Chasing Hope Read Online Free Page A

you ask.”
    “Uh, in this particular case you might want to hear what the favor is before you say that.”
    He leaned back against his desk and folded his arms across his chest, his smile only broadening. “I must say, I am more than a little intrigued.”
    “Well, here’s the thing. My grandmother has this friend, Maudie Jenkins, and Mrs. Jenkins’ granddaughter moved in with her a while ago and she attends school here. I gather she was pretty good at track back in junior high.”
    The hint of a new prodigy lit his eyes with interest. “Jenkins? I don’t recognize the name. She’s new here did you say?”
    “The girl’s last name is Philip. Brandy Philip.”
    He blew out a long, slow puff of air. “That name I do know.”
    “Somehow I thought you would.”
    The interest faded from his eyes. “That kid is trouble on two feet.”
    Sabrina nodded. “So I gathered. But fast feet, and well, here’s the thing. There are some legal issues at hand, and her grandmother has been led to believe that getting her signed up for anextracurricular activity will increase her chances of staying out of juvie. I know that the track coach has refused to take her on, but I was hoping maybe you could, sort of, I don’t know, count her as a project for the semester? Her grandmother is desperate.”
    “Rossina’s never been one to take on the troublemakers, so I’m not surprised she refused to take her. Brandy is welcome to give cross-country a try next year. Of course, everyone around here knows that I have a zero-tolerance policy with conduct issues. She wouldn’t last a week.”
    “You’re right.” Sabrina had no doubt that he was. Well, she’d done what she set out to do, asked the favor as her grandmother had requested. “Thanks for taking the time to talk to me about it.”
    “You know I’m happy to talk to you at any time.” His face grew serious. “How are you, really? Are you . . . you know . . .”
    “Good. I’m good. Concentrating on graduating magna cum laude in a few months, that’s the goal now.” She turned to go, relieved it was over. Yet, when she got to the door, she wasn’t quite sure why she did it, but she turned. “You know, I actually saw Brandy Philip run last week.”
    “And?”
    “She runs faster than any sixteen-year-old I’ve ever seen. Her form’s not quite right, but I would say the kid has some of the rawest talent I’ve ever been around.” No reason to mention the fact that she’d had a can of spray paint in her hand and campus security hot on her tail. “Nice talking to you.” She walked from his classroom, but not before she noticed the glimmer of interest reignite in his eye.

4
    I guess we’d better start heading back. I pride myself on making an appearance in at least one class a day.” Brandy took one last drag from the cigarette, then threw it to the ground. She watched it roll its way beneath the shiny red convertible parked in the back row of the school’s lot.
    “Better watch out. Miss Homecoming-Queen-of-the-World would be positively appalled to find something so dirty in the vicinity of her beautiful new birthday present.” Janie threw her hand over her eyes and pretended to faint. “ Oh, the outrage of it all .” She feigned a high-pitched Scarlett O’Hara kind of southern accent, a sharp contrast to her own deep voice and country twang.
    “Oh, I do apologize, madam.” Brandy approached the vehicle in question. She turned back toward Janie. “You got a key? I’m thinking this paint job could use a little . . . customizing.”
    “Customizing, yeah, I think that’s exactly what that car needs.” Janie rubbed her chin between her thumb and forefinger. “Yes, definitely.” She pulled a key ring out of her pocket and tossed it toward Brandy, but not quite far enough.
    Brandy bent over and picked it up. The small metal ring held a large brass J, a miniature Corvette, and a multicolored peace sign, as well as two keys. The first key was blunt