"Mercury Rising: Keeping Hope Alive"
By Astraea Silver
Silver_Astraea@yahoo.com
http://chezastraea.cjb.net/
Disclaimer: I don't own Monica, Tess, Andrew, or Gloria (or the dove, for that matter). They belong to Martha Williamson, CBS Productions, etc. The song "Eileen Aroon" is an adapted version of an Old Irish folksong that I found in an Irish songbook for the piano. The human characters and all situations in this story are mine. Please receive my permission before using anything of mine from this story in your own work. You can do so by emailing me at Silver_Astraea@yahoo.com. I am not receiving any financial benefit by writing this. It is purely for entertainment to others and myself.
*PROLOGUE*
Late one morning, a dove watched from its perch atop the branch of a tree as a solitary shadow swept briskly down the street and into the park. The being to which the shadow belonged acknowledged the white bird with a gentle nod before stopping in front of a park bench where another figure rested.
"Oh, you're finally here!" the woman who had been sitting said in a low but grateful tone. Relief was clearly written on her mahogany face, yet she was still quite uneasy.
"I came as quickly as I could," was the reply, laced with a lilting Irish brogue that hinted at her concern.
Had someone passed the two, they most likely never would have supposed they were angels, dispatched to Earth to guide humans at the crossroads of their lives.
"Thank you, Monica." The one with the deep voice sighed.
Monica studied the snow swirling around them and straightened her beret. "It's certainly getting cold, isn't it, Tess? But at least there's snow."
Tess nodded uncomfortably. "We haven't much time. I'm supposed to be across the city now as it is. Please listen closely."
"Of course." Monica sat down beside her supervisor.
"Gloria has her own assignment at the moment," Tess continued. "So do I; that's why I must hurry. I don't even know where Andrew is, but we've got to get you to work.before it's too late."
"Too late?" Monica repeated, fear swelling within the concern.
"Now don't you go and get scared out of your wings," the senior angel said firmly. "I don't mean to worry you. It's just.I don't know much of anything about your assignment, so I can't tell you for what to prepare. All I can say is remember that you'll know what you need to know.when you need to know it. I can also show you where your assignment is, but I don't even have their name." She paused for a moment, as if listening to something, or Someone. "Let's get going."
*
Now Tess and Monica stood at the top of a steep hill in the park, looking about them.
"Tess, I don't understand," Monica said quietly. "Where are they?"
Almost regretfully, Tess peered over the hill and indicated the bottom. Monica followed her gaze to a long, thin lump on the ground. Where it was not covered in snow, they could see patches of color.
Monica released a small, startled yelp as the realization hit her like a blizzard; it was a person, and whether or not it was the person she was sent for made no difference. She slid a little clumsily to the bottom of the hill, catching her balance. Hurriedly, she knelt down, removed the snow from the child and gingerly gathered her in her arms.
The girl appeared to be about seven years of age. Her strawberry-blonde hair was worn long and loose. It was now wet and tangled though held back with a dark green winter headband that also covered her ears. She wore a green coat over her shirt with jeans and plain sneakers. She still had one dark green glove, but she had apparently lost the other. Her skin was pale and dirty and her lips were turning blue from the cold. Monica could not see the child's eyes; she had not opened them nor stirred at all in general thus far.
Tess watched, still standing at the top of the hill. But she knew she had to go, and Monica would have to handle this on her own, for now, at least.
"Monica," she called gently, waiting until her protégé turned to her. "I have to leave, baby. I'll try to check on you soon. Don't worry. For all we know, this could be quite simple."
The younger-looking angel nodded sadly; she had seen worse situations, but she tended to be very sensitive and emotional no matter the degree of sorrow or pain her charges faced. "See you then."
"Goodbye," Tess said before disappearing from Monica's sight.
Monica sighed and said a prayer for the young girl's wellbeing, and that this whole big puzzle would soon be solved.
But she had not realized then just how big the puzzle would turn out to be.
By Astraea Silver
Silver_Astraea@yahoo.com
http://chezastraea.cjb.net/
Disclaimer: I don't own Monica, Tess, Andrew, or Gloria (or the dove, for that matter). They belong to Martha Williamson, CBS Productions, etc. The song "Eileen Aroon" is an adapted version of an Old Irish folksong that I found in an Irish songbook for the piano. The human characters and all situations in this story are mine. Please receive my permission before using anything of mine from this story in your own work. You can do so by emailing me at Silver_Astraea@yahoo.com. I am not receiving any financial benefit by writing this. It is purely for entertainment to others and myself.
*PROLOGUE*
Late one morning, a dove watched from its perch atop the branch of a tree as a solitary shadow swept briskly down the street and into the park. The being to which the shadow belonged acknowledged the white bird with a gentle nod before stopping in front of a park bench where another figure rested.
"Oh, you're finally here!" the woman who had been sitting said in a low but grateful tone. Relief was clearly written on her mahogany face, yet she was still quite uneasy.
"I came as quickly as I could," was the reply, laced with a lilting Irish brogue that hinted at her concern.
Had someone passed the two, they most likely never would have supposed they were angels, dispatched to Earth to guide humans at the crossroads of their lives.
"Thank you, Monica." The one with the deep voice sighed.
Monica studied the snow swirling around them and straightened her beret. "It's certainly getting cold, isn't it, Tess? But at least there's snow."
Tess nodded uncomfortably. "We haven't much time. I'm supposed to be across the city now as it is. Please listen closely."
"Of course." Monica sat down beside her supervisor.
"Gloria has her own assignment at the moment," Tess continued. "So do I; that's why I must hurry. I don't even know where Andrew is, but we've got to get you to work.before it's too late."
"Too late?" Monica repeated, fear swelling within the concern.
"Now don't you go and get scared out of your wings," the senior angel said firmly. "I don't mean to worry you. It's just.I don't know much of anything about your assignment, so I can't tell you for what to prepare. All I can say is remember that you'll know what you need to know.when you need to know it. I can also show you where your assignment is, but I don't even have their name." She paused for a moment, as if listening to something, or Someone. "Let's get going."
*
Now Tess and Monica stood at the top of a steep hill in the park, looking about them.
"Tess, I don't understand," Monica said quietly. "Where are they?"
Almost regretfully, Tess peered over the hill and indicated the bottom. Monica followed her gaze to a long, thin lump on the ground. Where it was not covered in snow, they could see patches of color.
Monica released a small, startled yelp as the realization hit her like a blizzard; it was a person, and whether or not it was the person she was sent for made no difference. She slid a little clumsily to the bottom of the hill, catching her balance. Hurriedly, she knelt down, removed the snow from the child and gingerly gathered her in her arms.
The girl appeared to be about seven years of age. Her strawberry-blonde hair was worn long and loose. It was now wet and tangled though held back with a dark green winter headband that also covered her ears. She wore a green coat over her shirt with jeans and plain sneakers. She still had one dark green glove, but she had apparently lost the other. Her skin was pale and dirty and her lips were turning blue from the cold. Monica could not see the child's eyes; she had not opened them nor stirred at all in general thus far.
Tess watched, still standing at the top of the hill. But she knew she had to go, and Monica would have to handle this on her own, for now, at least.
"Monica," she called gently, waiting until her protégé turned to her. "I have to leave, baby. I'll try to check on you soon. Don't worry. For all we know, this could be quite simple."
The younger-looking angel nodded sadly; she had seen worse situations, but she tended to be very sensitive and emotional no matter the degree of sorrow or pain her charges faced. "See you then."
"Goodbye," Tess said before disappearing from Monica's sight.
Monica sighed and said a prayer for the young girl's wellbeing, and that this whole big puzzle would soon be solved.
But she had not realized then just how big the puzzle would turn out to be.