My Best Friend

April 20, 1939

Dear Journal,

There were many strange people that lived on Himmel Street including Rudy Steiner, a young that was obsessed with Jesse Owens and Tommy Muller who developed hearing problems after experiencing several ear infections. A couple days after I took my first bathe, mama allowed me to go play with the neighbor kids on the street. They were already playing soccer when I got there. And of course, since I was the new kid, I had to play goalie. Even though, everyone doubted I would be any good, I was able to deflect his penalty shot. However, this earned me a snowball to the face and I responded as my mama would and murmured curses at the idiot.

I was returning school with Rudy waiting on Himmel Street in order to play a game of soccer. We were unfortunately intercepted by old man Pfiffikus, a nickname given for constantly whistling. In order to agonize him, Rudy and I we called out his name in the most demeaning way possible until he chased us down the street scream such foul profanity, makes mama sound like a saint. We ran with all our might until we reached Munich Street, where Rudy challenged me to a race. At first we wanted to bet money, but of course, neither of us had any. Therefore, Rudy decided he wanted a kiss if he won, while if I won, I would no longer play the goalie in soccer. It was neck to neck as we dashed through the alley, only to slid into a mud puddle at the finish line. To find the winner now was impossible, so I decided neither of us would be rewarded. I definitely did not want to kiss Rudy, especially since he's totally covered in what I hope is mud. It was then it registered in my brain, my clothes were a complete mess; mama was going to skin me alive. And she did... though not literally.

Even at the age of nine, I knew blond hair and blue eyes was considered "perfection" in Germany. Rudy was the kind of boy that did care about such trivial matters; he liked who ever wanted, whether or not he was supposed to. This was made apparent during the Jesse Owens incident. In 1936 Olympics, Jesse Owens had just won four gold medals for the US and had the entire world amazed by his talent, Rudy in particular. Rudy decided that he needed to be more like his idol, so he stole charcoal from his fireplace and then rode his bike to Hubert Oval. Rudy rubbed the charcoal all over himself including his hair and then ran in an imaginary race representing his idol. He was on his victory lap by time his father discovered him. It was necessary for him to scold his son. In order to make Rudy understand that portraying a black person in a good light, was risky in Nazi Germany:"'Son, you can't go around painting yourself black...because they'll take you away...because you shouldn't want to be like black people or Jewish people or anyone who... isn't us... you have beautiful blond hair and safe blue eyes. You should be happy with that; is that clear?' But nothing was clear" (Zusak 50-51). Mr. Steiner tried his best to explain to Rudy that some people would hurt him for associating himself with certain groups. He thinks Rudy is lucky that he looks like a pure German, so he should not envy others who must suffer because of what they are. However, even Mr. Steiner does not seem to believe what he says, but as of now this is the safest and therefore the best answer he could give.

I really do not know much about racism and no longer want to indulge in anymore dangerous thoughts.