It is hard to put your life into perspective until something big happens. Something or someone that changes your life forever. Whether it is in the best or the worst ways, you never know how good you've got it, or how bad you've got it until something puts it in its place.

Bruno covered his mouth, and stood at the back of the room. He tucked the collar of his new striped pajamas over his nose, and turned towards the door. The room was tightly sealed, but Bruno felt as if he could open the door if he tried hard enough. He tugged on the sleeve of Shmuel's pajamas and pointed. He nodded. Shmuel looked even more pale than he had when he walked in, and Bruno felt unusually peckish.

Leaning against the door, Bruno remembered those things in the back of his closet that were his, and were none of anyone else's business. He was sure that Gretel had found them, and that if he returned, she would smear it in his face that he had secret things, and that she had found them. This inspired Bruno to push harder, and he did. Soon, Shmuel was helping him push. He heard a creak. The creak turned into a whine. The whine turned into a squeal. The squeal turned into a burst. He was out.

He didn't even think about closing the door, but took off in the direction he thought he had come after he crawled under the fence. The mud was cold on his feet, and he suddenly wished he had his too-tight shoes, his trousers, his button down shirt, and his tie.

"Shmuel," he said, running as fast as he could, and he knew that his friend was also ten therefore he should have been able to keep up with Bruno. He didn't hear Shmuel say anything, but he kept running, thinking Shmuel was just concentrated on running, and found it difficult to do more than one thing at once.

The fence came into view, and Bruno wondered if Shmuel really was behind him. He would need someone to hold up the fence, so he could roll under.

He reached the fence with Shmuel, and he was breathing heavy. "What an exploration!" he exclaimed. "I'm just like-" he turned, and realized that he didn't see Shmuel, but his father in the distance.

"Father," Bruno whispered. He felt the urge to do things that only small children did before they knew how to use the toilet, and knew it wasn't something his father would permit.

"Bruno!" his father yelled.