Thimble Summer

Garnet feels scared as Mr. Freebody’s dog goes on barking. Then, a boy emerges from the dark woods. She notices that he looks exhausted. The group offers the boy coffee and food, as he has not eaten in two days. Mr. Freebody and Mr. Linden ask him questions. The boy reluctantly introduces himself. He is a 13-year-old named Eric Swanstrom. He was hitchhiking but could not find a ride during the day and decided to sleep in the woods. He has no family and says he can take care of himself. He prefers to live on his own rather than go to a children’s home. 

Eric comes from Sweden. His parents migrated to Minnesota and bought a farm that he remembers fondly. His mother died when he was one. After his father had an accident and lost his arm, they sold the farm and moved to New York. His father got a newspaper stand, and Eric helped with the work, selling magazines and drinks. He enjoyed the time with his father, but he died a year before. After his death, the landlady offered to help Eric, but the boy wanted to find his father’s cousin in Oregon.