In his room after the pigeon prank, Max tunes his radio to Louis Armstrong’s music. Stein asks where his strategic mind comes from. Max explains with a memory from when he was six: His teacher in Berlin humiliated him and publicly shamed his mother after he wet his pants at school. He says his anger turned on himself for failing to protect her.

Since then, Max has tried to stay four moves ahead to shield his family, a mindset he has used to survive in Nazi Germany. He worries his parents lack this kind of strategic thinking and wonders how they are managing without him. Berg and Stein agree that they feel bad for Max and admit that empathy is a new experience for them.

Nearly a year passes. By September 1940, Nazi Germany occupies much of Europe and anti-German sentiment in Britain is high. During the year, Max has turned 12, “gotten rid of” his German accent, and is no longer bullied at school, although he still hates it. He hasn’t heard anything from his parents since coming from London. This worries him, although the Montagus assure him that the post is disrupted by the war.

One Sunday, Mrs. Montagu calls Max down from his room, saying that Ewen and Ivor are visiting.