Sons of Fortune Read Online Free PDF Page A

say at stations, Andrew thought; surely it was more important
that he worked hard when he got there. “And don’t forget to write.”
    Andrew
boarded the train with his mother and as the engine pulled out of the station
he didn’t once look back at his father, hoping it would make him appear more
grown up.
    “Would
you like some breakfast?” his mother asked as the porter placed his cases on
the overhead rack.
    “Yes,
please,” replied Andrew, cheering up for the first time that morning.
    Another
uniformed man showed them to a table in the dining car. Andrew studied the menu
and wondered if his mother would allow him to have the full breakfast.
    “Have
anything you like,” she said, as if reading his thoughts.
    Andrew
smiled when the waiter reappeared. “Double hash browns, two eggs, sunny side
up, bacon and tomatoes.” He only left out the mushrooms because he didn’t want
the waiter to think that his mother never fed him.
    “And
you, ma’am?” inquired the waiter, turning his attention to the other side of
the table.
    “Just coffee and toast, thank you.”
    “The
boy’s first day?” asked the waiter.
    Mrs.
Davenport smiled and nodded.
    How
does he know? wondered Andrew.
    Andrew
munched nervously through his breakfast, not sure if he would be fed again that
day. There had been no mention of meals in the handbook, and Grandpa had told
him that when he was at Hotchkiss, they were only fed once a day. His mother
kept telling him to put his knife and fork down while he was eating.
    “Knives
and forks are not airplanes and shouldn’t remain in midair longer than is
necessary,” she reminded him. He had no way of knowing that she was almost as
nervous as he was.
    Whenever
another boy, dressed in the same smart uniform, passed by their table, Andrew
looked out of the window, hoping they wouldn’t notice him, because none of
their uniforms were as new as his. His mother was on her third cup of coffee
when the train pulled into the station.
    “We’ve
arrived,” she announced, unnecessarily.
    Andrew
sat staring at the sign for Lakeville as several boys leaped off the train,
greeting each other with “Hi there, how was your
vacation? And good to see you again,” followed by much shaking of hands. He
finally glanced across at his mother, and wished she would disappear in a cloud
of smoke. Mothers were just another announcement that it was his first day.
    Two
tall boys dressed in double-breasted blue blazers and gray slacks began
shepherding the new boys onto a waiting bus. Andrew prayed that parents were
banned from the bus, otherwise everyone would realize
he was a new boy.
    “Name?”
said one of the young men in a blue blazer as Andrew stepped off the train.
    “Davenport,
sir,” said Andrew, staring up at him. Would he ever be that tall?
    The
young man smiled, almost a grin. “You don’t call me sir, I’m not a master, just a senior proctor.” Andrew’s head dropped. The first
words he’d uttered, and he’d made a fool of himself.
    “Has
your luggage been placed on the bus, Fletcher?”
    Fletcher? thought Andrew. Of course, Fletcher Andrew Davenport; he
didn’t correct the tall young man for fear of making another mistake.
    “Yes,”
Andrew replied.
    The
god turned his attention to Andrew’s mother. “Thank you, Mrs. Davenport,” he
said, checking his list, “I hope you have a pleasant journey back to
Farmington. Fletcher will be just fine,” he added kindly.
    Andrew
thrust out his hand, determined to stop his mother cuddling him. If only
mothers could read thoughts. He shuddered as she threw her arms around him. But
then he couldn’t begin to understand what she was going through. When his
mother finally released him, Andrew quickly joined the flow of boys who were
jumping onto the waiting bus. He spotted a boy, even smaller than himself, who
was sitting on his own looking out the window. He quickly sat down beside him.
    “I’m
Fletcher,” he said, reverting to the name bestowed on