What cover does Bruno use when he slips and mentions Shmuel?

• A. He pretends to be listening to music
• B. He pretends to be sick
• C. An imaginary friend
• D. He pretends to be sleeping

Answer: (C)

Bruno’s move here is about using a harmless, childlike excuse to protect a real friendship from adult scrutiny. When he slips and mentions Shmuel, he quickly frames the situation as about an imaginary friend. That cover makes his words seem like harmless fantasy rather than a real cross-border friendship, which is something adults wouldn’t understand or might condemn. It fits Bruno’s perspective as a child who wants to keep his new friend out of trouble and outside the adults’ warnings.

Think of it as a natural way a child tries to manage something confusing or dangerous: by inventing something simple and safe to explain why he’s thinking about or mentioning someone, rather than risking a direct confrontation about the reality of that friendship. The other options don’t align with the moment or with Bruno’s need to shield the reality of his connection to Shmuel.