“When do I get to go home?” Sadie asked.

“This is your home,” Rebecca told her.

“Where’s your crops?” Sadie wanted to know.

“We rescued you from farm life,” Rebecca laughed. “Be grateful.”

Sadie wasn’t grateful. She crossed her arms and tried to keep the tears from falling.

Rebecca sighed impatiently. She was tired of hearing her daughter whine about the farm. She was also tired of being pregnant.

Like on the farm, Sadie had chores. Mostly, she was expected to clean up after her parents. Adeline had been teaching her to cook and she soon began preparing meals, too.

Rebecca mostly laid in bed. She was too tired to do much. Dusty stayed out late.

Sadie was lonely.

Sadie became a big sister to Everett. Rebecca taught her how to feed and change him. He slept in her room and she was the one to get up with him most nights.

As Everett grew, Rebecca and Dusty resumed going out together at night. Rebecca would tuck Everett into bed and leave him in the care of Sadie. They would be gone for hours and then wake up before lunch. Sadie would have to feed and change Everett. She missed school afraid to leave her brother alone.

Things weren’t all bad. In the summer, Rebecca and Dusty would take her back to the farm. She would spend a whole two months with her cousins. She loved spending the long days outside, collapsing into bed each night. She wished that she never had to leave.

When Dusty got his draft notice, he considered running. He could take the family or maybe just Rebecca and leave the kids with her brother. Maybe he would go alone. He was growing tired of his life. Something was always broken, Rebecca was always nagging, there was never enough money, the kids were loud. It was getting harder to swindle and pickpocket. For one, there were fewer men around and people had less money. He needed a change.

Rebecca tried to persuade him not to go, but he would not listen. He needed something new. Besides, they were once again being evicted and there was no money for a new place. He packed the family up and drove them to the farm, kissed them goodbye, and left.

Sadie and Emma were delighted to be together again and not just for the summer. Emma was glad for some good news as things had not been going well on the farm. She hoped having Sadie back would cheer her up. She filled Sadie in.

When war broke out, Nelson was almost too busy with the farm to take much notice. Feeding his family was a top priority and they still struggled to make ends meet.

So Nelson was surprised to find that he was one of the first to be drafted. He was nearing the cutoff age. He tried to apply for a deferment, but he didn’t qualify.

How would the farm survive? How would his family?

At least Leo would be spared, he told his sobbing wife. He was too young and Nelson prayed the war would end quickly before it could take his only son.

To Leo he said,”The farm is in your hands, son. Take care of the family.”

Leo was not happy about taking over the farm. Unlike Emma, who loved the farm as much as their father, Leo longed to escape. He wanted a different life, one he could choose, instead of being chosen for him. He saw little reward for all the work his father did. He didn’t want to disappoint his father, but this was not the life for him.

Leo heard of classmates lying about their ages to be able to join the fight. Like Leo, they dreamed of adventure. Now he would be unable to even go to school. He would be stuck on the farm, every day the same.

When his friend told Leo that he was signing up, Leo agreed to join him. He didn’t say anything to his mother. He could barely eat dinner that night. His mother touched his forehead concerned about his unusual lack of appetite.

He went to bed early that night, unable to look at his mother. He pushed aside his guilt at leaving the farm. This is what he had to do.

He waited until everyone was asleep and snuck out of the house. He looked back once and then hurried to meet his friend.