, the whole basement was quite. She kept on reading until the first chapter finished. Everyone listened until the very end. When they got out of the basement, people thanked her at the doorway of the Fiedlers, and thanked her, even Frau Holtzapfel and Pfiffikus. Thankfully, Himmel Street was untouched, but the skies were covered in heavy smoke. When the Hubermanns reached home, they went down to the basement and talked to Max about what had happened. Liesel asked max if he had seen the sky tonight, which turns out he didn't. There, Liesel had in mind, about the anxious feeling, of what would happen if the bombs ever landed on Himmel Street. Not only did max have a less chance of survival, but he would die completely alone.
The fifth chapter had to do with Liesel and Frau Holtzapfel. But first, the next morning. The damage was inspected, and no one died, but two apartment blocks were reduced to pyramids of rubble, and the Field had an enormous bowl spooned out of it. The next few weeks were raid free, and life almost returned to normal. One day, Frau Holtzapfel came up at their door, and Liesel answered. When Rosa was called, she asked Frau whether she had come again to spit at their door, or this time, on the kitchen floor. Frau came to ask Liesel for an offer, to read The Whistler for her, in her house. Although Rosa was skeptical at first, Frau said she would exchange some coffee for it, and the deal was set. That day, Liesel went to Frau's house and read the book for forty-five minutes. Frau gave her the coffee and followed her to the door. At the door, there was a photo of her two sons, and they were both in Russia now. The schedule was set to every Monday and Friday, from four o'clock. Liesel calculated that there were four more reading sessions until the Jews were marched through Molching, to the Dachau, to concentrate.
The sixth chapter was about Hans helping a Jew out. It started when Liesel was playing soccer on Himmel Street, with her friends. Then suddenly, they all heard a sound. In the direction, there were three huge trucks. They moved to the direction and stopped at Frau Dillers. This time, the sound was clearer, it was the sound of shuffling feet and regimented voices. It was the Jews, and they were made to get off the trucks and to walk until Dachau, where there would a concentration camp waiting for them. Far up on the other side, Hans was walking towards their way with his paint cart in his hand. Liesel and Rudy approached them, and although he tried to take them away at first, but allowed them to stay. A crowd had already formed at this point. One of the men, other than the others, had trouble walking and so was constantly falling to the ground. The soldier was standing above him, yelling to stand up every time he fell. Watching the scene, Hans couldn't not do something. He reached in his paint cart and grabbed a piece of bread. He held it to the man. The man fell to his knees and held Han's shins. He buried his face down between them and thanked him. But soon the soldiers noticed. One of them approached them, and the Jew was whipped six times, on his back, head, and legs, until his ears bled. Then, Hans was whipped too, four times on the back. Liesel and Rudy made their way through to Hans. His paint cart was now kicked over, and paint was flowing on the street. Some even called him a Jew lover.
The seventh chapter was about Max leaving the house temporarily (hopefully). He left at 11 p.m that night. He held a suitcase full of warm clothes and food. He kissed Liesel on the forehead before he headed out. The plan was for Max to leave the house for four days, and Hans would meet up with him after the four days were over. (That is, if he wasn't taken away.) Max would wait where a broken bridge leaned among the Amper river and trees. However, the only thing Hans found to be there four days later, was a note under a rock at the base of the tree. "You've done enough." It said.
The eighth chapter talked about Max, Hans, and the coat men. On the night of the parade, Hans sat in the kitchen, drinking coffee and hankering for a cigarette. He waited for the Gestapo, the soldiers, the police, for anyone to take him away, as he felt he deserved. But they did not come. In fact, eleven days had passed, and still, no one came. And Max didn't come back either. At this point, he was receiving assaults from Frau Diller. She would spit on his shoes, and call him "dirty Jew lover". However, three weeks later, the Gestapo was finally there. Liesel noticed first, as she was returning from Frau Holtzapfel's. The two men were wearing long, black coats. Liesel rushed inside and informed them. Hans walked out the door, but the two seemed to make their way out of the gate after seeing Hans. Hans begged him to take him away, but they said: "Unfortunately, you're a little too old for our purposes." That being said, they were now knocking on the Steiners door. They wanted Rudy.
The fifth chapter had to do with Liesel and Frau Holtzapfel. But first, the next morning. The damage was inspected, and no one died, but two apartment blocks were reduced to pyramids of rubble, and the Field had an enormous bowl spooned out of it. The next few weeks were raid free, and life almost returned to normal. One day, Frau Holtzapfel came up at their door, and Liesel answered. When Rosa was called, she asked Frau whether she had come again to spit at their door, or this time, on the kitchen floor. Frau came to ask Liesel for an offer, to read The Whistler for her, in her house. Although Rosa was skeptical at first, Frau said she would exchange some coffee for it, and the deal was set. That day, Liesel went to Frau's house and read the book for forty-five minutes. Frau gave her the coffee and followed her to the door. At the door, there was a photo of her two sons, and they were both in Russia now. The schedule was set to every Monday and Friday, from four o'clock. Liesel calculated that there were four more reading sessions until the Jews were marched through Molching, to the Dachau, to concentrate.
The sixth chapter was about Hans helping a Jew out. It started when Liesel was playing soccer on Himmel Street, with her friends. Then suddenly, they all heard a sound. In the direction, there were three huge trucks. They moved to the direction and stopped at Frau Dillers. This time, the sound was clearer, it was the sound of shuffling feet and regimented voices. It was the Jews, and they were made to get off the trucks and to walk until Dachau, where there would a concentration camp waiting for them. Far up on the other side, Hans was walking towards their way with his paint cart in his hand. Liesel and Rudy approached them, and although he tried to take them away at first, but allowed them to stay. A crowd had already formed at this point. One of the men, other than the others, had trouble walking and so was constantly falling to the ground. The soldier was standing above him, yelling to stand up every time he fell. Watching the scene, Hans couldn't not do something. He reached in his paint cart and grabbed a piece of bread. He held it to the man. The man fell to his knees and held Han's shins. He buried his face down between them and thanked him. But soon the soldiers noticed. One of them approached them, and the Jew was whipped six times, on his back, head, and legs, until his ears bled. Then, Hans was whipped too, four times on the back. Liesel and Rudy made their way through to Hans. His paint cart was now kicked over, and paint was flowing on the street. Some even called him a Jew lover.
The seventh chapter was about Max leaving the house temporarily (hopefully). He left at 11 p.m that night. He held a suitcase full of warm clothes and food. He kissed Liesel on the forehead before he headed out. The plan was for Max to leave the house for four days, and Hans would meet up with him after the four days were over. (That is, if he wasn't taken away.) Max would wait where a broken bridge leaned among the Amper river and trees. However, the only thing Hans found to be there four days later, was a note under a rock at the base of the tree. "You've done enough." It said.
The eighth chapter talked about Max, Hans, and the coat men. On the night of the parade, Hans sat in the kitchen, drinking coffee and hankering for a cigarette. He waited for the Gestapo, the soldiers, the police, for anyone to take him away, as he felt he deserved. But they did not come. In fact, eleven days had passed, and still, no one came. And Max didn't come back either. At this point, he was receiving assaults from Frau Diller. She would spit on his shoes, and call him "dirty Jew lover". However, three weeks later, the Gestapo was finally there. Liesel noticed first, as she was returning from Frau Holtzapfel's. The two men were wearing long, black coats. Liesel rushed inside and informed them. Hans walked out the door, but the two seemed to make their way out of the gate after seeing Hans. Hans begged him to take him away, but they said: "Unfortunately, you're a little too old for our purposes." That being said, they were now knocking on the Steiners door. They wanted Rudy.
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