Chapter 1: Cat's Out of The Bag.
Joan Girardi was not the typical 17 year old. Perhaps there were similar girls to her, God rarely answers questions. The thought of someone else being the errand girl of God didn't provide much comfort, in fact a pang of pity crept through her. It wasn't that she didn't like doing her job, and although at times her missions seemed pointless, she knew that it was for the greater good. This, however, didn't diminish the embarrassment she had to endure. Any day God could walk up to her and ask for something. If she received vacation time, she was unaware of it. She couldn't really ask God either, simply because he would give an amused smile while giving his 'Free Will' speech.
Joan could deal with this, she had done it for almost a year now. . What she couldn't deal with was how it separated her from her family and friends. The secret she possessed, one that would cause chaos in the religious world, had driven a wedge between her family and friends. Most importantly however, it made Joan feel guilty when she spoke with Adam.
Joan could remember early on in her role as Errand Girl, she had come close to telling Adam. That was until God had showed up trying to look for the Large Print Section. Divine Intervention perhaps. God had not necessarily forbade telling Adam her secret. In fact, Joan could shout it on the roof tops ifs he so pleased. But she could never do that, and God knew it. God wasn't worried if Adam knew the truth, because God knew he would accept it. It was to protect Adam, who would be going through a very difficult time.
So Joan had a secret and feared to reveal it. Speaking to god, not to mention seeing him, was a clear indicator of an unstable mind. Joan had pondered this thought several times through the lonely nights. What if it wasn't real? That she had imagined it? Could she have endangered her life for nothing? Deep inside, a small voice would whisper. This whisper, perhaps that feeling God spoke of the first day, calmed and eased her mind. After all even Luke, perhaps the most logical person she knew and a man of science to boot, believed in God. Or at least some concept of it.
So when her secret was revealed on one dreary night. All of her fears had trespassed from her wild imagination into reality.
"What were you thinking?" Will Girardi shouted, his anger unparalleled. "You could have been killed. You should have gotten an adult, you should know this."
"Will, we don't need the neighbors overhearing." Helen Girardi placed a comforting hand on her husband's shoulder.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this," Joan shouted, her own anger rising, "How was I supposed to know? He doesn't give me any of the answers, just things to do." In her fury she had allowed her words uncensored. Her parents angry faces twisted with confusion.
"Who gives you things to do?" Will demanded. "So I can wring his neck."
"Will!" Helen scolded.
"Look anyone who sends my girl into danger, will have to deal with me." Will jabbed his thumb into his chest. Now it was Joan's turn to be confused.
"I thought we raised you better," Helen began softly. Good parent, Bad parent, Joan thought dismally. "Why would you listen to a creep if he doesn't tell you why?" Now it was Joan's turn to be confused. She looked dumbfounded at her parents.
"Who are you guys talking about?" Joan asked, her anger tapering off. Surely she hadn't mentioned God had she?"
"This dirtbag, the one who gives you these 'tasks', what's his name." Will's voice still carried that 'I'm going to kill him' tone. her daughter could have been so easily fooled by some guy.
"I'm not lying!" Joan shouted. She was suddenly aware that the whole neighborhood probably heard her, but in her anger she didn't think twice on it. The argument waged, neither side gaining any ground.
"You haven't joined a cult have you?" Her father asked. He had been working on a case dealing with a very demented cult.
"I didn't say anything about a guy." Joan said defensively, but she knew it to be a lie.
"Is this what he asks you to do too? Lie?" Helen frowned. She couldn't believe
"Of course not!" shouted Joan wanting to bury her head in the sand. "You won't believe me anyways." Her voice had now taken on a whimper. The fighter in her was exhausted. She had seriously botched a a mission with disastrous results. She simply gave in, and with a weak whisper she spoke, "God" he parents suddenly sobered up. If they were angry, they didn't show it.
"What do you mean by God?" Will asked. He had been raised as Catholic and had been an altar boy. But as he grew up, the world seemed to demented and cruel for a 'benevolent' god.
"I..." Joan began but stopped. How do you explain to your atheist father and agnostic mother that you had conversations with God? "He... well she..." Joan tried to come up with a way to explain it, but everything failed her.
"Honey," Helen said as she sat next to her daughter on the couch. She reached out for Joan's hand, but Joan retracted her hand. Helen paused, mulling over what she was about to say. "Sweety, what do you mean God asks you to do things? Just say it."
"No, I want to go to bed," Joan whimpered, tears already forming at her eyes. She was done for, she would be sent to an insane asylum.
"If this is some attempt to gain attention.." Will said soothingly as if he understood. This let loose the rest of her energy to fight.
"Do you think I like this!" Joan shouted. "Everyday there is a chance that God will show up and give me a vague idea of what to do and something about Ripples."
"Ripples?" Helen asked, but Joan ignored her.
"Everyday I get to embarrass myself in more creative ways." Joan was freely sobbing now, but somehow it felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"Then why do it?" Will asked, all the while planning on how to deal with his mentally unstable daughter. He had learned to perfect this technique early in his career. Often when he had collared a criminal on small time stuff. While a part of him asked the questions and listened, another pondered on other things unrelated to the actual criminal.
"How do you tell God no?" Joan hugged her stunned mother. Her tears soaking her mothers blouse. She was unsure of why she was crying. Perhaps for the future that would never be, one does not simply confess you talk to God in such a manner and expect a normal life afterwards. Perhaps it was because she was happy that the secret was out, that they knew about her relationship with God. Maybe it was because she felt like she had let God down. Whatever the reason, the ripples will spread. Where they go more ripples will form and touch lives around the world. Thats how it was supposed to work, right?