Monica stood on a hiking trail, deep in her thoughts. She was excited, nervous, and scared all at once. It was not a lovely feeling at all. She had no idea what her future would hold and that scared her. Was she really ready to do this?
Suddenly Tess appeared beside her. "What's on your mind Angel Girl?" She asked. Monica was glad that Tess was here. She really needed her.
"I don't know if I'm ready for this." She said. "You know, being a supervisor. I don't know if I can't do this alone."
"Oh but you won't be alone Monica. God will be with you through all of this. Also I will be around for the first couple of your assignments with Gracie.
"Gracie?" Monica asked.
"Yes" Tess replied "Your caseworkers name is Gracie."
"What does she look like?"
"I can't tell you because I don't know, but you'll know who she is when you see her." Tess told her. Monica sighed. "Hang in there Ms. Wings. Everything will turn out in the end."
"So where do I wait for Gracie?" Monica questioned.
"Just keep on walking up this path towards the park. Halfway there you should find a bench. Wait for her there."
"Okay." Monica responded still not to sure about her new job.
"Don't fret too much about this Monica. You're going to be great at being a supervisor." After giving Monica a quick hug Tess left.
Running her hand through her hair Monica made her way up the trail.
"Coming in on your left!" A voice called behind her. Turning her head to see who it was Monica saw a thirteen year girl with long black hair and olive skin riding on a skateboard. She wore khaki cargo shorts and a purple tank top. Her dark brown eyes were bright and twinkling, but that quickly changed when they widened and the girl screamed "Watch out!"
Before Monica could respond both of them went crashing towards the ground.
"What was that?" The girl cried when they both got up.
"What do you mean what was that?" Monica yelled back. "You're the one who crashed in to me!"
"Well yea but I said I was coming in on your left!"
"Yes but then you came up on my right!"
"So?"
"So you don't say you're going to be on my left when you're really going to be on my right!" Monica exclaimed.
"I don't have time for this!" The girl shouted. Then turning on her heel she walked over to a nearby bench and sat down. Monica followed her.
"Are you stalking me?" The girl shrieked when Monica sat down.
"No!" Monica snapped. "I'm actually meeting someone here."
"Oh." The girl said. Monica figured if she waited long enough the girl would go away but she didn't.
"Don't you need to be somewhere else?" Monica asked. "You know doing kid stuff, hanging out with your friends or something?"
"No." The girl replied. "I happen to be waiting for someone too."
"Oh really?" Monica questioned. "Who?"
"Why do you need to know?" The girl snapped.
"I was just wondering." Monica muttered.
"Oh." The girl shrugged.
Monica waited and waited but the girl didn't leave and no one else showed up. Then a thought popped in her head. She was waiting for someone and so was this girl. No one had shown up for either of them, and they had both been told to wait for someone on this particular bench. As much as she wanted to believe it wasn't true, she couldn't. Turning to face the girl she prepared to ask the question that was haunting her mind. But the girl beat her to it.
"Monica?" She practically whispered.
"So you must be Gracie." Monica affirmed.
"Yea." Gracie said turning one of the wheels of her skateboard with her finger. "Well this is awkward."
"I um have my car parked near the top of the trail." Monica told her. "How about we go and get some coffee and get to know each other."
"Sure." Gracie said getting up and tucking her skateboard under her arm.
"How about you start heading up, and I'll meet you there." Monica said. She had to find Tess.
"Why?" Gracie asked putting her hand on her hip.
"Just go!" Monica wanted to yell. "Why couldn't this angel just do what she was told?
"Fine!" Gracie sighed. Then hopping on her skateboard she started going up the trail.
"So that's Gracie huh?" Tess asked after Gracie had left. "She's a feisty one isn't she?"
"She's impossible Tess!" Monica wailed. "And she's a child! She won't do what she's told and she gives me attitude all the time! What am I going to do with her?"
"Well why don't you start with getting to know her over coffee like you told her you would." Monica sighed. "You can handle this Monica. I know you can." Tess reassured her.
"Well I learned from the best." Monica said smiling a little bit. Tess smiled too.
"Gracie is probably looking for you." Tess said.
"Yes I better go." Monica said. Taking a deep breath she went to find Gracie. They had some getting-to-know-each-other things to do.