The timing of the telegraph, from Leper is significant because Gene has just won the winter festival, and Finny thinks that the telegram could be from the Olympic committee asking for Gene to compete in the 1944 Olympics. Instead it is a note from Leper saying that he has escaped, he needs help, and that he is hiding at the Christmas location. Gene has just felt like he made it up to Finny, for breaking his leg, by winning the Winter Festival, but unfortunately Leper signs the note, “your best friend.” This timing is bad because Gene has just strengthened his friendship with Finny, and the way that Leper signed the note makes it seem like Leper is Gene’s best friend and not Finny. Finny is obviously upset when he reads this because instead of reading the note aloud to everyone he reads it to himself and his expression changes to shock.
The telegram says that Leper has escaped. He most likely escapade from the horrors of the war, which he was fighting in. It also says that he went to the Christmas location. The Christmas location is Leper’s house. You can tell that the Christmas location is his house for two reason. One it says that he doesn’t want to give Gene an address, and two because during Christmas many of the boys went home to celebrate with their families.
