A few days later
January 24

The children stayed with a routine; Douglas' makeshift bed would comfort Ivar in the night; the home was Douglas's as much as it was Ivar's. The children played in the snow, and their laughter would challenge the town. One day, on a night of pure coldness, Douglas asked a question,
"Do you believe in God?"
Ivar shook her head and said, "I don't know. My family ne'er went to church."
"My family believes in God. I don't think I do," Douglas stated while staring at his bed comforter.
Douglas's parents were asleep downstairs. The night was late, and Ivar and Douglas stayed up talking by the candle light.
"Douglas," sniffed Ivar. Her eyes became a little red.
"Yeah?"
"I'm scared," she said through soft trembles. Douglas looked at her hesitantly. Douglas was a young boy; he was only eight. He went to school, and he didn't have any friends; everyone made fun of him. Douglas never bragged about his money; but in the town where they lived, big money was scarce and only a few people attained it. People were jealous. Douglas was a sheep in a town of wolves; he was a winter bird in September skies, and he held his eyes sullenly at church.
"Why's ya scared, Ivar?"
"I have no family," the girl cried with tears of loneliness, "When we are older, I want to run away with you," Ivar spoke.
Douglas just listened.
"When we are older, we can live and people won't judge us. My mother told me to hide, but now I want to sing and dance so people can look at me." Ivar continued crying, but it stopped when Douglas put his hand on her shoulder.
"When we are older, we can run away, Ivar."