Ivy attends her first orchestra meeting, where some students snicker at her presence. When she plays “Johnny Comes Marching Home” on her harmonica at Mr. Daniels’ request, she channels her heartache, and the students clap. Mr. Daniels tells her that she has “promise” (469). Susan tells her friend that she thought she was aware of the two schools, and Ivy tells her she has never been segregated before.

On Christmas Eve, the Lopez family receives letters from Fernando. In Ivy’s letter, he encloses a penny “for a concert” (477). She writes him back to tell him about the annexed school, but she does not tell him about her suspicions regarding the Yamamotos. She hopes to get inside the house to check it out for herself. 

Ivy tells her mother she would like to plant flowers in front of the Yamamoto’s house. The two enter the house and go through pictures of the Yamamoto girls playing the flute, Kenneth playing the violin, and more. At the back of the closet, she notices a small, secret door. She does not tell her mother about it. Mr. Ward is looking at them from his car when they exit.