The Short Stories That Will Never See The Light Of Day

The SnowMan

This is an English assessment where we had to write in a a little something extra in the already extraordinary book: The Book ThiefNow I do not own the book thief, I believe (and please correct me if I'm wrong) the author's name is Markus Zuska. So please support the original author by reading his novels.Any way, enjoy my amateur writing.  

(Also slight spoilers if you haven't read the novel but want to read it unspoiled)

It was cold and dark when the Jewish fist fighter went down to the basement. It only got colder the longer he stayed as winter blew through the town and down the Hubermanns basement steps. Max was un-phased by the cold though. He just sat there shivering alone. He often drifted between the two worlds of awake and asleep, though he never really stayed long in either. Often the worlds would merge together, and all he could do was endure it all. Now normally Max Vandenburg would write in the whited pages of the Mein Kampf or invest in the weekly newspaper brought down to him by Liesel. But sometimes he'd just sit and wait, in the cold dark basement with nothing but a small candle lighting the room. Waiting for what exactly? Well only he really knows, especially on this particularly freezing Christmas Eve.

~~~A Small Suggestion~~~

Perhaps he thought of

how he abandoned his family

or how he so badly wanted it to be over

I think he was just hungry

~~~~~~

Suddenly a slow squeak resonated around the basement. Waking Max up from the limbo like state he had put himself in. Max's eyes darted up above him as he held his breath. He stood still as he heard the boards quietly creek under the weight of someone going down them. His eyes followed each and every step as they came and went. As the steps came around the corner a smile formed on Max's lips. The owner of the steps was Liesel Meminger. Liesel's hands were behind her back as she approached Max, trying to conceal the snow in her hands.

"Close your eyes," She said with a big smile.

Max obliged to the small girls request with a smile.

"Hold out your hands."

Max again obliged and held out his hands, ready to receive.

As soon as the snow was transferred, Max shivered and laughed, but he still didn't open his eyes. At first he only gave the snow a quick taste.

"Is this today's weather report?" He asked softly

Liesel stood next to him, gently touching his arm as she did.

"Thanks, Liesel." He said as he gently opened his eyes.

Liesel Smiled at Max. Max returned a soft smile with a partnering chuckle. He looked at her big eyes full of wonder and joy, her hair, a messy curly blond, like a haystack. Such an innocent child in the face of war. How could she feel so much joy in a crumbling world? Liesel hurried back up the stairs smiling, all the while trailing snow and dirt behind her as she returned to the surface. Max sighed as his smile began to fade. He couldn't bare this joy he felt, he couldn't stand that he felt so happy while his own flesh and blood were slaughtered or enslaved. But he had to try to be happy for Liesel.

Liesel came back, again she held snow within her hands and placed it on the floor. Then, without another word, she scurried off to get more snow. She repeated this process again and again, eventually she started hauling buckets, upon buckets of snow. Once she decided there was a sufficient amount Liesel started to pack some snow into a ball.

"What are you doing?" Max questioned, curious as to what Liesel was planning.

Suddenly Liesel threw the snowball at Max, pegging it straight at his face. Max smiled, shaking off the snow as he grabbed a handful and shot it straight at her stomach.

Liesel began reloading, and soon enough it escalated to a snowball battle. Not long after the battle began Hans Hubermann foolishly stepped down into the basement. Max saw his opportunity and gleefully pegged a snowball at Hans as he made his way down the steps.

"Arschloch!" Hans yelped.

And with that another solider was added to this battle. After a few minutes they forgot about everything. Max didn't even have to try to be happy for Liesel, he just was. As he enjoyed what he had been given even in the brute of war.

At the end of everything, a snowman lay in the middle of the basement, with a little scarf, hat, and button face, all provided by Rosa Hubermann, who eventually came down to help build it after being hit by a snowball thrown by Hans.

The snowman was the last thing they saw that cold Christmas Eve when they finally drifted to sleep. There was an accordion in their ears, and a warmth in their hearts.

Liesel was saying her final good-nights when Max told her something.

"Often I wish this would all be over, Liesel, but then, somehow you do something like walk down the basement steps with a snowman in your hands."

Max meant what he had said to her as he drifted off to sleep next to the fire. And for the first time in a long time Max could fully fall asleep.

~~~Something Max Would've Liked To Know~~~

He wouldn't wake up that morning.

But when he did eventually

13 gifts would be waiting for him.

~~~~~~

Authors note: 

please do not judge too hard (though judge away if you must for one must improve their skills) I made this over the course of two-ish hours and it isn't one of my better works, I always tend to rush it a tad in towards the end.

Oh well hope you enjoyed and sorry for the 'Authors Note'