Book IV: Chapters 7 - 14 Summary

Having found the roof a peaceful place, David returns the next morning, only to observe another boy on an adjacent roof, flying a kite. David joins him on his roof, and they strike up an acquaintance. Leo Dugovka has recently moved there, as his mother works as a custodian in a nearby bank. His father, a former railroad worker has died, being crushed between two train cars. Leo stays home by himself and is in charge of his own care and meals. David is quite envious of his new friend's apparent freedom. As well, Leo often returns to his old neighborhood to play, going on roller skates, and he tells David that he will take him along if David, too, can acquire skates. David vows to do so.

Leo is Catholic, and, from him, David learns a...