JAN 25, 1986

Dear Bridget,

T-minus three days until Challenger launch.

I have been writing to you every single day.

Have you been writing to me?

Today Francine wanted me to read with her. She made flash cards. They were like the flash cards you made for me in kindergarten except these had no pictures on the back. I think I should be happy because she said she was happy, but I feel not happy. Even though I know my ABCs, reading is hard and writing is harder and I’m afraid I’ll never be able to do it like you do. I’ve always hated how X makes a Z sound and C makes an S sound. I also hate how b and p and d and q all look kind of the same but are not the same. And I really hated how when you told me “Lowercase A is just a moon with a tail!” I could not get my tail to attach to my moon.

I am sorry I hit you when you said try again. I did not want to try again but it was not nice to hit you. At school Mrs. Pierce says “Happy Hands” means no hitting. She says hitting is very bad. She says after we hit, we say sorry. So I am also sorry I did not say sorry after I hit you, Bridget.

And I am extra sorry because I hit Bouncing Buddy at school yesterday.

It happened at Morning Circle. I was trying to make Music Margot’s head stay up when Miss Chambers made me switch seats with Bouncing Buddy. This put me next to Wispy Lip Luke and him next to Bossy Mallory.

During the Pledge of Allegiance, Buddy stopped bouncing and snatched Mallory’s glasses right off her face.

“Give them back, Buddy!” she shouted. He put them on his own face. She screamed louder, “Give them back!”

He ran away from Circle and jumped up on my desk. He was laughing. Mallory started to cry, which is different because Quiet Mary-Beth is usually the one who cries. Mallory says crying is for babies.

Mrs. Pierce asked Buddy two times very nicely to give them back but he did not so I climbed up on the table too and punched him in the shoulder. Then I took back Mallory’s glasses and brought them to her. Buddy climbed down and went back to his seat.

Mallory was happy and I was happy but Miss Chambers was not happy. She said, “Happy Hands means no hitting, Nova! Hitting our friends is never allowed!”

After school when Francine came, Mrs. Pierce told her about what I did.

On the drive home, Francine said she was “very disappointed” in me.

NASA Bear felt very disappointed too.

Am I turning into a bad girl? One who burns cookies, hits friends, and does not try hard at testing?

Tomorrow Mrs. Steele will come.

I want Billy and Francine to tell her good things, not like the last foster family who always told her bad things.

I want them to say I can stay.

I want them to let you stay too.

I want you and the Wests together to be my forever family.

I want you to be proud of me.

The Challenger launches in three days, Bridget.

I will be waiting for you at Jefferson Middle School in Mr. O’Reilly’s classroom on the first floor, sixth-grade wing, room 106, past the Bridge to Terabithia poster.

I know you will find me because you found me before, and also because you promised.

But every day I’m a little more worried.

I miss you.

Love,

Your Super Nova