Among the Imposters Read Online Free PDF

noticed other boys responding to multiple names, too, but he could never be sure.
    Why was he so easily confused?
    It was like the halls of the school, which always seemed to double back on themselves. From one day to the next, Luke could rarely find his way to the same classroom twice. So it didn’t matter that he was never sure which class he was supposed to be sitting in—he’d never be able to get to the right place, anyhow. The teachers didn’t seem to notice Luke, or anyone else. They’d occasionally point at a boy and declare, “Two demerits,” but they almost never called anyone by name.
    Luke wondered about sneaking up to his room during classtime, and reading the note from Jen’s dad, since nobody cared where he was, anyway. But the hail monitors guarded the stairs, too. They guarded everything.
    So, Luke reflected gloomily, the note that could save him was doomed to turn to lint in his pocket. And Luke was doomed to endlessly wander the halls of Hendricks, unnoticed, unknowing, unknown.
    In bed at night. Luke took to having imaginary conversations with his family, Jen, Jen’s dad. His part was all apologies.
     
    I’m sorry, Mr. Talbot. You risked your life to get me a fake I.D., and I ~asn’t worth it....
    I’m sorry, len, I’m not doing anything for the........
     
    I’m sorry, Mother. This was the hardest one of all. You wanted me to stay but I said I had to go. I said I was going to make a difference in the world. But I can’t I wanted to make sure there was enough food for everyone in the world, so third children could be legal again. But I can’t
     
    even understand a word my teachers say. Even the ones who are speaking my language. Ill never learn anything. I’ll never be able to help anyone.
     
    I’m sorry, Mother. I should have never left you. I wish— But Luke wished for so much, he couldn’t go on. He was so busy longing for big, impossible changes, he
     
    never gave a thought to wanting anything smaller or more practical. Like an open door.
     
    But that was what he got.
     
     
    Seven
     
    Luke saw the door one morning on the way to class. He’d barely slept the night before, so he was groggy and stupid. He was shuffling along looking for a familiar classroom to duck into before the hall monitor yelled at him. Between classrooms, he stared down at his feet, too miserable to lift his head. But just as he turned a corner, someone bumped into him. Luke looked up in time to see the other boy barrel past without an apology. Then, as Luke turned his head forward again, he saw it.
     
    The door was on the outside wall. Luke couldn’t have said if he’d passed it a hundred times before, or never. It was solid wood with a brass knob, just like dozens of other doors in the school. It was barely even ajar.
    But beyond it, Luke could see grass and trees and sky. Outdoors.
    He didn’t think. He didn’t even pause to make sure a hall monitor wasn’t watching him. In a flash, Luke was out the door.
    Outside, Luke stood still, his back to the wall of the school. He was breathing hard. Read the note and get back
     
    inside! some tiny, rational part of his brain urged him. Before someone sees you!
     
    But he couldn’t move. It was May. The lawn ahead of him was a rich green carpet. Redbuds were blooming, and lilacs. He thought he even smelled honeysuckle. His mind played a trick on him, and suddenly he was almost a whole year back in time, standing outside for what he had thought might be the last time in his entire life. The Government workers were just starting to cut down the woods behind his family’s house, and his mother was fearfully ordering him, Luke! Inside. Now.’
    And when the woods were gone, Jen’s house replaced it
    His mind skipped ahead, and he remembered his first trip to Jen’s house. He’d stepped outside and felt paralyzed, just like now. And he’d marveled at the feel of fresh air on his face, just like now.
    And he’d been in danger.
    Just like now.
    Luke