Chapter Seven

Friday started the same as Thursday and Wednesday and Tuesday and Monday. Nova sat at her desk half-heartedly participating in Mrs. Pierce’s testing, trying to balance her teacher’s voice with all of the other noises both in the room and in her head. It was not easy. She did not do well. Nova thought about Francine telling her to do her best job and tried to work harder, but it was impossible. She found herself wondering what would happen if she did her worst job instead, if she didn’t even try. Would Francine and Billy give her back to foster care? When Bridget stopped doing well in school, when she stopped trying and told everyone she didn’t care about the rules or her grades anymore, their last foster family threatened to send her away. They said they couldn’t handle her anymore. That was why she wanted to escape.

“We might have to be apart for a little while, Nova,” she’d said. “They might separate us again, but if they do, I’ll come back for you. I’ll be back before the Challenger launches so we can watch it together, like we planned, no matter what. I promise.”

The first time they got separated, almost one whole year ago, Nova was scared. She and Bridget had never been apart before, not overnight, not even one time, but all of a sudden Nova was in a group home for special kids and Bridget was someplace else, and nobody told her why or for how long they’d be apart. Every night, after she was tucked in, Nova would sneak out of bed and go to the window to find the three brightest stars and wish for Bridget to find her. It took a long time, from before Valentine’s Day to after Easter, but finally Nova got her wish.

It was a Tuesday afternoon when Mrs. Steele, their social worker, picked Nova up at school. She talked to the teacher for a few minutes, then turned to Nova and said, “I have a surprise for you!”

When they got out to Mrs. Steele’s wood-paneled station wagon, there was Bridget, grinning in the backseat. Nova jumped and squeaked and crawled in beside her. Then they hugged and hugged and Bridget promised she would never let them get split up again. Mrs. Steele drove a long way to their new home, where they had hot oatmeal, warm blankets, and two sets of bunk beds. The new foster parents did not allow loud music or TV or caffeine, but Nova didn’t care about any of their silly rules. She was just happy to be back with Bridget.

“You knew I’d get us back together, right, Nova?” Bridget asked before bedtime that first night. “You weren’t too scared? You knew I’d fix it.”

“Mm!” said Nova, pulling NASA Bear out of her backpack and handing him to her sister.