Pax

Peter creates a surprise show for Vola, not the Sinbad she expects. He decides to put on a production, where Vola is actually the main character: “She was all wrong about being too dangerous to be near people. […]The problem was that no one knew her. Except maybe him” (198). Vola comes into the barn and Peter sees that she is dressed up; she is wearing a long, purple skirt and has actually combed her hair. Vola is amazed at the stage and tells Peter that he has the makings of a woodworker. He suddenly grows afraid that his plan is a terrible idea. He opens the play by saying “This is the story of a girl” (199). He has the puppet shoot a rifle, he unscrews her leg, and makes her climb into the nest, officially making her the bird. He tells her story. The story of a woman who goes to war and then moves into a house with apples.

Vola doesn’t make a sound. Peter then puts a child puppet beside the fox he made: “He had her bend low to the child, then turn the curtain and stroke the fox. And then he pulled the curtain” (200).