Author's ramblings: You like so far? We hope so! This is AJ's chapter.
****** Chapter 1
"I don't understand it. I don't understand it at all. But the Father has made his decision." Tess remarked.
"What don't you understand, Tess?" Monica asked as she and Andrew met Tess at the park entrance.
"Do we have a new assignment?" Andrew added.
"Well, yes, Baby," Tess began. She led her supervisees to her cherry-red Cadillac and climbed into the driver's seat. Monica took shotgun, and Andrew hopped in back. Tess started the engine, signaled, and entered traffic. "The Father has a new assignment for you two -"
"Just us?" Monica interrupted, glancing back at Andrew. "What about you?"
"Now, Angel Girl, let me finish," Tess replied, "I'll be around, but this assignment is for the two of you to complete. I'm taking you to meet Estelle Reilly. She's an older woman and is looking for a couple to board with her. Her husband passed away recently, and Mrs. Reilly has multiple sclerosis, so she has trouble getting around. Basically, you'll be helping her with everyday activities, like cleaning. Here we are." Tess had only driven a few blocks, and now parked in front of a two story, pale-brown house. It had an enclosed porch and white shutters. Wilting flowers poured out of the windowboxes, and the lawn needed to be mowed, but the paint job was new, and the place was in good repair. It had obviously been well-cared for not long ago.
"But Tess, don't her children take care of her?" Monica worried.
"Not that we mind!" Andrew clarified.
"She has two children," Tess replied, a little angrily, "But they don't visit much. Marcie and David came for their dad's funeral, then took off after the burial."
"That's so sad." Monica stared at the house sorrowfully.
"And that's where you two come in," Tess pointed out. Monica perked up, and looked back at Andrew. Andrew, for his part, grinned that show- stopping grin at his best friend.
"So what is it that you don't understand, Tess?" Andrew reminded his supervisor of her opening statement.
"Well, Angel Boy, there's a weird part to your assignment. The Father has decided to let you experience humanity," Tess shook her head. "I don't know why, but the Father has made his decision, and who am I to question it?"
"But Tess, you are questioning it," Monica teased.
"I am not! And we're not talking about me! We're talking about your assignment," Tess quickly changed the subject, "Now, to be human, you have to have last names. Monica, you are "Monica O'Hara", and Andrew, your last name is "Jones". Nice and simple, so don't forget them! To be legal citizens of the United States, you also have to have social security numbers. These are your cards," Tess handed each of her angels a small, blue card with nine numbers typed on them, "and you are officially registered with the Social Security Administration. It's all legal. And don't lose those cards, Babies. You're going to need them to get jobs and - " Tess paused, "other things."
"Like drivers' licenses?" Andrew prompted with a toothy grin.
Tess raised an eyebrow. "And what will you drive?"
Andrew spread his arms, indicating Tess's Caddy, her prized possession.
"Don't be too sure of that, Angel Boy," Tess countered. "You've got to earn that license first."
Andrew laughed, and Monica joined him. Tess chuckled too, shaking her head.
"All right, Angel Babies." As supervisor, Tess felt she had to take charge, "Time to go. I'll be by to check in with you soon. Remember, you're human now; you're God's children, instead of just his helpers. I expect you to take care of each other, and don't forget where you came from. God will always walk with you."
"We'll be fine, Tess, don't worry," Andrew replied gently as he and Monica climbed out of the car. Monica rushed around to the driver's side for a hug. She felt very apprehensive about being human. Monica had spent years studying humans, but she realized that she still knew very little about their everyday lives. Work projects, cooking, fixing the car, paying bills, grocery shopping. So much to think about, and she hadn't even been human for more than a few minutes. Humans sinned. Angels fell. Monica had seen it happen. But the temptation to sin was even greater for humans than it was for angels. What if, Monica thought, I'm overwhelmed with temptation? She knew the Father could still talk to her - He talks to humans, of course - but His words would come to her in more subtle ways. She and Andrew would have to listen closely to hear Him speaking to them. Monica prayed silently that they would know what to do.
"I wonder if this is how a mother feels when she sends her child off to college," Tess exclaimed, tears in her eyes as she hugged Monica. Monica's tears had spilled over onto her cheeks. Andrew felt like crying too - being fully human was a very scary endeavor for him too - but he also suddenly felt, for the first time, as though he shouldn't display his emotions. Instead, he just waited patiently for Monica, chewing on his bottom lip.
"All right now, Baby. You've got to go," Tess said softly. "God is always with you, human or angel."
Monica pulled herself away from her friend and wiped at her tears. Andrew stepped close and took her hand. "Everything will be fine," he soothed, almost as much for himself as for Monica. Holding Andrew's hand, Monica felt a little more safe and sure. There were terrific elements to humanity too, like love.
"I'll see you soon, Babies," Tess said. She and her car disappeared. Hand in hand, Monica and Andrew walked up the sidewalk to Mrs. Reilly's front door. ********
****** Chapter 1
"I don't understand it. I don't understand it at all. But the Father has made his decision." Tess remarked.
"What don't you understand, Tess?" Monica asked as she and Andrew met Tess at the park entrance.
"Do we have a new assignment?" Andrew added.
"Well, yes, Baby," Tess began. She led her supervisees to her cherry-red Cadillac and climbed into the driver's seat. Monica took shotgun, and Andrew hopped in back. Tess started the engine, signaled, and entered traffic. "The Father has a new assignment for you two -"
"Just us?" Monica interrupted, glancing back at Andrew. "What about you?"
"Now, Angel Girl, let me finish," Tess replied, "I'll be around, but this assignment is for the two of you to complete. I'm taking you to meet Estelle Reilly. She's an older woman and is looking for a couple to board with her. Her husband passed away recently, and Mrs. Reilly has multiple sclerosis, so she has trouble getting around. Basically, you'll be helping her with everyday activities, like cleaning. Here we are." Tess had only driven a few blocks, and now parked in front of a two story, pale-brown house. It had an enclosed porch and white shutters. Wilting flowers poured out of the windowboxes, and the lawn needed to be mowed, but the paint job was new, and the place was in good repair. It had obviously been well-cared for not long ago.
"But Tess, don't her children take care of her?" Monica worried.
"Not that we mind!" Andrew clarified.
"She has two children," Tess replied, a little angrily, "But they don't visit much. Marcie and David came for their dad's funeral, then took off after the burial."
"That's so sad." Monica stared at the house sorrowfully.
"And that's where you two come in," Tess pointed out. Monica perked up, and looked back at Andrew. Andrew, for his part, grinned that show- stopping grin at his best friend.
"So what is it that you don't understand, Tess?" Andrew reminded his supervisor of her opening statement.
"Well, Angel Boy, there's a weird part to your assignment. The Father has decided to let you experience humanity," Tess shook her head. "I don't know why, but the Father has made his decision, and who am I to question it?"
"But Tess, you are questioning it," Monica teased.
"I am not! And we're not talking about me! We're talking about your assignment," Tess quickly changed the subject, "Now, to be human, you have to have last names. Monica, you are "Monica O'Hara", and Andrew, your last name is "Jones". Nice and simple, so don't forget them! To be legal citizens of the United States, you also have to have social security numbers. These are your cards," Tess handed each of her angels a small, blue card with nine numbers typed on them, "and you are officially registered with the Social Security Administration. It's all legal. And don't lose those cards, Babies. You're going to need them to get jobs and - " Tess paused, "other things."
"Like drivers' licenses?" Andrew prompted with a toothy grin.
Tess raised an eyebrow. "And what will you drive?"
Andrew spread his arms, indicating Tess's Caddy, her prized possession.
"Don't be too sure of that, Angel Boy," Tess countered. "You've got to earn that license first."
Andrew laughed, and Monica joined him. Tess chuckled too, shaking her head.
"All right, Angel Babies." As supervisor, Tess felt she had to take charge, "Time to go. I'll be by to check in with you soon. Remember, you're human now; you're God's children, instead of just his helpers. I expect you to take care of each other, and don't forget where you came from. God will always walk with you."
"We'll be fine, Tess, don't worry," Andrew replied gently as he and Monica climbed out of the car. Monica rushed around to the driver's side for a hug. She felt very apprehensive about being human. Monica had spent years studying humans, but she realized that she still knew very little about their everyday lives. Work projects, cooking, fixing the car, paying bills, grocery shopping. So much to think about, and she hadn't even been human for more than a few minutes. Humans sinned. Angels fell. Monica had seen it happen. But the temptation to sin was even greater for humans than it was for angels. What if, Monica thought, I'm overwhelmed with temptation? She knew the Father could still talk to her - He talks to humans, of course - but His words would come to her in more subtle ways. She and Andrew would have to listen closely to hear Him speaking to them. Monica prayed silently that they would know what to do.
"I wonder if this is how a mother feels when she sends her child off to college," Tess exclaimed, tears in her eyes as she hugged Monica. Monica's tears had spilled over onto her cheeks. Andrew felt like crying too - being fully human was a very scary endeavor for him too - but he also suddenly felt, for the first time, as though he shouldn't display his emotions. Instead, he just waited patiently for Monica, chewing on his bottom lip.
"All right now, Baby. You've got to go," Tess said softly. "God is always with you, human or angel."
Monica pulled herself away from her friend and wiped at her tears. Andrew stepped close and took her hand. "Everything will be fine," he soothed, almost as much for himself as for Monica. Holding Andrew's hand, Monica felt a little more safe and sure. There were terrific elements to humanity too, like love.
"I'll see you soon, Babies," Tess said. She and her car disappeared. Hand in hand, Monica and Andrew walked up the sidewalk to Mrs. Reilly's front door. ********