Blog #2 - The boy in the striped pajamas p64-

The story continues when Bruno decides to take a walk along the big fence to explore what could be on the other side. After a while, he thinks this exploration is useless and is disappointed. However , at the same moment, on the other side of the fence, a little boy appears. Bruno describes this little boy as skinny and dirty. Bruno and this little boy start talking together. they discover that they have the same birthday and are both 9 years old, we quickly understand that Schmuel, the little boy, is a Jewish that has been deported to Auschwitz. They talk for a while, about a lot of things, until it becomes late and Bruno has to go back to his house. Back at his house, his father, who has been named Commandant tells the family that the Fury ( Hitler) and his wife are coming in 2 days for dinner, which stresses out Maria, the maid, that has to prepare everything. Finally, when the Fury arrives, he is described in a comic way, through Bruno's eyes, as a "short, not quite strong person".
The next day, Bruno goes back to the fence to met Schmuel again, this time Schmuel explains to him why he got here and how was his life before. While he explains his story, he says there are hundred of boys behind that fence, which makes Bruno jealous because on his side, he has no one to play with, Schmuel explains to Bruno that he doesn't play with them. After talking for a long tim, Schmuel asks Bruno if he has any food with him, Bruno, not having any food with him, asks Schmuel if he could crawl down the fence to meet his friends, Schmuel says maybe one day. As the days goes by, Bruno decides to go see Schmuel everyday, and to bring food for him, they become very close and share a lot of secrets. Finally, one day while having dinner, Pavel, the old waiter, because of his weakness spilled wine on Lieutenant Kotler, a young lieutenant. The Lieutenant got very angry and punished Pavel. Bruno describes this scene without much details, as horrible and cruel.

This part of the book is very important because it explains the friendship between Bruno and Schmuel, their innocence is touching because they both have common dreams, while having a very different life. Furthermore, when Schmuel explains how horrible it is to live in the other of the fence, Bruno says that at least he doesn't have a sister. this comparison makes no sense to the reader, but it reveals Bruno's innocence towards this situation. Additionally, the scene with Pavel shows the cruelty and the horror of the Nazis without explaining any things with details, letting the reader having his own interpretation.