When the narrator’s father agrees that it would be reasonable to assume that someone would let Mary and Joseph into the inn, she thinks of how unusual it is that he shares the Herdmans’ perspective.

The narrator’s mother says that whatever else is true, “They picked out the right villain—that must mean something” (50). They don’t know anything else about Herod, but the Herdmans want to research him at the library. Mrs. Graebner is the librarian. When Imogene says she wants to read about Jesus, Mrs. Graebner almost retires, knowing she will never have a better moment.

After they do their research, the Herdmans want to end the pageant with Herod being strung up from the gallows. They say he killed lots of people, including his wife. Imogene has a different interpretation of the role of Mary. She creates a loud, assertive, protective Mary. She doesn’t trust the Wise Men and thinks they’ll tattle to Herod because Leroy says they might do it for a reward. This makes the narrator think. If the Wise Men told on Jesus, he wouldn’t have lived. That one small detail could have changed history.