After Eugene had exited the headmaster's office with a burning hand—the headmaster had used a birch switch to teach the boy a lesson—he went to have dinner and found Franz.
"Hey, Eugene!" he greeted jovially, waving him over. "What's going on?"
"Hi, Franz." Eugene sat down and began cutting his small portion of meat.
Franz glanced at the welts on Eugene's hand, asking, "What happened to your hand? It looks like someone used a good switch and did a nasty job with it."
"I was sent to the headmaster's because he thinks I fought Ludwig."
"that bully causes problems for everyone. Honestly, no one—not even the younger children—like him. What did he do this time?"
Eugene produced the battered volume and showed it to Franz. The older boy looked at the loose pages, which Eugene had carefully folded into the book, and knew what had happened.
"I'm sorry you were sent to the headmaster," he told Eugene finally, "he punishes innocent children by using the switch and neglects teaching bullies. In my opinion Ludwig could learn a thing or two from a good whipping. That'd show him to vandalize and destroy things."
"I don't get why the headmaster thinks it was me, though. I was only defending and protecting this because I didn't want him reading it."
"What's the book about anyway?" his friend questioned, glancing at the cover.
"It's about a hero named Flynnigan Rider who goes on epic and daring adventures," Eugene explained enthusiastically, "and he goes wherever he wants and is free to do as he pleases. I wish I was like him."
"I don't blame you," Franz replied, "a lot of us dream of fleeing the orphanage, but we rarely get adopted or are allowed to leave. The headmaster says this is the only place for people like us and that we'll be neglected out in the harsh, cold world. We're seen as outcasts and you'll be lucky if you get to leave and travel the world."
Franz could tell how Eugene spoke enthusiastically about his dream to leave and wondered if he could help him. Maybe he could help Eugene escape by hatching a plan he would explain to the boy. It had to be a subtle scheme, for no one was to find out about it.
Eugene deserved to travel and see other places. Over the past four years, Eugene and Franz had become good friends and the older boy would do anything for his younger companion. He would help plan Eugene's escape and would aid him every step of the way.
"You know what?" Franz said after a few minutes, "you can be like your hero. Be patient and your time will come. I think," he added, giving the tome a cursory glance, "this would be a great story for the younger kids. They'd enjoy hearing tales of heroic adventures with dragons and swords."
He leaned in close to Eugene. "I'll help you escape when the time comes. We'll plan it together. I may not ever get a chance to explore what's out there, but you deserve to."
Eugene smiled. "Thank you, Franz. I'm glad to have a friend like you."
"Don't mention it."
"Do you really think the younger kids will like this book?"
"definitely."
Later after dinner, when the children helped to clear up their dishes, they were all instructed by Franz to another room which adjoined the dining room. He had told the children that there was going to be a special surprise, and they were ecstatic. Tonight's surprise was going to be rare because the children were usually sent off to bed after dinner and seldom received surprises.
The younger children sat in a circle around Eugene as he opened The Tales of Flynnigan Rider and started to read. The children soon forgot about their unhappiness and found themselves listening in awe as Eugene read.
After the first chapter was finished, Eugene closed the book and could see many young faces smiling up at him.
"May we have another story, please?" one boy asked.
"You can have all the stories you want because I'm going to be doing this every night!" Eugene declared, and the children each gave him a hug.
"Yay!" they cried elatedly.
That night, when everyone fell asleep, Eugene felt a smile upon his face for the first time in the orphanage. He was glad the younger children had enjoyed the story. He would tell them stories every night because that was what they deserved.
