Summary

Short of hair, itchy of scalp, and gawky in clothes, the two Lazzari boys stumble starry-eyed through the Bergamo train station. The previous day, Sister Domenica had given Ciro and Eduardo haircuts. Other nuns had cleaned, mended, and pressed their clothes. Once alone in the station, the brothers realize they'd never been separated a day in their lives. They make a vow to return to the mountain as soon as possible. Eduardo boards the train for Rome with four other novitiates when Ciro tells Eduardo that his "brothers" are waiting for him on the train. Eduardo protests that Ciro is his one and only brother, forever. Ciro then leaves on another train for Le Havre, France, where he embarks on a sea voyage to New York. Both boys experience excitement, fear, and sadness in equal measure.

Analysis

This chapter restates and...