Duke Chapter 6

Summary

In this heartwarming narrative, young Hobie navigates the challenges of life during World War II, missing his dog Duke who's been enlisted as a war dog. Hobie encounters various characters, including a struggling boy named Max and a bully named Mitch. Amidst the turmoil, Hobie receives a letter from Duke's trainer, Private First Class Marvin Korff, detailing Duke's training and experiences. Hobie, determined to reunite with his beloved dog, writes back with a plea to have Duke returned, promising to pay back any costs.

Takeaways

• 📅 The story is set on February 2nd, 1944, indicating a historical context during World War II.
• 🐶 Hobie's dog, Duke, is sent away to become a war dog, which deeply affects Hobie and his family.
• 👦 Hobie encounters a boy named Max who is being bullied by a kid named Mitch, reflecting the theme of injustice.
• 🥚 Max accidentally drops a bag of eggs, which are damaged, and Hobie feels sympathy for him.
• 👵 An elderly lady helps Max by checking the damage to the eggs, showing kindness amidst adversity.
• 🏠 Hobie's father is away, possibly due to the war, and the family receives a letter from him, highlighting the separation experienced by many during this time.
• 📨 Duke writes a letter to Hobie from 'Camp Blue Jean', detailing his training and experiences as a war dog.
• 💣 Duke's training involves maneuvering through an obstacle course with explosives, revealing the dangerous tasks war dogs were trained for.
• 👨‍✈️ Duke's trainer, Private First Class Marvin Korff, is mentioned, showing the bonds formed between soldiers and their canine partners.
• 💌 Hobie writes back to Duke's trainer, asking for Duke's return, showing his longing for his dog and the emotional impact of separation.
• 👧 Hobie's sister, June, is sad about Duke's absence, and Hobie tries to comfort her, highlighting the family's emotional connection to their pet.

Q & A

What event occurred on February 2nd, 1944, involving Jun?

Jun was dropped off at her Brownie meeting.

How was the weather when Hobie was walking home?

It was cold, and Hobie had to tug up his jacket to protect against the cold.

What did Hobie witness involving a lady, a little girl, and a dog?

Hobie saw a lady scolding a Boston Terrier named Suzy, who was pulling on a leash held by a little girl.

What was significant about Duke's behavior towards Hobie?

Duke was never aggressive towards Hobie, never jerked him or hit him, even when he was a puppy.

What was the connection between Hobie and the dog named Duke?

Duke was Hobie's dog, who was given to him as an eighth birthday present and was described as fearless and a good companion.

What incident with Mitch led to Max getting his pants dirty with egg yolks?

Mitch shoved Max, causing him to fall and the contents of his shopping bag, which included eggs, to spill and break on his pants.

What did Hobie decide to do to help Max after the egg incident?

Hobie decided to bring some comic books to school the next day to offer Max a trade as a way to help.

What was the content of the letter Hobie received from Duke?

The letter was from Duke, who was now part of the third war dog platoon at Camp Blue Jean, and was learning to maneuver an obstacle course with explosives.

What did Hobie's sister, June, do to comfort him after he was upset about Duke?

June comforted Hobie by pretending to be the mommy and Kitty was the little girl, and she shared a secret with him that she was also sad about Duke.

What did Hobie request in his letter back to Private First Class Course?

Hobie requested that Duke be sent back home, mentioning that they could send pets on the regular train and that his sister was very sad without Duke.

What did Hobie do after June accidentally tore his letter?

Hobie reassured June that it was okay and continued writing his letter to Private First Class Course.