Playing football was something I loved to do. I guess Liesel liked it too. She seemed to enjoy it, though this particular time she was not getting her head into the game. Maybe it had something to do with what I told her; our street needs more bomb shelters. The basements beneath the houses aren't any good.
I am torn away from my thoughts when the ball whizzes by me. I chase it, shoving one of the opposing team out the way (who said violence wasn't the answer?) and kick it as hard as I can. It practically flies into our makeshift goal, and I am congratulated heartily. Liesel is still looking distant. What is with her?
Suddenly she turns and runs, but almost instantly collides with Klaus Behrig. He does not look happy; crouched on the floor holding his shin, but to be honest I'm more worried about Liesel. She's hit her head. I don't know how hard, but obviously hard enough to bring her to the ground.
"Where is she?" Klaus spits. "I'm going to kill her!"
What an arschloch.
I'm about to go and help, when suddenly a Party member jogs over and asks, "What happened here?"
"Well she's a maniac!"
Oh, how badly I want to punch him.
The Party member pulls her up, but she's looking unsteady.
"I don't think you're in any state to keep playing, my girl," The man says. "Where do you live?"
"I'm fine," Liesel says, trying to step away. "Really, I can make it myself."
That's when I decide to step in, and I take Liesel's arm. She obviously doesn't want this strange man taking her home-I'll do it. I am her friend after all. She should be happy I want to help.
"Really," Liesel says, sounding slightly annoyed. "Just keep playing, Rudy. I can make it."
"No, no." Mein Gott, she is being so stubborn. "It'll only take a minute or two."
Without warning, she suddenly drops to the ground, nearly wrenching my arm out of its socket. I know she's hurt and all, but she could be slightly more considerate.
"My Papa," She says. "Could you get him, Rudy?"
Ha, of course I can, but I don't get why she won't just let me take her home. "Stay there." I tell her, then I turn to Tommy. "Tommy, watch her, will you? Don't let her move."
"I'll watch her, Rudy." He replies, his irritating twitch as present as ever.
I run over to Liesel's house and knock on the door. Liesel's father opens it and seems slightly surprised to see me there. "Yes, Rudy?"
"Liesel got hurt playing football."
Hans Hubermann wastes no time is getting to our 'pitch'. He stops next to Liesel, who is still lying on her back. Tommy is still standing guard next to her, I'm glad to see. Perhaps he's not all useless.
"Hey, Papa." Liesel smiles.
Herr Hubermann smiles. "I was wondering when this would happen."
He picks her up and takes her off. The rest of the kids start playing again. Klaus Behrig is looking cross, and is grumbling about how 'some people are such dummkopfs, and shouldn't be allowed to play football if they're just going to harm other people and ruin everything'. He's just jealous that no-one gave a stuff about his stupid shin. The Party member had moved on and was now knocking at someone's door. I take a few steps in Liesel and her Papa's direction and call out, "Do you need help, Herr Hubermann?"
"No, no, you keep playing, Herr Steiner." He replies. Herr Steiner. I like that. At least someone recognises me as the man that I am.
Later on, after the game's done and everyone has gone, I go over to Liesel's house to see how she is. I knock on the door, but they really take their time answering this time. Eventually Rosa Hubermann answers.
"I just came to see how Liesel is." I say, trying to sound natural, but Frau Hubermann scares me a bit.
From somewhere in the house I can hear Liesel's voice, but she's too quiet for me to hear what she's saying.
"Liesel!" Frau Hubermann shouts, making me jump.
Liesel reaches the door.
"I just came to see-" But then I stop. I can smell smoke. Really strongly. On her. "What's that smell? Have you been smoking in there?"
"Oh. I was sitting with Papa."
"Do you have any cigarettes? Maybe we could smell some." I only mean it as a joke, but she seems to take it seriously and replies in a quiet serious, quiet voice, "I don't steal from my Papa."
"But you steal from certain other places."
"Talk a bit louder, why don't you." She hisses.
I smirk. "She what stealing does? You're all worried."
"Like you've never stolen anything." Liesel scoffs.
"Yes, but you reek of it." I am really enjoying winding her up. "Maybe that's not cigarette smoke after all." I lean in and sniff dramatically. "It's a criminal I can smell. You should have a bath." I turn around. Tommy's on the street down the path. "Hey, Tommy, you should come and have a smell of this!"
"What did you say? I can't hear you!" Oh, for Christ's sake.
"Useless." I mutter, shaking my head.
Liesel begins shutting the door. "Get lost, saukerl, you're the last thing I need right now."
She seems angry. My work her is done. I turn and get to the bottom of the path before I remember what I came here for in the first place. I go back a bit.
"Everything's ok, saumensch? The injury, I mean." I ask.
"Everything's good." She nods, and shuts the door. Well, she's ok. That's good to hear. She sounded like she really meant it, and I have been friends with her long enough to tell the difference between whether or not she's lying or telling the truth. Maybe she doesn't just mean her knee and head, though-maybe whatever she was worrying about earlier is all good now too. If so, then she'll be happy. And if she's happy, I'm happy.