Later that same night, Zoë went downstairs to find Tess. Her parents
were asleep, but she knew that Tess never slept. She found her in the
library, obviously looking for something.
"What are you looking for?" She asked. Tess turned around.
"What are you doing up?"
"Well, I couldn't sleep, and I got scared and I needed to talk to you."
"Well, that's different."
"But first, what are you looking for?"
"Just a book called Great Expectations, anyway what's bothering you?"
"Well," she began as she went and sat on the couch. "I remembered that every Angel has to go through the whole, uh.. Demon thing at least once. So, does that mean that I'm going to have to go through it?"
"Yes baby, you will."
"When?'
"There is no telling when it will happen, all we know is that you have to have faith in God when it dose happen. And besides, they can't hurt you."
"But they can scare you!"
"Are you scared of them?"
"Yes." She whispered.
"Oh, don't be they can't even do anything to you, there's no reason to be afraid of them. It might be even better to think of them as funny."
"That's a good idea. And now," she said, taking her hand, "it is time for bed."
"How come you never sleep?"
"I don't need to."
"Why?"
"Because I don't."
"Alright." She said.
"Year round school is so dumb!" Emma whined. "I just got finished with school a week ago! Now I have to go for another month until I have some time off!"
"You know, you would think that you would just be able to start again in September." Tessa said, her throat hurt.
"That's true. I guess they wanted something for me to do this summer. My mom didn't know that you'd be here. Sorry that you have to sit around the house all day by yourself."
"It's alright. I am an avid reader."
"I don't really like to read all that much; unless I am interested in the book that is. What is the fastest that you have ever read a book?"
"Me? I have no idea. But I have an aunt who can read an entire novel in like, I don't know a few seconds." She said, referring to Gloria.
"Wow, how does she do that?"
"Well," Tessa began, picking up a book. "She reads like this." Tessa immediately began to scan the page and then turn it merely seconds later.
"I am completely amazed. That is weird. I'm sorry, that is supernatural!"
"More supernatural than anyone could believe." Tessa decided that it was best to change the topic of conversation so as to not blow her cover.
"May be my aunt will take us shopping in the city tomorrow. Have you ever been shopping in New York before?"
"Yes, many times. My Mom loves New York."
"My Mom used to. But now," Emma sighed, "its Paris. Have you ever been to Paris Tessa?"
"Yeah. Have you?" "No. Did you like it?" "No." She laughed. "Not one bit. In my heart, I am only American." "Me too."
"Good morning love-bug. Wake-up Zoë."
"No Mommy!" She said, pulling the covers over her head.
"We've got a big day ahead of us."
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Well," Monica said as she pulled the covers off of her daughter's head. "We're leaving. It's time for another assignment."
"Oh, yeah, I am looking forward to it!"
"Hey, we'll have fun. Come on sweetheart, get dressed and come downstairs."
"Where is my stuff?" She asked as she sat up.
"Already in the car."
"Wow, you want out of here that much!"
"Yes, sweetie. Check to see if there is anything of yours that we missed." Monica kissed Zoë and left the room.
Leaving, how could they be leaving? They had only just gotten there. Oh well, she figured that a change of scenery might possibly help her. Sure she was sad. But she was sick of being sad. After looking for her stuff in her room she quickly made her way down to the car.
"What's the matter sweetie?"
Zoë glared at her father. "Well, I don't really want to leave."
"Why?"
"Because we never get to stay anywhere for any length of time and I...I just wanted to stay here for a while, that's all."
"Well sweetie, there's nothing I can do about that, and I am truly sorry. I know how you feel." He said as he picked her up. "When you were little, it was practically unbearable. When your Mom was going to have you and your sister things were much, much harder. But as you grow, it will become easier, and you'll adjust. You might even grow to love it."
"Daddy, how long have you been doing this?"
"I have no idea."
"That's what Mommy said. At least I know how old I am."
"And where would we be without that vital information?"
"Aunt Monica, now that we've finished the whole shopping thing can we go visit Jodie?" Emma asked her aunt.
"I don't know, it all depends on Tessa."
"Sure, I'll go."
"But, you don't even know who Jodie is or, where he is."
"It does not matter to me, not one bit."
"Alright, let's go. Emma did you bring something for him?"
"Quite a few things actually. And I know he'll love every bit of it."
As they drove to go see Jodie, Tessa wondered where Jodie was and what was wrong with him. As the car pulled into the hospital parking lot half of Tessa's question was answered. Obviously, Jodie was sick.
As they walked through the hospital she saw many, many people with numerous kinds of illnesses. As they were about to turn the corner into Jodie's room Tessa saw something that caught her eye, but she kept walking. Then she felt herself run into someone. She quickly turned her attention to that and it was Tess! But before she could say anything, Emma pulled her into Jodie's room. Upon walking into the room she saw a boy in a full body cast. At least his head had been spared with the exception of a minor bruise.
"Hey, how are you feeling Jodie?"
"I've been better, but I have got to say that that stunt was one of my best."
"I agree, even though you broke just about every bone in your body."
"I'll laugh later."
"I'm laughing now."
"That's ok, I don't blame you. Hey Mrs. Bing! You wanna sign my cast?"
"Where?"
"Anywhere. I've got a whole body to be signed!"
"Alright. How about on your shoulder, where's a pen?"
"Sure and it's on the nightstand." Monica picked up the pen and began to sign Jodie's cast.
"Jodie, this is my friend Tessa. She's a foreign exchange student from Ireland."
"Hey I would shake your hand or wave or something, but obviously, that just isn't possible. It's nice to meet you anyway."
"You to." She smiled.
"You know, I can't even play X-BOX anymore!"
"At least you can't shop. You hate shopping!"
"You're right, and that's a relief."
"Alright Jodie, it's all done."
"Thanks Mrs. Bing."
"Your welcome Jodie. Girls, we should really get going."
"Wait, Jodie, I brought you some stuff. Here's the twelve inch Darth Maul action figure you left in my room." She said placing it on his nightstand. "Darth Maul, buddy, how you been? Sorry, I can't give him a high-five either."
"And the new Aerosmith CD."
"Rock on!"
"And, a book I read that you will love once you can move your hands, North and South."
"Is it about the civil war?" Emma nodded. "Yes!"
"And then, my Mom sent this one for each of us. I don't think that you'll like it, but whatever, here, Eloise in Paris."
"I love Eloise! I can't wait to move my hands again!" He said. "Thanks Emma."
"I'll call you soon."
"Bye."
"Nice to have met you." Tessa was the last one out of the room and as she turned to wave goodbye, she saw something she didn't want to see, she saw her father, in angel form. She ignored him and the encounter puzzled her for the rest of the day.
All that night Tessa lie awake in her bed. Her throat hurt so much. She wanted to scream, but she honestly didn't think she could, even if she wanted to. So she went downstairs and got herself some Tylenol and some ice cream. Soon, Monica was in the kitchen too.
"Are you ok?"
"My throat hurts." She could barely say.
"It does not sound too good either. Maybe you should go see a doctor tomorrow." Tessa didn't know what to say to that. But all of a sudden she saw a figure behind Monica who she recognized instantly to be Sam, and he nodded in approval. As soon as Tessa agreed, he was gone.
"What are you looking for?" She asked. Tess turned around.
"What are you doing up?"
"Well, I couldn't sleep, and I got scared and I needed to talk to you."
"Well, that's different."
"But first, what are you looking for?"
"Just a book called Great Expectations, anyway what's bothering you?"
"Well," she began as she went and sat on the couch. "I remembered that every Angel has to go through the whole, uh.. Demon thing at least once. So, does that mean that I'm going to have to go through it?"
"Yes baby, you will."
"When?'
"There is no telling when it will happen, all we know is that you have to have faith in God when it dose happen. And besides, they can't hurt you."
"But they can scare you!"
"Are you scared of them?"
"Yes." She whispered.
"Oh, don't be they can't even do anything to you, there's no reason to be afraid of them. It might be even better to think of them as funny."
"That's a good idea. And now," she said, taking her hand, "it is time for bed."
"How come you never sleep?"
"I don't need to."
"Why?"
"Because I don't."
"Alright." She said.
"Year round school is so dumb!" Emma whined. "I just got finished with school a week ago! Now I have to go for another month until I have some time off!"
"You know, you would think that you would just be able to start again in September." Tessa said, her throat hurt.
"That's true. I guess they wanted something for me to do this summer. My mom didn't know that you'd be here. Sorry that you have to sit around the house all day by yourself."
"It's alright. I am an avid reader."
"I don't really like to read all that much; unless I am interested in the book that is. What is the fastest that you have ever read a book?"
"Me? I have no idea. But I have an aunt who can read an entire novel in like, I don't know a few seconds." She said, referring to Gloria.
"Wow, how does she do that?"
"Well," Tessa began, picking up a book. "She reads like this." Tessa immediately began to scan the page and then turn it merely seconds later.
"I am completely amazed. That is weird. I'm sorry, that is supernatural!"
"More supernatural than anyone could believe." Tessa decided that it was best to change the topic of conversation so as to not blow her cover.
"May be my aunt will take us shopping in the city tomorrow. Have you ever been shopping in New York before?"
"Yes, many times. My Mom loves New York."
"My Mom used to. But now," Emma sighed, "its Paris. Have you ever been to Paris Tessa?"
"Yeah. Have you?" "No. Did you like it?" "No." She laughed. "Not one bit. In my heart, I am only American." "Me too."
"Good morning love-bug. Wake-up Zoë."
"No Mommy!" She said, pulling the covers over her head.
"We've got a big day ahead of us."
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Well," Monica said as she pulled the covers off of her daughter's head. "We're leaving. It's time for another assignment."
"Oh, yeah, I am looking forward to it!"
"Hey, we'll have fun. Come on sweetheart, get dressed and come downstairs."
"Where is my stuff?" She asked as she sat up.
"Already in the car."
"Wow, you want out of here that much!"
"Yes, sweetie. Check to see if there is anything of yours that we missed." Monica kissed Zoë and left the room.
Leaving, how could they be leaving? They had only just gotten there. Oh well, she figured that a change of scenery might possibly help her. Sure she was sad. But she was sick of being sad. After looking for her stuff in her room she quickly made her way down to the car.
"What's the matter sweetie?"
Zoë glared at her father. "Well, I don't really want to leave."
"Why?"
"Because we never get to stay anywhere for any length of time and I...I just wanted to stay here for a while, that's all."
"Well sweetie, there's nothing I can do about that, and I am truly sorry. I know how you feel." He said as he picked her up. "When you were little, it was practically unbearable. When your Mom was going to have you and your sister things were much, much harder. But as you grow, it will become easier, and you'll adjust. You might even grow to love it."
"Daddy, how long have you been doing this?"
"I have no idea."
"That's what Mommy said. At least I know how old I am."
"And where would we be without that vital information?"
"Aunt Monica, now that we've finished the whole shopping thing can we go visit Jodie?" Emma asked her aunt.
"I don't know, it all depends on Tessa."
"Sure, I'll go."
"But, you don't even know who Jodie is or, where he is."
"It does not matter to me, not one bit."
"Alright, let's go. Emma did you bring something for him?"
"Quite a few things actually. And I know he'll love every bit of it."
As they drove to go see Jodie, Tessa wondered where Jodie was and what was wrong with him. As the car pulled into the hospital parking lot half of Tessa's question was answered. Obviously, Jodie was sick.
As they walked through the hospital she saw many, many people with numerous kinds of illnesses. As they were about to turn the corner into Jodie's room Tessa saw something that caught her eye, but she kept walking. Then she felt herself run into someone. She quickly turned her attention to that and it was Tess! But before she could say anything, Emma pulled her into Jodie's room. Upon walking into the room she saw a boy in a full body cast. At least his head had been spared with the exception of a minor bruise.
"Hey, how are you feeling Jodie?"
"I've been better, but I have got to say that that stunt was one of my best."
"I agree, even though you broke just about every bone in your body."
"I'll laugh later."
"I'm laughing now."
"That's ok, I don't blame you. Hey Mrs. Bing! You wanna sign my cast?"
"Where?"
"Anywhere. I've got a whole body to be signed!"
"Alright. How about on your shoulder, where's a pen?"
"Sure and it's on the nightstand." Monica picked up the pen and began to sign Jodie's cast.
"Jodie, this is my friend Tessa. She's a foreign exchange student from Ireland."
"Hey I would shake your hand or wave or something, but obviously, that just isn't possible. It's nice to meet you anyway."
"You to." She smiled.
"You know, I can't even play X-BOX anymore!"
"At least you can't shop. You hate shopping!"
"You're right, and that's a relief."
"Alright Jodie, it's all done."
"Thanks Mrs. Bing."
"Your welcome Jodie. Girls, we should really get going."
"Wait, Jodie, I brought you some stuff. Here's the twelve inch Darth Maul action figure you left in my room." She said placing it on his nightstand. "Darth Maul, buddy, how you been? Sorry, I can't give him a high-five either."
"And the new Aerosmith CD."
"Rock on!"
"And, a book I read that you will love once you can move your hands, North and South."
"Is it about the civil war?" Emma nodded. "Yes!"
"And then, my Mom sent this one for each of us. I don't think that you'll like it, but whatever, here, Eloise in Paris."
"I love Eloise! I can't wait to move my hands again!" He said. "Thanks Emma."
"I'll call you soon."
"Bye."
"Nice to have met you." Tessa was the last one out of the room and as she turned to wave goodbye, she saw something she didn't want to see, she saw her father, in angel form. She ignored him and the encounter puzzled her for the rest of the day.
All that night Tessa lie awake in her bed. Her throat hurt so much. She wanted to scream, but she honestly didn't think she could, even if she wanted to. So she went downstairs and got herself some Tylenol and some ice cream. Soon, Monica was in the kitchen too.
"Are you ok?"
"My throat hurts." She could barely say.
"It does not sound too good either. Maybe you should go see a doctor tomorrow." Tessa didn't know what to say to that. But all of a sudden she saw a figure behind Monica who she recognized instantly to be Sam, and he nodded in approval. As soon as Tessa agreed, he was gone.