briefly describe zach's upbringing

This chapter outlines the next seven weeks of activity in Little Weirwold. There are lots of changes happening due to the war. Many of the evacuee children have returned to their parents. Willie is slowly learning how to read and write with the help of Emilia Thorne, the librarian. Willie plays with Zach every day, and sees the twins and George frequently as well. All five of them are at the Little’s house when Tom comes to deliver a large suitcase sent by Zach’s parents. We learn that Zach’s parents are theater performers, which astounds Willie, who was told by his mother that the theater is a place of sin.

The suitcase is stuffed with cake, theater scripts, and costumes. Zach puts on the tap shoes and demonstrates how to dance with them. Carrie teases him but Willie is mesmerized. He is told to stop by Mrs. Little after a piece of plaster from the ceiling falls down. Zach asks where the group can play next time; Willie nervously offers up his room and says he’ll ask Mr. Tom’s permission. Willie is pleased that he is such good friends with Zach.

Willie goes home with Tom. He insists on practicing his writing for a few minutes before bed. Tom has been helping him learn so that he can move into Mrs. Hartridge’s class, which he has desperately wanted. Willie nervously asks Tom if he can have his friends over on Friday and Tom agrees. Willie is worried that they will notice his bedwetting, but Tom assures him that he will hide the rubber sheet before they come.