For all the Luke Walker chapters clickΒ hereΒ π
Chapter 16 continues from yesterday:
Mum opened the bedroom door.
βLuke, donβt you want to help decorate the tree?β
βerm, no thanks,β he said without looking at her.
βAre you okay?β
βYeah.β
βAre you sure?Β You havenβt been yourself since we went to the Maybury Centre.β
Luke didnβt say anything.Β Mum tried again.
βWhat happened to upset you?Β I thought youβd like it there.β
Luke let go of his trains, sat back and looked at her.
βIβm fed up.β
βWhy?β
βCoz Iβm fed up of grown ups not doinβ what they say.β
Mrs Walker waited for more.
βMaybury is a animal sanctry wot says it teaches people to be kind to animals.Β A man from Maybury even came to give a talk at school to tell us not to keep animals in small cages, or let them have puppies.β
βOkay,β
βSo why do people whose whole job is lookinβ after animals and teachinβ other people to look after βem propβly, still let animals be killed for food?Β Why donβt they care about them animals?Β Why do they onβy care about some animals?β
βWhat makes you think β¦β
βThey sell dead animals in their cafe.β
βReally?Β That does surprise me.β
βIf I canβt trust people whose job is lookinβ after animals then I canβt trust nobody.Β βcept myself!β
βOoh, thatβs hard.Β No wonder youβre fed up,β said Mum sympathetically.
βAnd Joe,β he admitted.
βWell, thatβs something.Β But you know Luke, you shouldnβt give up.Β You should tell them how you feel.Β You should tell them you are offended by their decision to sell meat in their cafe.β
βI did tell βem.β
βGood.Β And what did they say?β
βNothinβ sensible.Β Jusβ said it was okay cozΒ it was ranginβ and stainable.Β Rubbish!β
βTell them again.Β Write them a letter.β
βWhatβs the point?Β They wonβt take no notice oβ me.β
Mrs Walker was sorry her son felt so discouraged.Β It was a terrible thing to lose your faith in humanity at such a young age.
βThe thing is,β she told him, βyou never know when someone might listen.Β The only thing you can be sure of is that if you donβt say anything, they definitely wonβt get the message.β
Luke looked at her and didnβt say anything.
βCome with me, come and help decorate the tree,β she said.
When they got to the living room Jared and Dad already had things well underway.Β The tree was gleaming with glittery gold and silver tinsel and different coloured shiny baubles.
βMm, pretty good,β said Mum, βbut itβs missing something.β
βThe star for the top,β said Jared, βIβm just about to do it.β
βSomething else,β said Mum and she left the room.
A moment later she was back with a small box from the kitchen.Β She handed it to Luke.
βNo Christmas tree is complete without a few sweet treats,β she said, smiling.
Luke looked in the box.Β It was full of chocolate Santas.Β On the wrappers were the words:
Moo Free Organic Chocolate,
DAIRY FREE, GLUTEN FREE, VEGAN
Lukeβs jaw dropped and his eyes lit up.
βAre these for me?βΒ he asked.
βNo, greedy boy, theyβre for all of us!Β Why donβt you hang them on the tree?β
βBut, β¦ how come β¦?β
βI found your leaflets,β Mum explained.
βWhat leaflets?β
βThe ones stuffed in the back pocket of your black cords; the black cords you shoved under the bed and forgot about I donβt know how long ago.β
βOh, I wondered where they were.β
βWell I found them and I checked the pockets before putting them in the wash, and there were these leaflets.Β One with a picture of a cow on the front entitled βThe Dark Side of Dairyβ and one with a cute little brown and white piglet on the front entitled βThink Before You Eatβ.β
βAnd you read them?β
βAnd I read them.β
βAnd thatβs why β¦?β
βYes it is,β she paused for a moment, searching for the right words.Β βLuke,β she went on, βyou have good instincts.Β When you started this crusade for animals you did it on instinct.Β You hadnβt been told any of the shocking facts and figures that are in those leaflets, you just knew it wasnβt right.Β And you did something about it.Β You spoke out bravely and you acted.Β You broke the rules when you felt you had to and you endured punishments, but you never wavered; you never stopped fighting.β
Luke nodded.Β He wasnβt sure why his mum was explaining something that she must have known he already knew, but he waited.Β It would become clear eventually.Β She continued.
βSo I donβt want you to give up hope now.Β I want you to know that if you keep trying, you will make a difference.Β You have already made a difference for Curly and Little Squirt and the rabb.., er, the damsons, but even more than that, youβre a good influence on other people.β
Now, those were words Luke never thought heβd hear from his mother.
βYou have been a good influence on us.β
At this point she took his hand, led him into the kitchen and opened the freezer.
βWhat dβyou fancy for Christmas dinner?β she asked.
Luke looked in the freezer.Β It was full β Mum always did a big shop for the Christmas holidays β and there were quite a few unfamiliar boxes and cartons.Β He lifted them out one at a time to read the descriptions:
Cauldron Wholefood Burgers
Made with Chickpeas, Cauliflower, Aduki Beans, Broad Beans, Spinach, Onions, Garlic & Potatoes
Cauldron Wholefood Sausages
Made with Grilled Vegetables (Peppers, Courgette, Onion), Beans & Wheat
Cauldron Aduki Bean Melt
βThe combination of aduki beans, spinach and mushrooms deliciously filled with mango chutney and carefully coated in breadcrumbs gives a satisfyingly moreish taste.β
Biona Red Lentil Sun Seed Burger
A flavoursome vegan burger made with red lentils, pumpkin and sunflower seeds with a subtle hint of spice. Made using all natural, organic ingredients and free from artificial colours or flavours. Perfect loaded with your favourite burger toppings, added to salads or dipped in sweet chilli sauce as a tasty and nutritious snack.
Can be eaten hot or cold.
Deeβs 6 Leek & Onion Vegan Sausages
The perfect partner to velvety mashed potatoes and homemade gravy, our Leek and Onion Sausages will become anΒ instant family favourite on your weekly menu.
Dragonfly Organic Bubble & Squeak Tatty
Our Tatty is a vegetarian burger that has a real bubble & squeak feel about it, made using locally sourced cabbage and onions
Linda McCartney Vegetarian Country Pies
Vegetarian pie made from a shortcrust pastry base, filled with rehydrated textured soya protein in a rich onion and beef-style gravy, topped with a puff pastry lid.
Linda McCartney Vegetarian Sausage Rolls
Vegetarian Cumberland sausage-style filling wrapped in puff pastry.
And there were three flavours of luxury organic vegan ice cream:

Booja BoojaΒ Hazelnut Chocolate Truffle,Β Booja BoojaΒ Raspberry Ripple andΒ Booja BoojaΒ Caramel Pecan Praline.
Luke was no longer fed up.Β He smiled broadly at his mum.
βAre these for all of us?β
βYes they are.Β For all of us,β she said happily, βand I got them from Bescoβs.Β They sell them in mainstream supermarkets Luke and that just shows how much progress youβre making.Β Thatβs what happens when you speak out and you keep speaking out.β
Mrs Walker was treated to a rare hug which lasted a good half minute, and then Luke ran from the kitchen.
βWhere are you going?β she called after him.
βIβve got some letters to write!β he said.

Happy Christmas everybody!
We hope you have a good one!
β€ β€ We’ll see you in the New Year! π β€ β€
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vegan, vegetarian, vegan children, veggie kids, animals, animal sanctuary, Christmas, childrenβs story, vegan childrenβs story, childrenβs book, vegan childrenβs book, juvenile fiction, hope
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