Summary

In Chapter 8, “The Burning of the Mutts,” Delphine spent an increasing amount of time at the Waldvogel’s. Caring for the boys activated “some primitive switch in her brain” (167). She became invested in the shop, too. Over time, she fell into “a happy life” she did not realize was happy (169).

Meanwhile, the boys became increasingly wild. One day, the neighborhood dogs ate their chinchillas. Believing the dogs had “taken advantage of him,” Fidelis shot them down (172). On her way home, Delphine saw one dog who had escaped. When she told Cyprian the story, he realized Fidelis had been “a sniper” during the war (176). The men never spoke about the war, because they had “nothing to say about it” (177).

Tante tried to sabotage the family, believing that Delphine was preying on Fidelis. She wanted to bring the boys back to Germany with her. Because...