“Good luck,” Jen’s father said, bringing his other hand up to Luke’s, too.
Only when Mr. Talbot had pulled both hands away did Luke realize he’d placed a tiny scrap of paper between Luke’s fingers. Luke held it there until the woman turned her back Then he slid it into his pocket.
Jen’s father smiled.
“Keep those grades up,” he said. ‘And no running away this time, you hear?”
Luke gulped again, and nodded. And then Jen’s father left without a backward glance.
Two
Luke wanted to read the note from Mr. Talbot right away. He was sure it would tell him everything— everything he needed to know to survive Hendricks School for Boys. No — to survive anything that might come his way in this new life, outside hiding.
It was just one thin scrap of paper. Now that it was in his pocket, Luke couldn’t even feel it there. But he had faith. Jen’s father had hidden Luke from the Population Police, double-crossing his own employer. He’d gotten Luke his fake I.D., so he could move about as freely as anyone else, anyone who wasn’t an illegal third child. Jen’s father had risked his career helping Luke. No, it was more than that — he’d risked his life. Surely Mr. Talbot would have written something incredibly wise.
Luke slid his hand into his pocket, his fingertips touching the top of the note. Ms. Hawkins was looking away. Maybe— The door opened behind Luke. Luke jerked his hand out of his pocket.
“Scared you, didn’t I?” a boy jeered. “Made you jump.”
Luke was used to being teased. He had older brothers, after all. But Matthew and Mark’s teasing never sounded quite so mean. Still, Luke knew he had to answer.
“Sure. I’m jumpy like a cat,” Luke started to say. It was an expression of his mother’s. Being cat-jumpy was good. Like being quick on his feet.