Believing the Dream by Lauraine Snelling

Author:Lauraine Snelling
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2010-10-26T16:00:00+00:00

At dinner on his first day back at school, Thorliff fetched his parcel prepared that morning by Cook as usual and took his place at the dinner table, only to be caught in the middle of another argument.

“Did you read what Arnet Morgan had to say this morning?” Benjamin bombarded him before he had even sat down.

“No, why?”

“Bjorklund, for a newspaperman, you don’t keep up with news very well.”

Thorliff settled himself and started to unwrap his box. “Did anyone make fresh coffee?”

“No, there was some already made.”

“Pure sludge.” He glanced around at his three friends. “What did I miss?”

No one responded to him, so he threw out a challenge to them. “So if you were in charge, what would you do differently?” Thorliff knew a question like that would get the others going again, and he could eat in peace. As he’d thought, the discussion raged around him, two men from the table behind them joining in. If they wouldn’t have harassed him unmercifully for being a snob, he’d have chosen a chair in the corner so he could write and eat at the same time. As it was, he let the story play in his mind while he concentrated on demolishing the ham sandwiches, gingerbread cookies, and apple pie Cook had fixed for him.

“You don’t mind?” Benjamin took the packet of cookies and passed them around. “We can’t let Bjorklund have all of these. He has no idea what he is eating, let alone any appreciation of it.”

Thorliff shook his head. Thank God Cook had a good idea of what young men needed for sustenance and provided enough cookies for half the room. He thumped the hard-boiled egg on the table so he could peel it.

“So how did you do on that Shakespeare test last term?” Benjamin propped himself on his elbows as the others left for their next classes.

“All right.” Thorliff got up to get himself another cup of coffee. “You want some more?”

“Sure.” Benjamin handed up his mug.

Thorliff waved at several greetings from passing students, poured his coffee from the gray graniteware pot steaming on the back of the stove, added a dash of cream to the mug poured for Benjamin, and made his way back to the table, all the while letting his mind play with the story. Why would they change places? Was one willing and the other not—then why? He always came back to the why. Rich but nasty, poor and good. What a cliché. But what if they were on a railroad car when strike breakers attacked?

“Thorliff, how can you be sitting there with your eyes wide open, and most likely your ears too, and not hear a word I say? Or are you just ignoring me, in which case I shall leave you to your whatevers.”

“Sorry.” Thorliff glanced up at the round oak clock on the wall. “Oh, I’m late.” He pushed back his chair and fumbled for his things. “Sorry, old man. Thanks for leaving me one cookie.”

“I’d never let you starve.

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