Rowan of the Wood by Christine Rose & Ethan Rose

Author:Christine Rose & Ethan Rose [Rose, Christine M.]
Format: epub
Tags: & Magic, Magic, Science Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Wizards, Children's Books, Fantasy & Magic, Fiction, Fantasy, All Ages, Children: Young Adult, Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)
ISBN: 9780981744315
Publisher: Dalton Publishing
Published: 2010-01-01T09:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Cullen lay awake, staring at the wall from the lower tier of the bunk bed in his dark room. He rarely lay on his back, mostly because he hated to look at the bulging mattress of the bunk above him, knowing that Rex was in it. If he looked at the wall, he could imagine he was in his treecave, safe from his tormentors. Lying on his side also allowed him to curl into a fetal ball, leaving as little of his body as possible exposed to the slings and arrows of the cruel world in which he lived. Although still awake, he dreamed. His innermost desires came together to make sweet daydreams of fantasy. They danced through his head, taking him on adventures far from his unhappy, mundane life. In these dreams of escape, he led faithful friends to accomplish dangerous tasks that would make the world a better place for all. Rarely did he get specific about what that task entailed. The details only got in the way. On this particular night, he dreamed of rescue. At the hour when he turned twelve, he would come into his inheritance. In his fantasy, a wizard from the magical world to which he really belonged would come for him. He would be hailed as a Prince of the Realm when he arrived. He would be surrounded and looked after by new friends. At his request, April and Maddy would be brought to share in his good fortune. The wizard would give April her sight back. She would see him for the first time and know she loved him. With that happy thought, he drifted into sleep.

As it turned out, no one rescued Cullen that night. Waking early, before anyone else-including the sun-he carefully removed his new book from under his mattress and began to read it by the light of his flashlight within his blanket grotto. For a time, he lost himself once again within Middle-earth.

As the last traces of the darkness began to fade, he hid the book and flashlight back under his mattress and got up to quietly dress. He always kept the next day's clothes folded neatly under his bed, so he wouldn't 29

have to go through his footlocker and risk waking Rex, who would yell loud enough to wake Trudy and Frank. They would then storm into the room and scold him for disturbing the peace of the household. Best to avoid the entire business.

He dressed quickly and slipped quietly out the door, heading to the kitchen to make breakfast. It was the one chore he didn't mind doing, since it allowed him to get a good meal inside him without anyone being the wiser. Not that they didn't feed him, it just never filled him quite enough. He was always served last, just after Rex, who generally left only a token portion for him. He wouldn't have left even that if Trudy didn't make him. She always made sure Cullen never had anything serious to complain about to his social worker.

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