Chapter Three—Part 2
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Dreams by Langston Hughes
Luke walks over to a small group of children his age, recognizing one of them as Rasca Darklighter. Her father, Jula, is in the militia and she and her younger sister are often at the Lars farm. He can feel his father's eyes on him but resists the urge to turn around and introduces himself to the children instead.
"Hi, I'm Luke."
"Deacon," the swarthy, black haired boy says.
"Camie," says a girl with long brown hair and blue eyes.
"I didn't know you were coming to school, Luke. Why didn't you tell me?" the girl with black hair cut just above her shoulders asks.
Luke hadn't told her he was coming because he had hoped he could convince his dad that he didn't need to go to school. But he is not going to tell Rasca that, so he shrugs instead. He wishes that he was going to be in the same class as Biggs. Even though Biggs is three years older than Luke, he is his best friend.
"How come you didn't come to school last year?" Deacon asks.
Luke doesn't know why and shrugs in answer. "Are we going to be in the same class?" he asks Rasca.
"I don't think so, you're a year ahead of me so…" she trails off because a boy about Biggs' age had come up behind Deacon and shouted causing him to jump.
The boy laughs yelling, "You always fall for that!"
"Leave us alone, Laze," Camie says, crossing her arms across her chest.
Ignoring her, the boy turns and looks at Luke.
"Who are you?" he asks bluntly.
"Luke Lars."
"Laze Loneozner," Laze smiles but it doesn't look nice. Luke can't help but glance back to where his father had been standing, but he must have left because the spot is now empty.
"What are you looking for?" Laze asks.
"My Dad," he replies. It is the wrong thing to say. Laze starts laughing and pointing at him.
"Aw, is the little baby scared on his first day of school? Does he need his daddy?
Luke's face burns with embarrassment and anger. He looks at Deacon who, is staring at the ground, to Camie, who is glaring, and to Rasca, who looks scared.
"I was just wondering if he was still here," he tries to explain. It doesn't work. Laze just laughs harder.
"Next thing you'll want is your mommy? Does the baby want his mommy?" he asks in a high voice.
"My mother is dead," Luke says quietly.
Laze stops laughing. He opens his mouth but no words come out. He looks at the ground and mutters "Oh. I didn't know…"
"That's horrible! You must have loved her a lot," Camie says, looking stricken.
"She died just after I was born so I don't really remember her."
The group is silent for several long moments.
"My Dad told me she was a queen," Luke says, hating the silence.
Laze snorts. "He probably just told to that to make you feel better."
"No he didn't!"
Laze shrugs. "See you later," he says, and takes off running.
Luke stares after him, wondering for the first time if his dad had lied to him.