Chapter 5
Benayeem sat very still as Uncle cut his hair, turning the scissors so they came close to his head. The haircut was taking forever, but Ben had learned that rushing Uncle Dawit would only make him go slower, so he waited, holding his body still though he wanted to jump off his stool. Today was the first day he would be with the singers for a ceremony, a journey day.
Last week Ben's teacher had put a hand on his shoulder and told him that he could join the other singers for this journey day. Hundreds of Maweel would meet in the meadow at the banks of the river, just beyond the palace, for the travel ceremony. A thrill had run over him at his teacher's words. Singing the stories with all the other singers!
Ben had seen only two of the travel ceremonies. One was during his own jo
