Suffer the Children Read Online Free PDF Page B

world’s flags.
    “That’s an interesting one right there,” she said.
    “That’s Brazil,” Nate told her. “It’s a really big country in South America. The stars represent states, just like on our flag. They speak Portuguese.”
    “You’re very smart.”
    Joan wondered at Nate’s passion for some subjects in school and apparent rejection of others. Last winter, amid his ongoing enthusiasm for hockey, he’d announced he wanted to be a doctor. He hadn’t said it since, but Joan had engraved it in mental stone. She squinted at her apple-cheeked boy and tried to see the man he someday would be.
    Eight years old and steadily pulling away from her. While Joan readily empathized with Megan, Nate’s mind seemed alien. She knew he idolized Keith, whom she considered a bad influence, as he was a bigger risk taker than her son. Nate often came home with cuts and bruises from their escapades. She worried one day she’d get a call saying he’d broken a bone or worse.
    She set the sandwiches on the table with glasses of milk. Nate crammed his into his mouth while Megan climbed into her chair and took her first dainty bite.
    Joan heard creaking upstairs, signs Doug was awake and starting his day. About time, sleepyhead. She was already planning their exit. Boots, hats, gloves, scarves, jackets, snacks. She put the kettle on for hot chocolate and pulled the thermos down from the cupboard.
    “Mommy, are monsters real?” Megan asked.
    Joan wiped crumbs from the counter into her cupped hand and dropped them into the sink. “Of course not, sweetie.”
    “Josh was drawing them. Sometimes I worry a little bit they’re going to get me while I’m sleeping.”
    “They’re probably not going to get you, Megan,” Nate said, his cheeks bulging as he chewed.
    Megan gulped. “Probably?”
    “Mom, they’re not going to get her, are they?”
    “No,” said Joan.
    “But are you sure?” Nate pressed.
    “Positive.”
    “Keith saw a monster once.”
    “Nate,” she warned him.
    “It was a thunderbird . It lives in the woods behind his house and eats raccoons.”
    Megan stared at him and whispered, “Is it going to eat me ?”
    “Probably not,” Nate said. “Mom, it won’t eat Megan, will it?”
    “What?” Joan had been listening to the radio, which predicted cold with a high of thirty-four degrees for the day. “No!”
    He shrugged. “I was just wondering if thunderbirds eat people. Thought you knew.”
    “There’s no such thing,” Joan said with a sigh. “Monsters are just make-believe.”
    “Don’t worry, Megan,” Nate said. “Nothing’s going to happen.”
    “My fairy wand will protect me.”
    “Yeah, and Dad watches over us. Right, Mom?”
    Joan poured hot water into the thermos and screwed the cap on. “That’s right. Both of us do.”
    “But Dad keeps a baseball bat under the bed,” Nate enthused.
    She smiled. I don’t need a baseball bat. If anybody ever touched you, I’d rip him apart with my bare hands. “Finish up there, Nate. We’re not going anywhere until you feed Major.”
    “Okay, okay, okay,” he grumbled.
    “Mommy, is Josh going to be okay?” Megan asked.
    “I’m sure he’ll be fine, sweetie.”
    Joan, on the other hand, still felt a little shaken by how Ramona had treated her. Pissed off, actually, but also a little guilty. The truth was, she was going to miss Josh if Ramona pulled him out of her day care. She’d grown quite fond of the weird little kid. She even liked Ramona. Sure, the woman was a little full of herself, but she was so beautiful, always perfectly groomed and dressed, and lived an exciting life filled with choices. It wasn’t the life Joan had chosen for herself, but she could still admire it for what it was.
    Doug plodded into the kitchen and accepted a hot mug of coffee from Joan with a nod of thanks. He sat at the kitchen table and yawned. Joan started an omelette on the stove.
    “Hey, Dad,” said Nate.
    “Daddy!” cried Megan.
    “Kids,” Doug