What did Leper say in the telegram?

• A. He says he escaped from the army and is at Christmas Location.
• B. He says he joined the army
• C. He says he's leaving for college
• D. He says he is sick

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is recognizing the exact message Leper sends and what it reveals about him and the war’s reach into their world. In the telegram, Leper states that he has escaped from the army and is at a place referred to as Christmas Location. This is not a report of joining up or heading somewhere for college or medical problems; it is a confession of escape and a marker of his precarious status inside the war machine.

Why this choice fits best is that it directly ties Leper’s personal breakdown to the larger upheaval happening around him. The phrase signals that he’s no longer just a classmate at Devon; he’s become entangled in military irregularities and danger, which also heightens the tension for Gene and reveals the fragility of the boys’ sheltered adolescence.

The other options don’t align with the text. He doesn’t claim to have joined the army, doesn’t say he’s leaving for college, and doesn’t claim to be sick in that telegram. The actual message is about escape and location, which is why this choice is the correct one.