Here in My Heart: A Novella (Echoes of the Heart) Read Online Free PDF Page A

end up being the worst improved, and everyone would see.
    Mr. Dixon got down on one knee. “I think you do, Lisa. I think it scares you how much you want to show everyone what you’ve learned.”
    She did. She wanted to so much. She wanted everyone to see how hard she was trying. She wanted the Dixons and Dru and the other kids to see she could do something right.
    “And what have we learned about being afraid?” Dru asked. “I know you, Lisa. You’re super smart. You had all the handouts I’ve given out memorized the first night you took them home. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon tell me you’re one of the brightest kids they’ve ever fostered. Your teachers at Chandler Elementary think so. Most of the kids do, too, and that’s probably part of why they give you such a hard time sometimes when you make mistakes. You understand everything, but understanding isn’t always enough, is it? And that’s scary. But what do radKIDS do when they’re scared?”
    “We . . .” Lisa could feel people looking at her again. They weren’t talking as much. She realized it was because Simon had stopped working with Officer Douglas. She would be the last kid to pretend to defend herself against the police officer covered all over in big red pads. “We tell whoever’s making us afraid ‘No.’”
    “That’s right.” Dru smiled for real, her eyes all squinty and happy. “And if the person keeps doing what’s making you afraid? What do you do next?”
    “I say it louder. ‘No!’”
    “Good girl.”
    Dru looked around them. Parents were nodding and smiling, Mrs. Dixon especially. The other kids weren’t laughing, and Lisa had yelled really loud.
    “So,” Dru said, “can you show us all how to face your fear and fight back? Because a radKID is never powerless. A radKID knows how to fight until they can run away and get the help they need to be safe again, right? You’d be doing me a big favor, making sure everyone sees just how important all of this is. We need a big finale. Help me kick things up a notch for our last demonstration.”
    Lisa could see Officer Douglas listening, too. Even Simon was staring at her and Dru while he took off his pads.
    “What do I have to do?”
    “If Officer Douglas is up for it”—Dru looked over her shoulder—“I want to try something we were taught in our training, but I haven’t done it with one of my classes yet. I haven’t had the right student before. They told us we had to be sure we had someone who wouldn’t give up when they were afraid, didn’t they, Officer Douglas?” Dru took Lisa’s hand and turned toward the rest of the room, leading Lisa through the crowd toward the police officer. “Brad, I’d like you to meet Lisa Burns. I’m hoping she’ll help us out with a more realistic demonstration.”
    “Hello, Lisa,” the tall man said.
    His voice was deep, but he didn’t sound mean. His eyes were pretty and blue, even prettier than Dru’s. And his smile was so real. Lisa smiled back.
    He looked at Dru for a long time, almost as if he were saying something to her without any words, and then he smiled some more at Lisa.
    “You ready to show your stuff?” he asked.

Chapter Three

    Dru held her breath, silently thanking Brad for playing along. She was counting on him to be careful with Lisa. And the last time she’d trusted him, he’d broken her heart and been the reason Oliver had left Chandlerville and her foster family forever.
    Dru smiled down at Lisa, knowing the little girl was worried she’d do something wrong while everybody watched. Brad reached out a hand covered in padding.
    “Let’s give everyone a show,” he said.
    Lisa let him lead her to Sally, who got Lisa into her own padding. A low murmur spread through the waiting crowd. When Lisa was set, Sally joined Dru at the edge of the demonstration area. Brad looked over at Dru. Understanding connected them, feeling so familiar she was suddenly more nervous and unsettled than Lisa.
    “Ready?” Brad