Page 91 - The Book Thief
P. 91
THE TOWN WALKER
The rot started with the washing and it rapidly increased.
When Liesel accompanied Rosa Hubermann on her deliveries across Molching,
one of her customers, Ernst Vogel, informed them that he could no longer afford
to have his washing and ironing done. The times, he excused himself, what can I
say? Theyre getting harder. The wars making things tight. He looked at the girl.
Im sure you get an allowance for keeping the little one, dont you?
To Liesels dismay, Mama was speechless.
An empty bag was at her side.
Come on, Liesel.
It was not said. It was pulled along, rough-handed.
Vogel called out from his front step. He was perhaps five foot nine and his
greasy scraps of hair swung lifelessly across his forehead. Im sorry, Frau
Hubermann!
Liesel waved at him.
He waved back.
Mama castigated.
Dont wave to that Arschloch, she said. Now hurry up.
That night, when Liesel had a bath, Mama scrubbed her especially hard,
muttering the whole time about that Vogel Saukerl and imitating him at two-
minute intervals. You must get an allowance for the girl. . . . She berated Liesels
naked chest as she scrubbed away. Youre not worth that much, Saumensch.
Youre not making me rich, you know.
