Page 46 of The Beast's Heart

“Mal broke the tree!” Ben says.

“You’re such a baby!” Mal shoots back. To me, he says, “I didn’t break it, it was broken in the storm already.

“He swung from it!” Ben says.

“I didn’t!”

“Did too!”

“Okay, stop. Stop.” I hold up my hands. No one was hurt, that’s the important thing. “I think this means it’s time for worksheets.”

A symphony of groans greets that news.

I pull the worksheets I prepared out of my messenger bag. Fortunately, the foundation offices have a state-of-the-art copier that has really helped with lesson planning. Some of these worksheets are from the books that Zane sent, and some are my own creation.

“Now, you’re going to work in pairs,” I tell the children. Alisha has already lifted Enrique onto her hip, ready to help him with his exercises, but I have something else in mind.

“Alisha, I’ll take Enrique.”

“But—”

“And you’re with Adam.”

“I… are you sure?” he says as I pass him the sheet.

“You’re the plant expert last I checked.” I think he flushes a little beneath his beard.Wouldn’t that be something?“Mal and Ben, will you behave if I put you together?”

They agree a little too readily.

Alisha is still clinging to Enrique. “He won’t go with you.”

“I think he will.” I’m not nearly as certain as I sound, but he’s been warming to me. It’s worth a try.

She sets him down, reluctantly.

“Come on Enrique, I’ve got a new game for you. Alisha’s going to do a very boring worksheet with Adam. Don’t you want to play a game with me?”

His big eyes look between me and Adam. He clearly understands what I said. I’m not above a bit of bribery. I pull a fruit snack from my pocket. Adam laughs softly. But that does the trick. Enrique comes over. I open the packet for him and hand out the rest of the worksheets.

“Okay we’ll meet back here when you’re done. Don’t wander too far.”

I’m a little worried that Enrique will run after Alisha when she disappears through some trees with Adam, but he only looks up at me, waiting for the game.

I hunker down next to him. “Okay, here’s the game. I want you to please find me all of the leaves that have these shapes…”

Ben and Mal are the first to return. Mal is waving his sheet declaring that he finished first. Their worksheet was really a scavenger hunt with some words for them to write out.

I’m pleased to see that Ben traced his letters carefully and didn’t get any of the letters back to front this time and he lights up when I praise him. I suspect he’s slightly dyslexic and that’s why he’s so terrified of tests. I’ve noticed that the calmer he is, the more he’s able to focus. So, we’ve been working on it together. Mal’s worksheet was a little more challenging and I can see by his untidy scrawl that he rushed through it, but I don’tspot any mistakes. He’s a bright boy, though I doubt anyone has told him that before.

They’re both still full of energy, and they dash between the trees, chasing each other. Enrique runs after them, laughing and shrieking.

“Careful!” I call.

Adam and Alisha should be back by now. The forest is sprawling and tangled beyond the paths. Did they get lost?

“Mal! Slow down!” He races around a tree yelling that the other two won’t be able to catch him. “Mal!”

He skids to a halt and Ben slides right into him, slipping on the muddy ground. They giggle.

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