Be Strong Kiddo

 The protagonist of my novel, “The Book Thief” is a young girl named Liesel Meminger. Liesel “[is] skinny and pale”, and “had sores on [her] lips” (Page 24). Her impoverished family of three, consisting of Liesel, her mother, and her baby brother live in Germany during the World Wars. The mother, not having enough money to support her children, takes them away to live in a foster home. To the utter horror of Liesel and her mother, the baby brother dies during the train ride. Grief stricken, Liesel steals a gravedigger’s book after burying her brother to have a memoir of him. She then arrives at her foster home where she tries to stay out of conflict with her short-tempered foster mother. At night, she has conflict with herself when nightmares of her dead baby brother haunt her. The only joy and motivation in Liesel’s life lie within her caring foster father, and the gravedigger’s book. 

I Could Never Survive Without You

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

     The sound of soft snoring and chatter awoke me. My eyes blinked heavily around the unfamiliar surroundings. I rose from my bed of ice cold steel as I tried to recollect my thoughts. The aroma of freshly baked donuts attracted me to the open side of the room where bars hung and policemen were scattered throughout. I looked around the station and found my distraught parents talking to a police officer and signing paper work. I sat down and wondered to myself why I could not have stopped earlier. I already told myself many times to stop, but I decided to go against my feelings. As a troubled teenage boy, this was not the place to be. My regret-filled eyes slowly wandered as I recounted the events that lead me here.

     The blinding warmth of the sun on my face and the increasing annoyance of the 'beep' of my alarm clock caused me and my warm aching body to reluctantly leave the cozy sanctuary of what I call my bed. Shifting slowly and steadily, I headed to the bathroom for my daily wake-up routine. After brushing my teeth with minty toothpaste as fresh as the winter chill, I bolted upright as I splashed clear, cold water on to my face. Feeling fresh and renewed, I headed downstairs to breakfast where a hearty, wholesome meal awaited. Birds chirped and the and news on the television filled the room while the sunlight, shining and shimmering, lead me to my food. Eating the scrumptious food and enjoying a perfect morning, my phone rang. I felt my banana grin fade into a frown as I stared at the vibrating phone. With hands trembling with hesitation, I slowly picked up the phone. I flipped open the cover and read the text message. I put down the phone and slowly backed away. I did not want to agree but I wanted to help my family pay off debts. I could help my family out for good but I ran the risk of getting caught. Tugging the sides of my head with indecision I finally decided on going.
 
     Pacing around the house with uneven steps and jittery motion, I waited for nightfall. As soon as the sky turned charcoal black, I headed out to the rendezvous point. Falling off my bike several times as controlling my motor actions became increasingly difficult, I reached the dreaded destination. Trembling, I cautiously tip-toed through the blackness of the night. Looking from side to side, I unwillingly searched for my "employer" through the thick growth of trees. He found me first. Putting his hand on my shoulder I jumped and turned quicker than a pouncing cheetah. He handed me the drugs that were to be delivered to some students at my school. I quickly shoved the bags into my backpack and ran off to my bike. Unfortunately this was not quick enough as twelve policemen rushed in from all corners, yelling and screaming orders. With utter disbelief and terrible disappointment within myself, I decided to run. I had to. My family already had enough problems. Breaking twigs and branches whipping my face, I ran harder than I ever believed I could. I felt the freezing wind blow me around in circles. My heart escalated to several hundred beats per minute. Suddenly, I felt excruciating pain. Confused, I felt tingles of electricity coursing through the blood of my veins. After a few seconds of screaming, I fell on to the dirt, twitching. I stared into the deep black sky as I heard the police surrounding me. I blacked out. 
 
     The bars of my cage suddenly opened with a frightening bang. My teary eyed parents came in to take me away. I stared at the floor as I was escorted out of the building and all the way home. What will I say to my parents? Do they hate me now? How much trouble am I in? The questions came flying into my head as I could not find an answer for any of them. At home, I stayed in my room, staring blankly into the mirror. I tried to find sympathy within myself, but to no avail. I knew that my ordeal was due to my own actions and I am solely responsible.In that moment, I made the life changing decision of always going with what I felt was right.