Free A Hourse to Love by Marsha Hubler Page A

things ever make you feel better?”Mrs. Chambers asked.
    “Throwing up did and so did the other two until I got caught.”
    “But did they solve the problem?”
    “Nah.”
    “What causes people to hate, Skye? What causes people to lie, to murder, to do bad things?”

    “Bad vibes, raw deals — a rotten life that’s not fair.
    I’ve had my share,” Skye said.
    Mrs. Chambers reached for a book on her desk.
    Skye’s eyes fol owed her every move . Not the Bible! Here we go again , she groaned inwardly.
    Mrs. Chambers laid the book down and then leafed through it. “Did you know the Bible tel s us that Satan is the father of lies? He’s the enemy of God and the originator of sin. That includes hate, deceit, murder, and al evil. What do you think of that?” Since we’re talking about lies , I’ll demonstrate.
    Time for a lie — a big one , Skye thought.
    “For real,” she said with a charade of interest cloaking her face. “I never knew that. So it isn’t real y my fault, is it?” Skye knew about that Satan stuff from Mr. Rice, five foster homes ago. Most of the time Skye didn’t buy it. But sometimes she could feel something — anger, rage, hate — when she listened to hard rock or took certain pil s. Who knows?
    Maybe it was Satan’s power. Just thinking about it gave her the creeps.
    “Skye, your hate is your own fault,” Mrs. Chambers said, relaxing in her chair. “According to the Bible, we’re al responsible for our own actions.” She leaned back and smiled. “What do you think of your parents?”
    “I hate them!” Skye’s voice rose emphatical y.
    “How can you hate someone you don’t even know?”
    “I just do. That’s al . Can we change the subject?”Skye’s posture stiffened and her face flushed.

    “It’s going to take more sessions to deal with this issue, Skye. But before we wrap this up, I want you to realize one thing. Although you are total y responsible for al of your actions, there’s a reason behind it. You are so ful of hate for your parents that you can’t see straight. Did you know that anger and bitterness can destroy you?”
    Skye shook her head and slouched in disgust.
    Mrs. Chambers’ voice softened. “Skye, when you al ow bitterness to fester in your heart, it eats away at you just like a cancer. Eventual y it wil destroy you and deeply hurt al those around you. The only way you can get rid of it is to ask God to take it away.
    That’s why you’re stuck in a cycle of hate. That’s why you do drugs and run away. You need God to clean al that hate out of your heart and fil it with love — his love. Skye, are you listening?”
    “Yeah,” she said weakly. But she was thinking, Not in this lifetime! My parents can rot for all I care.

chapter eight
    S kye dragged herself off the yel ow school bus in front of Madison with what felt like a ton of books and two tons of homework. She hated this place!
    Besides suffering through the homework, her frazzled brain had been working overtime on this foster home business. If it weren’t for Champ, she’d be history!
    Trudging up the concrete steps, Skye scanned the hal way packed with rowdy middle schoolers banging locker doors, chattering with each other, hurrying, laughing, and scowling. Weaving her way to her locker, she searched desperately for two familiar faces.
    Sooze and Kenny , where are you? I just have to see you before I report to Principal Bubba’s office. I just have to!
    “Hi, Skye,” said a sweet voice from behind.
    Skye turned toward the girl who had grabbed her arm.
    “Oh, hi!” Skye said.
    It was Robin Ward, one of the few people Skye could stand at Madison. Robin had short dark hair and was built like a bul dozer, yet she was sweet as sugar. Robin was an honor rol student and a star softbal , basketbal , and soccer player. Skye hated to admit it as she looked at Robin’s short stocky frame, but she was actual y glad to see her, even if she was a little different.

    Different? It never