Chapter 5 - A Troublesome Beginning
David and Tom couldn't resist ordering something to eat while they were waiting. Tom told David about his life. His parents were originally from Minnesota and headed out west - like so many others - with the promise of better farmland and fairer weather.
A few weeks earlier, they had been killed when the area was hit by a tornado. Tom seemed to be quite matter of fact about the whole thing. His parents had died and he had been sad. He didn't like the orphan train that had picked him up a few days ago, and he was happy to have a new family so quickly.
David thought how easy life was for someone like Tom, whose easy good looks probably won him a lot of extra favor with most people. His size didn't hurt either. It struck him that someone as big as Tom would probably have a much easier time in the orphanage than someone small, like Hannibal.
Elizabeth and Hannibal came into the restaurant and David smiled to see them. The boy looked good in his new clothes and boots, with his hair nicely cut and no longer hiding his face. His mercurial smile, not quite certain of anything, even now, flitted across his face.
David waved them over. "Well, look at us! A proper family at last."
Elizabeth eyed the plates on the table. "I see you started without us!"
"Tom's a growing boy, he was hungry. I couldn't let him eat alone, could I?"
She smiled. "No, I suppose not. But now you'll have to sit and wait until we finish. Hannibal, what would you like?"
The boy looked at her for a moment, his expression unreadable.
He wasn't sure what to do. He still couldn't quite believe this was happening to him and was sure that one wrong move would make them take him back again.
He glanced down at the menu.
They'd already spent a lot of money that day on the haircut, the bath, the clothes and the boots… he must have cost them a fortune already. Tom wouldn't have cost them a penny. His clothes were in good shape, his boots were almost new, and even before the bath he'd looked as clean as a new pin.
Hannibal thought ruefully that he seemed to attract dirt. He'd washed that morning, but after they'd arrived at the town hall, he'd broken away and started wandering through the town. He knew that when he'd been talking to David, his hands and clothes were already grubby and dusty.
He looked over to see what Tom had chosen. It looked like he'd ordered the whole menu. That was no help to him. Tom was, after all, the child they'd wanted. Hannibal still didn't understand why they'd taken him as well.
He didn't want to push his luck by ordering a big meal. He wasn't even sure he wanted anything, he was nervous and felt slightly sick.
He saw them looking at him. "Um… I don't know."
David signaled to the waitress. "Why don't you have the same as Tom? He seems to be enjoying it!"
Tom looked up from his food and grinned. "Yeah, it's good. I was always real hungry on the train."
Hannibal felt a rush of contempt for his new brother, who obviously had no idea what it was like to go hungry. He fought it down with an effort. It wasn't Tom's fault; he was just lucky, that was all there was to it. His life had been easy so far and would no doubt continue to be so. He was everything a mother dreamed of in a boy. It wasn't anything he did, one way or another. Just luck.
The waitress came over to their table and Hannibal realized that they were all waiting for him.
"So," prompted David, "the same for you?"
Hannibal's stomach churned at the thought of it.
"No! Thank you."
They were still looking at him, expectant. He looked again at the menu while Elizabeth ordered. He heard her say, "I'd like some bread and jam, please."
Again, the waitress turned to him.
"Could I have the same, please?"
"Bread and jam?"
They all looked at him in surprise. It wasn't what any of them expected a growing young boy to order.
"Yes, please."
Elizabeth saw his nervousness and said no more about it. She handed the menus back to the waitress and added, "He'll have some ham to go with it and a glass of milk. I'd like some tea, please."
They were quiet while they waited for their food. Tom was still eating and Hannibal was oddly subdued.
When the food arrived, he reached for it and began to eat, tearing off chunks of bread and ham and barely pausing to chew. Elizabeth almost said something, as she saw his hands reach for the ham, but David shook his head and she said nothing. Hannibal's table manners were something that could be addressed at another time. Now, he should just eat something.
Even though Hannibal hadn't wanted it, it was too much of a habit to eat what was put in front of him - who knew when the next meal would come? - so he was halfway through the meal when he looked up and saw their faces.
He realized that he was the only one eating with his hands, tearing hungrily at the meat and bread as if he was starving. Shamefaced, he dropped the meat back on the plate. Tom looked at him curiously.
"Sorry."
David smiled. "We're glad you're enjoying it. Is it good?"
Hannibal nodded, embarrassed.
Trying to make him feel less self-conscious, David leaned forward and, reaching onto the boy's plate, tore off a piece of the ham with his fingers. "Umm, that is good!"
Hannibal tried to smile but couldn't. He dropped his eyes again, unable to look at any of them. He started to wipe his hands on his trousers and stopped in horror. He didn't want to get grease and jam on his new clothes. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had anything new.
Elizabeth handed him a napkin and he took it without meeting her gaze. After that, he couldn't eat another bite. What was worse, he was having trouble holding down the food he'd already eaten.
They seemed to sit at the table forever. Tom and David decided to finish with a piece of pie and pressed Hannibal to do the same. He shook his head miserably.
Unbelievably, he wished he was back at the orphanage. At least there he knew how to behave. There, the children ate with their fingers as quickly as possible, before one of the bigger boys could take it from them. He was horrified to realize that he felt close to tears, so he kept his head down and said nothing.
Elizabeth couldn't understand it. He had been fine before, not exactly chatting like Tom, but listening and smiling. Now he wouldn't eat, speak or even look at any of them. She guessed that he was embarrassed by his table manners, but since no-one had said anything about it, she couldn't understand why he would be worried.
Once again, she couldn't help but notice the difference between him and her happy, talkative Tom.
David stood up. "It's a long journey, so we need to start moving. I need to go out back first," he said, trying to be discreet but making it clear where he was heading. "Come on, boys, there'll be no stops once we get on the road."
He led them back to the outhouse. It was occupied when they got there and they waited in the yard.
Hannibal was starting to get very nervous. He'd been hoping that he could wait until he could use the toilet, but he couldn't hold back any longer. He ran to a clump of bushes nearby and started to throw up everything he'd eaten, while tears of humiliation ran down his cheeks. He felt David come over to him and hold him as he retched.
When he finished, he looked miserably at David. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
He couldn't believe it when David hugged him tightly.
David guessed the boy was anxious and upset; it was probably why he hadn't ordered much in the first place. "It's okay, Hannibal. Don't worry. It's alright."
Hannibal could almost believe him.
Elizabeth was starting to feel self-conscious, waiting for them on the sidewalk outside the restaurant.
She sighed with relief when she saw them appear. "Thank heaven! I've been waiting an age, whatever took you so long?"
Tom bounded over to her like an eager puppy. "Hannibal was sick! He was cryin' and throwin' up for ages!"
Elizabeth made a mental note to teach Tom about tact. Hannibal was as white as a sheet and shamefaced, with his eyes on the ground. David had his arm firmly around him. She lifted enquiring eyes to her husband and he silently mouthed, 'nerves'.
She nodded and reached out for the boy. She hoped he wasn't going to be a lot of trouble.
Putting her hand under his chin so that she was looking into his red eyes, she asked, "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes ma'am. I'm sorry."
"Don't be silly, you couldn't help it. It's alright." She sighed; she could tell that he didn't believe her. "Come on, let's get home."
David helped her into the wagon and Tom climbed into the back, beside her. David put out his hand for Hannibal, and with the boy tucked in beside him, they rode home.