Chapter 1
"Max!" She ran and leaped into his arms. "Max," she said again, muffled by his shirt. He cupped his hands around her face. After several minutes of taking each other in, Max finally spoke, "Look at you, you've gotten so big!" She hugged him again not wanting to let go. "Mr. Steiner, is it alright with you if I go home a little early?" Liesel asked excitedly. "That's fine, enjoy your evening." She thanked him and walked out of the shop with Max. Most houses had been rebuilt since the bomb that damaged and killed so many only 2 years ago, including ours. It wasn't exactly the same, we had lost a lot, but it was home just the same. Rudy had lived with the Hubbermans since his family had passed until his father returned home only a couple months ago. "Come on Max! Mama and Papa will be so happy to see you" She held onto his hand tightly, afraid he might disappear and it would all be a dream. As they reached the house Liesel led him up the steps and into the house he was once so familiar with. "Mama!" Liesel shouted out. She answered grumpily as usual, "quit shouting saumensch, what is all this racket- Oh my God." Rosa Hubberman ran towards Max and embraced him. "Hans get in here!" Lazily Papa stood and came inside. "What is it now old woman?" he asked. He saw Max standing before him, squished in between two women. "Max my boy!" Papa rushed over and gave Max a hug. After the general talk of "how are you" and "we were so worried about you", Rosa was determined that Max would not speak another word until he was fed and well rested. Once Rosa had him fed and settled, things had finally calmed down around the house. He would take the place of Rudy, who took the place of Werner, in the bed beside of Liesel's. As Liesel finished up the dishes she could barely wait to get upstairs and talk to Max. "Liesel you get to bed right now," mama commanded. "Yes ma'am." Papa stood up and took Liesel into his arms. "Goodnight your Majesty." She laughed. "Goodnight Papa." Liesel rushed up that stairs and entered her room. Max was laying silently in bed when she entered the room. "Max are you awake?" He looked up. "Yes." She went and sat down next to him. "Was it awful?" He looked over into her beautiful blue eyes. "Was what awful?" he asked confused. "You know, where you had to go after you left her." He paused. "Yes, but do you know how I got through it?" She looked intently at him. "How?" He smiled at her. "By thinking of you every single day." Liesel layed her arm over his stomach and drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the boy with hair like feathers.