"Does school start tomorrow, Mum?" asked Luke as he pulled the covers up to his chin. He had been asking the same question for the last three days, ever since Jean had ironed and hung his school uniform in his wardrobe. He could hardly wait.

"Yes, darling, tomorrow," she confirmed.

"What will we learn tomorrow?" he asked.

Jean smiled and tucked the covers more closely around him before kissing his cheek. "I'm afraid my first day of school was a very long time ago so I don't remember what we learned. But that's one of the reasons it's fun to go to school each day - to find out what you're going to learn."

"Did you like school, Mum?"

"I loved school, and I'm sure you will, too. Now time to sleep so you'll be well rested and ready to learn in the morning."

"Good night, Mum. I love you."

"I love you, too, sweet boy. Sleep well."

She closed the door softly on her way out, then continued down the hall to the study where Lucien was poring over his medical books for information on unusual symptoms a patient had presented with earlier in the day.

He looked up and smiled softly at her, causing her heart to do that tumbling thing only he could cause. "All tucked in?" he asked.

"Yes, but he's so excited about school. I hope we chose the right one for him."

"I'm sure he'll be fine," said Lucien. They had visited every primary school in Ballarat, and Mount Pleasant seemed to be the best fit for the kind of education and atmosphere they wanted for their boy. "I think our biggest worry might be that he's bored, but if that seems to be the case we can speak with his teacher and the principal."

"Do you think the other kids will pick on him? After all the gossip we've endured over the years, I couldn't stand it if this town treated him badly."

He stood up and moved out from behind the desk to take her hands and pull her to him. "My darling, these are four- and five-year-olds. They can't even spell 'gossip'. I'm afraid if he gets picked on for anything, it might be his hair."

Jean gasped. "All his beautiful golden curls? Is that why you've been suggesting a haircut for him?"

"I took some teasing for a similar head of hair, before my dear father insisted I cut it off," Lucien admitted. "But that was a long time ago, so maybe styles have changed." He leaned closer. "When I got to secondary school, the girls seemed to love the curls," he smirked.

Jean laughed and ran her fingers through the hair at the back of his neck where the Brylcreem was wearing off at the end of the day. "And now I'm the only 'girl' that gets to see your lovely curls," she whispered, leaning in to kiss him.

"Which is as it should be, love," he told her as his lips met hers.

Luke fairly bounced into the kitchen in the morning, already wearing his uniform. He walked over to Jean at the stove and gave her a hug, then over to where Lucien was reading the morning newspaper and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"Good morning," Jean said cheerily.

"How's my favourite scholar this morning?" asked Lucien.

Luke grinned, at his father, then looked thoughtful. "Will I know anyone at school?" he asked.

"I'm sure you will," said Jean, thinking of all the children he'd met when they accompanied their parents who were on Lucien's list.

"And think of it this way," Lucien suggested. "All of the children in your class can be friends, even if you didn't know them before."

"Dad's right," Jean said, placing the plate of bacon and tomatoes on the table, then reaching down to straighten Luke's collar. "Just remember to be kind and thoughtful of others. There may be other children who are frightened or upset when their parents leave them today, so it might be nice if you went out of your way to talk to them, try to make them feel better."

"All right," said Luke, slowly.

Jean hoped that looking out for others would distract him from any issues he might have when she and Lucien left him. Somehow, though, she felt sure that she was going to be more upset at the situation than Luke himself would be.

Lucien pulled into the car park, then opened the door for Luke and helped Jean out. They had taken Luke with them on their initial visit to Mount Pleasant so he confidently led the way to the prep classroom. Lucien smiled proudly, but when he glanced at Jean he noted the tears already forming in her eyes. He reached over to take her hand and squeezed it in sympathy. Their "little miracle" was growing up too fast.

When they reached the classroom and Luke saw the mass of parents and children congregated therein, his confidence seemed to slip a little, and he moved closer to his parents. Lucien rested a comforting hand on his shoulder while Jean reached down to give him a hug.

The teacher, Mrs. French, was circulating throughout the room to welcome everyone. Jean knew that she had two sons of her own in secondary school, so she could empathize with the parents who would be leaving their little ones in her care.

When she reached the Blake family she greeted Luke first, and then Jean and Lucien.

"He's been looking forward to this day for ages," Jean said.

Mrs. French smiled at Luke. "That's what we like here, eager students,"she told him. "Perhaps you'd like to find a desk for yourself, Luke?"

The boy nodded and started forward, then turned back. "Bye, Mum. Bye, Dad."

Jean held out her arms for one last hug, which Luke obligingly gave her. "You mind what Mrs. French says. We'll be waiting for you outside when school is over, right?"

"Yes, Mum."

Lucien fought the urge to tell Luke to do his best, as his own father had said to him so often. Instead he gave him his own hug and whispered, "Be kind to everyone and you'll do just fine, son."

"I will, Dad."

He marched off to look for a desk and found one near the front that seemed to be empty so he slid into the chair. He was waiting patiently for whatever came next when he heard sniffling behind him. Another boy was seated at the desk directly in back of him, but this boy had his arms crossed on the desktop and his face hidden in them as he cried quietly.

"What's wrong?" Luke asked softly so as not to startle the boy.

The boy looked up to see who had spoken. He rubbed at his eyes. "I don't like school," he said. "I don't know anybody."

"I'm Luke Blake. There, now you know me," Luke said, smiling at him and sticking out his hand.

Somewhat hesitantly the other boy shook the hand. "I'm Ben Baker."

"Maybe we could be friends," said Luke.

"All right," Ben agreed.

Luke looked around and saw a bookcase stuffed with children's literature, including one book that he recognized as Paddington Bear. "Maybe we could read a story together," he suggested to Ben.

"Can you read? Mum says I have to come to school to learn to read."

"I read with my dad before bed," Luke explained. "Maybe I can help you."

He took the book from its shelf, and moments later the two small heads were bent over it together while Luke pointed out the words as he read them.

Jean and Lucien had been watching the entire exchange.

"You see? He'll be fine," Lucien said softly, his arm around her waist.

She smiled through her tears. They had protected, nurtured and moulded him for five years. Now, putting him into another's hands, even someone as caring and competent as Loretta French, was not easy. Jean knew as well as anyone that the world was not always kind, especially to those with tender hearts.

Lucien understood her fears, as he always seemed to, since their marriage. "He'll remember what we've taught him. And do you know what I think? I think he'll make his world a kinder place just by his presence. Isn't that what we want for him?"

She rested her head against his shoulder for just a moment before accepting his handkerchief to dry her eyes. "Let's go home and leave him to it then," she said firmly.

Hand in hand, with only a single backward glance from each of them, they left their son to begin his march into the future.