When they arrive, Rudy is still in the process of explaining his clothes.

He looks at Liesel and his mouth widens, but only slightly.

"No."

35 HIMMEL STREET, DECEMBER 24

But Rudy knew. He'd seen her like this before. Risky eyes and sticky fingers. The breath of stealing was all around her and he could smell it. "This gift," he estimated. "You haven't got it yet, have you?"

With the absence of two fathers,

"Of course not. Do you think I have any money?" Snow was still falling. At the edge of the grass, there was ice like broken glass. "Do you have the key?" she asked.

The days leading up to Christmas 1942 fell thick and heavy with snow. Liesel went through The Word Shaker many times, from the story itself to the many sketches and commentaries on either side of it. On Christmas Eve, she made a decision about Rudy. To hell with being out too late.

"And you're not buying it, either."

Rudy looked at her hands and either side of her feet. "Well, where the hell is it?"

"Forget it, then."

She walked next door just before dark and told him she had a present for him, for Christmas.

the Steiners have invited Rosa and Trudy Hubermann, and Liesel.

Rudy reached into his pocket.

The light was disappearing fast, and except for the church, all of Munich Street had closed up for Christmas. Liesel walked hurriedly to remain in step with the lankier stride of her neighbor. They arrived at the designated shop window. STEINER -- SCHNEIDERMEISTER. The glass wore a thin sheet of mud and grime that had blown onto it in the passing weeks. On the opposite side, the mannequins stood like witnesses. They were serious and ludicrously stylish. It was hard to shake the feeling that they were watching everything.

It was Christmas Eve.

He didn't think he'd mind if they trespassed in his beloved shop. The circumstances demanded it.

"The key to what?" But it didn't take Rudy long to understand. He made his way inside and returned not long after. In the words of Viktor Chemmel, he said, "It's time to go shopping."

The door opened fluently and they made their way inside. Rudy's first instinct was to hit the light switch, but the electricity had already been cut off.

His father was near Vienna.

"Any candles?"

Rudy found one of the arms and tapped her on the shoulder with its hand. When she turned in fright, he extended it in friendship. "Nice to meet you."

For a few minutes, they moved slowly through the tight pathways of the shop. Rudy started toward the counter. When he fell over an empty box, he yelped and swore, then found his way back to the entrance. "This is ridiculous," he said. "Wait here a minute." Liesel sat, mannequin arm in hand, till he returned with a lit lantern from the church.

Rudy was dismayed. "I brought the key. And besides, this was your idea."

In the middle of the exchange, Liesel tripped on a bump in the floor. A mannequin followed her down. It groped her arm and dismantled in its clothes on top of her. "Get this thing off me!" It was in four pieces. The torso and head, the legs, and two separate arms. When she was rid of it, Liesel stood and wheezed. "Jesus, Mary."

A ring of light circled his face.

"So where's this present you've been bragging about? It better not be one of these weird mannequins."

When he made it to the far left section of the shop, Liesel took the lantern with one hand and swept through the hanging suits with the other. She pulled one out but quickly replaced it with another. "No, still too big." After two more attempts, she held a navy blue suit in front of Rudy Steiner. "Does this look about your size?"

While Liesel sat in the dark, Rudy tried on the suit behind one of the curtains. There was a small circle of light and the shadow dressing itself.

When he returned, he held out the lantern for Liesel to see. Free of the curtain, the light was like a pillar, shining onto the refined suit. It also lit up the dirty shirt beneath and Rudy's battered shoes.

"Bring the light over."

"Well?" he asked.

"Not bad! I look better than just not bad."

"The shoes let you down. And your face."

Rudy placed the lantern on the counter and came toward her in mock-anger, and Liesel had to admit that a nervousness started gripping her. It was with both relief and disappointment that she watched him trip and fall on the disgraced mannequin.

Liesel continued the examination. She moved around him and shrugged. "Not bad."

She crouched above him.

Liesel rushed over.

Then he closed his eyes, clenching them hard.

On the floor, Rudy laughed.

Kiss him, Liesel, kiss him.

"Are you all right, Rudy? Rudy?"

"I miss him," said the boy, sideways, across the floor.

"Frohe Weihnachten," Liesel replied. She helped him up, straightening the suit. "Merry Christmas."