Who does Gene get a telegram from during the winter carnival?

Who does Gene get a telegram from during the winter carnival?

• A. Leper
• B. Gene
• C. Brinker
• D. Finny

Answer: (A)

The moment tests your memory of a key plot turn where the outside world intrudes on Devon’s insulated life. During the Winter Carnival, Gene receives a telegram from Leper Lepellier. Leper, who has been away and itching to join the war effort, announces his enlistment. This telegram is significant because it pulls the boys’ private, almost carefree world into the reality of World War II, underscoring themes of innocence lost, the fragility of friendships, and how quickly adolescence can collide with larger historical forces. It also foreshadows Leper’s tangled path later in the story and how the war will shape each character’s choices. The other characters aren’t the ones sending this news, so Leper is the correct source of the telegram in this moment.