December 1939 - Bombing Siren #1.

Today was a relatively normal day. Liesel had gone to school with Rudy and they walked home together as usual. For a bit, Liesel, Rudy, & the other children that live on Himmel Street had been playing soccer for a while, only until sundown. After Rosa called Liesel inside for dinner, the girl had noticed something awfully quiet about the whole street. Later, Liesel had been with Max in the basement, only for the bomb sirens to start going off.

Liesel: “Max..? Aren’t you coming with? The sirens, they-!”

Max cut her off, reassuring her that he would be okay.

Max: “Don’t worry, Liesel. I will be okay down here.”

Rosa started yelling into the basement, screaming for the Saumensch to hurry upstairs. Quick to follow her foster mother’s orders, Liesel ran upstairs to leave with her parents, but not before casting one last glance at Max.

9:27 P.M. - The Fiedlers’ Basement Shelter

Liesel, her foster parents Hans and Rosa, and her friend Rudy are hiding down in the Fiedlers’ basement. They are later joined by other neighbors from Himmel Street as the sirens intensify, worsening that bombs may actually strike. Max was still on Liesel’s mind, but the children were also getting restless. Deciding to be a savior instead of a thief for a bit, Liesel began to read ‘The Whistler’ to the group as they waited out the sirens. Meanwhile, Max had been out on the streets, seeing the outside world for the first time.

7:42 A.M. - Sirens End.

The sirens were over. The huge group of people in the basement began to slowly walk out. Max was no longer on the streets, but rather hiding in the Hubermann’s basement again. The Hubermanns & Liesel began to head back to their home. As soon as they were in, Liesel ran down to the basement, only to find Max asleep in his makeshift bed hiding in the corner.