Page 154 - The Book Thief

They burst through the door and stood in front of the Aryan shopkeeper, who

regarded them with contempt.

Im waiting, she said. Her hair was tied back and her black dress choked her
body. The framed photo of the Fhrer kept watch from the wall.

Heil Hitler, Rudy led.

Heil Hitler, she responded, straightening taller behind the counter. And you? She
glared at Liesel, who promptly gave her a heil Hitler of her own.

It didnt take Rudy long to dig the coin from his pocket and place it firmly on the
counter. He looked straight into Frau Dillers spectacled eyes and said, Mixed
candy, please.

Frau Diller smiled. Her teeth elbowed each other for room in her mouth, and her
unexpected kindness made Rudy and Liesel smile as well. Not for long.

She bent down, did some searching, and came back. Here, she said, tossing a
single piece of candy onto the counter. Mix it yourself.

Outside, they unwrapped it and tried biting it in half, but the sugar was like
glass. Far too tough, even for Rudys animal-like choppers. Instead, they had to
trade sucks on it until it was finished. Ten sucks for Rudy. Ten for Liesel. Back
and forth.

This, Rudy announced at one point, with a candy-toothed grin, is the good life,
and Liesel didnt disagree. By the time they were finished, both their mouths
were an exaggerated red, and as they walked home, they reminded each other to
keep their eyes peeled, in case they found another coin.

Naturally, they found nothing. No one can be that lucky twice in one year, let
alone a single afternoon.

Still, with red tongues and teeth, they walked down Himmel Street, happily
searching the ground as they went.

The day had been a great one, and Nazi Germany was a wondrous place.