Kidnapped Read Online Free PDF

back to study the list of questions. This was a hard puzzle.
    Lynn raised her hand. “Maybe . . . temperature ?”
    Caroline counted the letters. “Beautiful job.” She filled in the letters. It was the first time Lynn had volunteered an answer today. She was a quiet student, but today was unusual. Something was bothering her, and Caroline still hadn’t figured out what it was. Papers rustled behind her as students filled in five down on their copies of the puzzle.
    The last bell of the day rang.
    â€œWhoever finishes the puzzle gets an extra ten minutes of art time. Enjoy your long weekend.”
    Her kids were already moving, backpacks straining with books, assignment folders, and gym shoes. The boy in the third row, fourth seat, didn’t move with the others. Caroline set a three-by-five card on his desk and softly said, “Fifty times.” He tugged out a piece of paper and pen without debating the point. Detention had become almost routine for both Kevin and herself.
    Caroline followed her students to the door. Lockers lined the hall, and the sixth graders from the next room dominated the hallway so that her kids disappeared into the crush of bodies. She smiled greetings to kids from last year and saw from the milling parents in the hallway that the third-grade class was not yet back from their half-day field trip.
    Benjamin had told her all about the trip while he waited in her classroom this morning for the bus that would take them to the museum. He’d be back soon, overflowing with news of what he had seen.
    Caroline turned back into her classroom, out of habit advancing the calendar page by the door, then switched the blue cards that gave the lunch choices to next week’s menu. She straightened desks. In this small private Christian school she served as janitor for her own classroom.
    She started updating the schedule on the sideboard that would run the class Tuesday. She assigned Lynn as the teacher’s assistant so they would have a few minutes to talk.
    Kevin slid out of his chair and brought her his paper. “I’m done.”
    She took it and scanned the repeated sentence: I’m a better man than I acted today. “Your penmanship is improving.”
    Kevin shrugged. “I need a new pen.”
    â€œI can probably handle that for you. Do you have a ride, or can I give you a lift home?”
    â€œI’m okay; football practice is this afternoon. Can I go now?”
    â€œI want a story from you. Ten pages, as extra credit to make up for the science project you had problems with.”
    He shifted on his feet. She knew his daddy would be on him about the science project and Kevin did too. Saving face still mattered. “Five pages,” Kevin countered.
    â€œSeven.”
    â€œAny story?”
    â€œAs long as it’s written for me as the audience and involves some science fact you had to look up.”
    He nodded and turned to get his backpack. “I’ll bring it next week, Miss Carol.”
    She smiled as he disappeared through the doorway, his backpack rubbing the floor. He liked creative writing, even if he was reluctant to admit it.
    She looked around the empty desks, names and faces coming easily to mind, reviewing how the day had gone for each one of them. Her students were doing fine, even those like Kevin who forgot to pay attention when he should. They’ve worked hard this week, Lord. Bring them safely back to school on Tuesday ready to learn.
    She shut off the lights and locked her classroom, as relieved as her kids to be out at two for the Labor Day break. Driving into Atlanta to see the Braves’ game Saturday had blossomed into a full weekend schedule. Caroline joined the flow of parents heading to the parking lot to meet the arriving bus.
    She set her briefcase on the bench and leaned against the light pole taped with flyers for the upcoming school band concert. Benjamin finally appeared at the top of the bus