May 1944 Summary

Mother of Mercy Orphanage, Roccabarbena

Little Angelo Soncini, now Santoro, has realized he is not the only Jew in hiding at his boarding school. The food is sparse and rules are strict. Suora Corniglia is very good to Angelo, and he feels close to a little mute called Isma. Angelo is learning Catholicism and seems to enjoy the local bombing raids.

Suora Corneglia, whom Renzo met in Sant'Andrea and nicknamed Sister Dimples, arranges for a meeting between young Angelo and Renzo Leoni, who is now disguised as Padre Righetti. Renzo explains to Angelo that his father is in jail. Renzo manages to get Isma to tell him her name is Stefania and she is from Austria. He tells the children a story about Adam, Eve, and the sun, and gives them oranges and chocolate. Taking a message from Angelo for his mother, Renzo...