Chapter 14 - Reading Between the Lines

As Elizabeth had predicted, Han felt horrible the next morning.

He woke up later than usual to the smell of bacon. His stomach churned and he made a little moan.

David came over to him. "Morning, Han! How are you feeling?"

Han tried to sit up and quickly gave up the attempt. The light was too bright and he quickly closed his eyes. In a near whisper, he said, "Head hurts."

He missed seeing David's sympathetic grin. "Maggie was right, you really don't have a head for alcohol, do you? You'll feel better when you've had something to eat and drink."

Han gave another low moan and buried his head beneath the sheets.

This time David couldn't help but laugh. "Trust me, I've seen more than a couple of hangovers. You'll live!"

Elizabeth walked over to the sofa, pulled back Han's sheets and ruffled his hair. "Come on, it's time you got up! Tom's almost finished already. I imagine you'll be a bit unsteady this morning, so David will help you to wash. That should help you feel better! Then you can eat some breakfast."

Han sat up slowly, shivering. Looking plaintively at David, he said, "Feel sick."

"I know. But trust me, some toast and eggs will help. And your mother's right - a little cold water on your face will wake you up."

He put his arms around the boy and helped him to the sink where Han could wash his face. They were right, Han realized, the cold water did help.

"Better?"

Han started to nod and thought better of it. David pulled out a chair and Han sat at the table across from Tom.

His brother was grinning as he wolfed down his breakfast. "Bacon's good!" he said mischievously, waving a forkful in front of Han.

"Tom!" Elizabeth frowned at her boy, unimpressed with his teasing. "It's not Han's fault that he has a hangover, but let this be a lesson to you! Drinking alcohol may seem fun at the time, but just look at the results!"

She put a plate of toast and scambled eggs in front of Han and looked doubtfully at David. "It doesn't seem like enough. Are you sure he shouldn't have some bacon as well?"

Han went green at the thought of it and David saw his color change. "Very sure. He needs to line his stomach, not empty it!"

The breakfast did help, but Han still felt miserable. He promised himself that he was never going to touch alcohol again if he could help it.

A little after breakfast time, Jed came to check on his friend. David led him into the house where Han was sitting against the sofa, his arms around his legs and his chin resting on his knees. Han brightened when he saw his friend.

"You alright, Han? You look awful!" Jed sat on the floor beside his friend.

David explained, "He has a hangover."

Jed was surprised. "But Han, you only had a little! Ma gives us brandy all the time for stuff like that. She even puts it on our teeth when we have toothache. And when we have a cold she gives us whiskey. That tastes even worse!"

Han shook his head. "I've never had any before."

"Never?"

"Don't think so. Pretty sure I'd remember if I had."

"You get used to it."

Han started to shake his head and then stopped as it throbbed. "I'm never going to have any ever again!"

David grinned. "I'll remind you of this moment when you're all grown up! What's that you've got there, Jed?"

"Ma said Han wouldn't be up to running about today, so I brought a book to read. It's got great pictures."

"Oh?" Han leaned forward, interested. He hadn't had any opportunities to read for pleasure.

David smiled to see the two heads bent over a book. "Well, I've got work to do, so I'll leave you to your book. "'Bye, boys."

Jed pulled the book onto his lap and started to turn the pages. "I love this book. The others tease me and tell me it's too babyish but I don't care, I like it. Look."

He turned to a page with a drawing of a tree, it's branches pulled down by the weight of apples. A duck swam on the surface of a small pond beside it. "Isn't that pretty?"

"Yeah."

Jed started to run his finger along the words at the bottom of the page. "The apple tree is by the pond. The duck swims in the pond under the s-h-a-d-e - shade." He looked at Han, shamefaced. "I can never remember that word. Sorry." He read on. "The duck swims in the pond under the shade of the tree."

Han said nothing. He kept his eyes fixed on the page. He hadn't known the word either. Or 'swims'. Trying to keep his tone casual, he asked, "Does Leah like this book?"

"No, I told you, she thinks it's babyish. She keeps telling me I shouldn't be reading easy books like this one."

Han took the book from him and turned the pages. He knew a lot of the words, but not all of them. If this book was too young for Jed, then what did that mean? He hadn't realized that he was staring at a page until Jed said, "Oh yeah, I like this one!" Again, he pulled his finger along the page. "The boy keeps fire-flies - fireflies - in a jar."

The illustration showed a boy staring at what seemed to be little bursts of light inside a jar.

Han stared at the word Jed had just spelled out. Fireflies. He felt a sudden burst of anger. He didn't even know what fireflies were, how could he have known the word?

He'd never considered before how his education might compare with other boys of his age. At the orphanage, there were plenty of boys that couldn't read at all, so he'd always thought he was doing pretty well. He'd was able to read signs and things like that, although he could never read the newspapers he'd found. The print was so small, he couldn't pick out the words very well.

This was the first time he'd realized there might be a problem. If six-year-old Jed could easily read a book that Han couldn't, then Han must be very far behind indeed.

Han was lost in thought when he heard Jed say, "Han, you okay?"

He smiled weakly. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Jed noticed that Han was very quiet after that. Perhaps he still felt bad from the brandy. After about an hour, Jed closed the book and stood up. Han looked up in surprise.

"I should probably go and let you rest." He couldn't help the note of disappointment in his voice. He'd hoped Han would like the book just as much as he did.

Han watched him as he started to walk away. He'd never had a friend like Jed before and now he'd upset him. Han quickly came to a decision; if he could tell anyone, he could tell Jed.

Besides, school started in two days. They'd all know sooner or later anyway.

Face flaming, Han blurted out, "I can't read as well as you!"

There, he'd said it. He watched Jed's face for his reaction. Would he think Han was stupid?

Jed froze and stared at his friend. He could see how much the confession had cost Han, but he couldn't think what to say. Han was two years older and this was a book that Jed should have grown out of.

Han continued, "You can read all these words, but I don't know a lot of them! I thought I was okay! I can read better than most of the kids I know, but now…"

Jed realized he had to say something. "Hey, it's okay! Mrs. Benton's really nice and everyone says she's a really good teacher. She'll help you."

"But what about pa? He thinks I'm smart, he's said so! What'll he do when he finds out I'm a dummy?"

Jed looked indignant. "You ain't a dummy! He's right, you are smart. Look at all the things you know and the stories you tell! Couldn't do that if you were stupid!"

"I told Elizabeth I could read and write. She'll think I lied to her."

Neither of the boys thought it was odd that he called David 'pa', but used Elizabeth's name.

Jed sat back down and opened the book again. "We'll work on it together. I bet you pick it up real fast!"

They spent the next hour or so working through the book, with Jed teaching Han how to sound out the words until they made sense.

Finally, he closed the book again. "See, I knew you could do it!"

Han grimaced. "Yeah, but it was just one book and you said it was an easy one. What'll I do when school starts?"

"I can carry on helping you." He hesitated. "If you want." After all, Han might not like being taught by a boy that was two years younger.

Han stared at him in surprise. "Course I want! You'd do that for me?"

"Sure! We're friends, ain't we? That's what friends do, they help each other out."

"Seems like it's just you doin' - doing - stuff for me all the time. Haven't had the chance to do anything for you yet."

Jed grinned. "Don't worry, I'm sure I'll think of somethin'! Besides, I like it. Everyone else treats me like a baby. No-one ever listens to me."

"That's 'cause they're stupid."

This time Jed laughed. "I know, I keep tellin' 'em!"