The narration is told in first-person in the voice of an adult recollecting his childhood and represents reality through the sensibility of the witnessing child. Describes the family attempts to escape the invading Germans by travelling on a crowded truck toward the French border, but forced to return as the Germans are already there.
Mother takes ill and dies.
Grandparents are traditional Jews who celebrate the Holy days. His father remarries and Marcel stays with new family for a short time but is so unhappy that he is returned to the care of grandparents. Plans are made to hide the children with sympathetic Protestant Christians. Recalls narrow escapes from the Germans. Aid is given by local pastor.