Hero Read Online Free

yesterday. He stood in the doorway and listened. Which way to go now?
    â€œThe cows are eating breakfast.”
    Annie’s high voice guided him along the hallway, down seven steps and another hallway till he walked into a brightly lit kitchen. He vaguely remembered the room from last night. Voices, low and deep, smells of food, the banging of cutlery overwhelmed him. He stopped in the doorway.
    â€œSo, this is Jan.” A deep voice drew Izaak’s eyes to a man with a shiny bald head, sitting at the head of a largerectangular table. Sharp cheekbones carved his face. Dark eyes looked at Izaak. Izaak’s heart beat fast.
    â€œUncle Piet.” Annie climbed on the man’s lap and patted his head.
    â€œWe need to put Jan out to pasture with the cows, Annie,” Uncle Piet said. “He’s skin and bone and white as milk.”
    Izaak didn’t know what “out to pasture” meant.
    â€œOh, he’s just kidding.” The woman whom he had met last night, Aunt Anna, took his hand and led him to the table.
    They passed a large wicker basket beside the black stove. A long-haired dog with black and white patches lifted its head. A calico cat and a black cat with white paws were curled up beside the dog. Izaak wasn’t used to animals. His family had never owned a cat or a dog.
    â€œThe dog’s name is Bijke.” Annie hopped from Uncle Piet’s lap and crouched down beside the basket.“The black cat is Moorke.” She lifted the calico cat in her arms. “This is my favorite. I named her Princess.”
    Izaak tried to take it all in, but Aunt Anna pulled him away from the basket.
    Looking around the large table, he saw Els. She smiled at him. Slouched in a chair beside her sat a boy much older than Izaak. His hair hung over his eyes. The skin on one side of his face was a deep reddish purple. Izaak’s stomach tightened. The boy didn’t look up.
    Annie pointed at the boy. “That’s Gabe,” she said. “Gabe doesn’t talk much either, but his birthday is coming up soon. He’s going to be sixteen. And this is Albert Adema.” Annie pointed to the person beside Gabe. “He lives in the house beside the farm and has lots of children.”
    A smile lit up the man’s face. “Hi, Jan. The more children, the merrier. My son Jaap is the same age as you.”
    Izaak didn’t know what to say orwhere to look. He wasn’t used to so many people.
    â€œAll right, Annie.” Aunt Anna carried steaming plates to the table. “Make some room for Jan. And you have to eat quickly or you’ll be late for school.”
    Izaak slid into a spot between Annie and Albert.
    â€œIs Jan coming to school with me?” Annie shoved a spoonful of food into her mouth.
    â€œNot yet.” Aunt Anna placed a flat bowl in front of him. “He has to get used to the farm and the people first.”
    â€œAnd he needs some meat on his bones,” Uncle Piet added, “or the wind will blow him over.”
    Izaak looked at the table. A basket was filled with thick slices of dark rye bread. Tall glasses of milk stood at each place. A chunk of cheese as big and round as a wheel was ready for slicing. And wheat porridge steamed in Izaak’s bowl. He hadn’t seen thatmuch food since … He stirred the porridge in his bowl and took a small spoonful. It was warm and sweet. He was glad Aunt Anna had only given him a little bit. His stomach felt so full. The ball was still there. While Izaak ate, cutlery clattered and voices hummed in the warm kitchen.
    â€œDo you think the Allied troops will get here before the winter?” Albert moved his finger around his bowl in a circle and licked it.
    â€œThe Germans seem to have a stronghold at the rivers,” Uncle Piet answered in a deep voice. “As long as the Allied armies can’t cross the rivers, we will be at war.”
    Chairs scraped on the wooden floor, and the men got