Bekaa Valley, Lebanon (CNN) -- He escaped the war, but life's no happier now for Omar. The 8-year-old Syrian refugee longs for friends back in Qusayr, hard hit by a civil war that grinds on. He also misses days in school -- when the most he had to worry about was finishing his homework.

"I work so I can bring money for my family," says Omar. His mother, like other refugees, asked that their last names not be used as they are worried for their safety.

Eddie Izzard: In Syrian refugee camps, another day of childhood is lost

I met Omar on a hot, dusty day in Lebanon's wind-swept Bekaa Valley. We were interviewing his mother when Omar and his 14-year-old brother came zooming by on a motorbike. They had just finished gathering eggs at a nearby farm -- what little money the kids make is the only way their family is able to survive.

The job is hard, but Omar went through an even more difficult experience recently.

"They hit us," he says timidly, describing how Lebanese boys his age beat him up.

"They said to me," he adds, embarrassed and close to tears, " 'Damn every Syrian.' "

Omar now faces a different kind of brutality -- a harsh reality reflected in the weary faces of kids all around. Their eyes make them seem far older. There's no childhood spark, with smiles few and far between.

I ask a 15-year-old girl what life's been like for her here.

"Life?" She asks unbelievingly -- as if the question were a farce. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who escaped war?
2. How old is he?
3. where is he from?
4. Does he miss someone?
5. Who?
6. From where?
7. Is it a peaceful town?
8. Why?
9. Does he have perfect attendance?
10. What does he do to help his family?
11. What is his moms name?
12. Who did he meet?
13. Does he enjoy his childhood?
14. How old is he?
15. Does Omar have siblings?
16. How old
17. Was the job easy for him?
18. Were they nice to him?
19. What did they do?
20. Was there a girl?
Answer: 1. Omar
2. Eight
3. Syrian
4. yes
5. his friends
6. Qusayr
7. no
8. Civil War
9. No
10. he works
11. unknown
12. Eddie Izzard
13. no
14. unknown
15. yes
16. 14
17. No
18. no
19. Hit them
20. Yes

"Hi, Jenny!" "Hi, Brian! What class do you have next?" "I have art next," says Brian. "It's my favourite. I draw six pictures every week." "You are a good painter ," says Jenny. "I see some of your pictures. They are beautiful. I like art too, but I am not good at it. I am not going to be a painter when I am older!" "I tell you, Jenny," says Brian. "Art is interesting for everyone. You don't need to be good at it." "You are right, Brian," says Jenny. "And I like our art teacher. He teaches us a lot. I am much better at art this year. "Yes. Mr. Smith is good. He looks like a great painter too, with his long hair and big beard ." "When do you have art lesson, Jenny?" asks Brian. Jenny looks at her timetable. "I have art tomorrow morning," she says. "What class are you going to now?" asks Brian. "I'm going to music class. It's one of my favourites! We are learning a new song this week. I love to sing. What's the time, please?" Brian looks at his watch. "Oh, no! It's 2:13! There are only two minutes!" "Hurry, Brian!" says Jenny. "We don't want to be late for class! See you later." "Okay. I am going to art class. See you after school!" What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who wants to be a painter?
2. When does Jenny have art class?
3. Who is the art instructor?
4. What other class did Brian have?
5. Does Mr. Smith have a beard?
6. How does Jenny keep track of her schedule?
7. How many drawings does Brian make weekly?
8. Does Brian dislike singing?
9. How does he tell time?
10. Did Brian say that Jenny should be a better artist?
Answer: 1. Brian
2. In the morning
3. Mr. Smith
4. music class
5. Yes
6. her timetable
7. siz
8. No
9. with a watch
10. No

CHAPTER II

One evening Fru Astrida sat in her tall chair in the chimney corner, her distaff, with its load of flax in her hand, while she twisted and drew out the thread, and her spindle danced on the floor. Opposite to her sat, sleeping in his chair, Sir Eric de Centeville; Osmond was on a low bench within the chimney corner, trimming and shaping with his knife some feathers of the wild goose, which were to fly in a different fashion from their former one, and serve, not to wing the flight of a harmless goose, but of a sharp arrow.

The men of the household sat ranged on benches on one side of the hall, the women on the other; a great red fire, together with an immense flickering lamp which hung from the ceiling, supplied the light; the windows were closed with wooden shutters, and the whole apartment had a cheerful appearance. Two or three large hounds were reposing in front of the hearth, and among them sat little Richard of Normandy, now smoothing down their broad silken ears; now tickling the large cushions of their feet with the end of one of Osmond's feathers; now fairly pulling open the eyes of one of the good-natured sleepy creatures, which only stretched its legs, and remonstrated with a sort of low groan, rather than a growl. The boy's eyes were, all the time, intently fixed on Dame Astrida, as if he would not lose one word of the story she was telling him; how Earl Rollo, his grandfather, had sailed into the mouth of the Seine, and how Archbishop Franco, of Rouen, had come to meet him and brought him the keys of the town, and how not one Neustrian of Rouen had met with harm from the brave Northmen. Then she told him of his grandfather's baptism, and how during the seven days that he wore his white baptismal robes, he had made large gifts to all the chief churches in his dukedom of Normandy. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What did Fru have in her hand at the start?
2. Was she in the room alone?
3. Who was handling a sharp object?
4. What was he doing?
5. Where was he sitting?
Answer:
1. Her distaff
2. No
3. Sir Eric de Centeville
4. Trimming and shaping some feathers
5. Opposite to her