In chapter 10, Bruno walks along the massive fence for the better part of an hour before he discovers a small boy sitting by himself near the fence with a forlorn expression upon his fence. As Bruno approaches the boy, he notices that the boy is wearing the same striped pajamas as everyone else on the opposite side of the fence, has no socks or shoes, and is wearing a band across his arm with a star on it. Bruno proceeds to introduce himself to the boy, who says that his name is Shmuel. The two boys then discover that they share the same birthdays, and Shmuel proceeds to tell Bruno that he comes from Poland. Unfortunately, Bruno is too naive and young to understand the nature of Auschwitz or Shmuel's situation as a Jewish prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp. As the story progresses, Bruno and Shmuel become close friends, and Bruno frequently meets up with Shmuel to speak with him from the opposite side of the fence.