"The Boy Behind the Curtain"
The Age of Terror was characterized by massive panic in the general population. Winton narrates, “All over the world adults and minors brandishing replicas or toys have been mistakenly shot dead by officers of the law, and even before the so-called Age of Terror and the mass panics it has spawned." Police officers were constantly alert and ready to shoot anyone who appeared to threaten the public. Even people with toy guns were treated suspiciously. If Winton had lived during the era, he would have been easily shot down due to his habit of aiming guns.
Nan's Mode of Communication—"Betsy"
Winton's Nun communicated with his Pop using strings tied to Pop's toe. Winton recounts, “She tied 20 yards of twine to Pop's big toe so she could be alerted to developments indoors. All he had to do was yank on the string and his crash cymbal would shimmy cacophonously along the path. "Pop would send signals to Nun by pulling the strings to notify Nun that something was taking place indoors. The mode of communication works for the two of them, even though Winton finds it embarrassing.
Menzian Era—"Betsy"
Betsy offers vivid visual imagery of the extraordinary resilience that was imperative for those who lived through the Menzian era. The major happenings during the Menzian era include "the Malayan Emergency, the Vietnam War, the space race, and the Whitlam revolution." Those who survive the era are tough. By extension, Betsy is resilient because she lives through the tumultuous era. Despite her outstanding toughness, Winton detests her and affirms that if she were to emerge, he would set it ablaze.
