Page 244 - The Book Thief

The Weatherman: Mid-May

Liesel opened the door and her mouth simultaneously.

On Himmel Street, her team had trounced Rudys 61, and triumphant, she burst
into the kitchen, telling Mama and Papa all about the goal shed scored. She then
rushed down to the basement to describe it blow by blow to Max, who put down
his newspaper and intently listened and laughed with the girl.

When the story of the goal was complete, there was silence for a good few
minutes, until Max looked slowly up. Would you do something for me, Liesel?

Still excited by her Himmel Street goal, the girl jumped from the drop sheets.
She did not say it, but her movement clearly showed her intent to provide
exactly what he wanted.

You told me all about the goal, he said, but I dont know what sort of day it is up
there. I dont know if you scored it in the sun, or if the clouds have covered
everything. His hand prodded at his short-cropped hair, and his swampy eyes
pleaded for the simplest of simple things. Could you go up and tell me how the
weather looks?

Naturally, Liesel hurried up the stairs. She stood a few feet from the spit-stained
door and turned on the spot, observing the sky.

When she returned to the basement, she told him.

The sky is blue today, Max, and there is a big long cloud, and its stretched out,
like a rope. At the end of it, the sun is like a yellow hole. . . .

Max, at that moment, knew that only a child could have given him a weather
report like that. On the wall, he painted a long, tightly knotted rope with a