Galactic Axia Adventure 1: Escape to Destiny Read Online Free PDF Page A

staring after him, Dorn headed back into the house still laughing aloud. Delmar steeled himself and left the crumpled letter where it lay and turned back to his work in the garden.
    ∞∞∞
    The Hassels noticed the black cloud of despair hanging over Delmar’s head when he arrived considerably early for work. The boy walked into the barn and started doing his regular chores just as he had done many times before.
    “Looks like it’s time to spring our surprise,” Agnes observed while they both watched from inside the house.
    “I’ll call him in.” Robert said. He stepped to the back door and onto the porch.
    “I’ll get the stuff ready,” Agnes said behind him.
    “Delmar!” Robert called. A moment later, the youth’s head appeared around the barn door. “Come on inside.”
    After leaving his boots in the mudroom, Delmar stepped hesitantly into the kitchen. Was it possible Dorn had been telling the truth about the Hassels not being satisfied with his work?  Were they going to fire him and force him to face the wrath of his angry brother?
    “Sit down,” Robert said, waving him to one of the chairs.
    Agnes appeared, and after setting a bundle on the floor beside Robert, headed over to the counter. It was clear to her that Delmar thought that he was somehow in trouble. His face paled at the thought of what he would face from his brother if he lost his job. Robert sensed the discomfort of the boy and sympathized. He’d tried to bring the abuse to the attention of the courts but was rebuffed by the social agency in charge of Delmar’s oversight.
    “I know you’re wondering why I called you in here,” the old farmer began. His wife set a piece of pie in front of the boy and served herself and her husband. Delmar’s confusion was evident, but he didn’t speak.
    While she poured the coffee, Mrs. Hassel scolded him, “Oh, come on Delmar,” she said with mock seriousness. “You don’t think we serve coffee and pie to someone we’re about to fire, do you?”
    Delmar stared from one friendly face to the other, and for the first time that morning, dared to hope.
    “As I was saying,” Robert continued, “I want to talk to you about some things. The fields are done and the crops are in. That pretty much finishes what I hired you for.”
    Delmar’s face paled again. He looks like he’s still expecting a beating , the man thought disgustedly.
    “Look, I’ll be plain. I know your brother is little better than a cur and treats you like some kind of doormat,” Robert said. “I don’t intend to treat you the same.”
    The old farmer paused for a moment. “Even though the fields are in, I expect you here every morning by nine. I’ve got some heavy work for you to start on tomorrow.”
    “What do you want me to do, sir?” The boy was now more confused than ever.
    “These!” said Robert with a grin as he hefted the school materials onto the table. Delmar was speechless for a minute and just stared at the books.
    “I know things are pretty rough at your house and that your brother has been preventing you from studying until I hired you away. So starting tomorrow, I’m hiring you to come here and study.”
    The room was silent while Delmar tried to deal with the shock of his good fortune. When he did try to speak, all that happened was his mouth hung open and stayed that way.
    “Look, Delmar,” Agnes said as she shoved a fork full of pie into the boy’s open mouth, “we know you love to learn, and we want to help.”
    “Your future is higher than that old farm, and we want to see you make it,” Robert said. Delmar still could not believe the turn of events that had taken place in his life. One minute he feared he would lose his job and fall under the wrath of his brother. The next minute he was on his way to fulfilling at least a small part of his dream – an education. He began to cry and laugh at the same time. After that, the mood brightened considerably in the little kitchen as the three enjoyed