The Lighter That Shone Like A Star (Story of The South) Read Online Free

the one to stop the attack. Those were the days when he could threaten them with fire and they would run away. Do that now and he was sure to get a kick in the shins. Max had scrambled to his feet, thanked Freddie, and ran inside to hide.
    Max had just finished his favourite Naegean tale when his father knocked on his door.
    “Ready, son?” he asked, beaming down at his little boy.
    “Ready, dad.” Harvey picked up his son and ruffled his hair. “Dad, I’m ten now! You shouldn’t carry me anymore.”
    Harvey put his son down and looked down at him. “Should I stop tucking you in at night, too?” he asked. He could see the cogs turning in Max’s head.
    “No, you still have to tuck me in to bed!”
    Harvey laughed, but Max did not know why.
    Day turned into evening and the Myers family headed towards the town centre where the roads had been blocked off and shop windows decorated with colourful bunting. The whole town was waiting for the birthday boy.
    As he turned into the square, everyone shouted “Happy birthday!” while string, confetti and balloons of all colours flew into the air.
    Max had a wonderful evening, as did the rest of the town. As it got late, the adults were either singing or snoring and Emma Harding was sitting around a fire in the town’s square with the children. Max noticed that none of his classmates were there this year. When he asked Emma why, she had replied that they were a bit older and no longer wanted to listen to stories. When Max looked upset, she told him that he could still listen if he wanted.
    “Maybe I should read the stories, instead,” he suggested. Emma was an English teacher in the town’s school and so thought this was an excellent idea.
    “Why don’t you pop to my parents’ house, just round the corner, and find a book?”
    Chest puffed with responsibility, Max sprinted to the Hardings’ house without another word and returned five minutes later with a large, leather-bound book. He strutted back to Emma and the other children but Mary Harding had caught up with him, clutching a microphone.
    “Here you are dear,” she said, offering him the mike. Max did not hear the people shouting for him to make a speech. He thought they had wanted to hear him read. He stood on a chair, opened the book to page one, and began to read the first Naegean fairytale to the whole town.
    Not wanting to interrupt and embarrass him, the town remained silent and listened to the story. That was until an older boy, Kyle Pratt, crept up behind Max and pulled down his trousers. Max stood there, in shock, with his trousers down by his ankles. The town’s children erupted in hysterical laughter. He quickly covered himself up with the book and began to cry. Harvey dashed to his son’s aid, helped him back into his trousers and whispered something into his son’s ear.
    Max smiled and walked into his father’s outstretched arms. Harvey Myers carried his son home and tucked him into bed.
    “You know what, dad?” Max said.
    “What, son?”
    “I think tomorrow night I’ll tuck myself in. I’m ten now, I’m not a kid anymore.”
    Harvey bent down and kissed his son on the cheek. “Okay, son,” he replied, and left his son to sleep. Max never read a Naegean fairytale again after that night, nor did his father tuck him into bed.
    Unfortunately for Max, he was reminded of it every day at school until the summer holidays began, and even after then he was often teased and mocked in the street. Freddie was the only one who had stood up for Max, but that had all been forgotten now.
     
    Freddie opened his eyes and looked at Lornea basking in the sun. Whenever he looked at her, he felt like the luckiest man in the world. In his eyes, she was the most perfect girl in all the lands. Her head rested on his chest and slowly moved up and down in rhythm with his rhythmic breathing. Freddie’s hand found hers and their fingers intertwined. Even after being together for over a year, when Freddie was with