Among the Hidden

After confirming Luke can read (many third children cannot), Jen sends him home with books and articles to inform him about the government’s laws and regulations as well as the harm they’ve done. Several of the books detail the famine and the research surrounding the population laws. The articles tell the other side. They detail the ongoing horrors of the Population Law. 

For a few days, it rains, so Luke stays inside, reading the books and articles from Jen. Dad is home too, with nothing to tend to on rainy days and growing bored without the hogs to care for. When Dad comes upstairs to see Luke, Luke hides the book he’s reading under his pillow. Dad offers to play cards with Luke. Luke wants to ask Dad about the things he’s reading, but he keeps it inside. When Dad expresses that he has nothing to do except figure out how to pay bills, Luke asks if it’s possible for Dad to grow food in the basement with special lights and setups. Luke doesn’t let on that he read about hydroponics in one of the books. Dad likes the idea, and he finishes the card game with Luke quickly so he can look into it more.