Angels on Earth
by Kaitlin Stokes

chapter one

Joan sat starring at the back of her brother's head during 3rd period AP Chem. She understood why God had requested she join AP chemistry in the first place, so that she would meet Adam and in doing so, get Kevin a job. But she simply could not understand why she had to STAY in AP Chem. She hated the class, and hated it even more now that Adam hated her. Hate, hate, and more hate. She wondered why God had created a world with such hate. She still could not fully grasp the meanings of the world. Just last night she had talked to Rocky's mother, the little boy she babysat. Apparently he was not doing well at all. This news upset Joan greatly, she could not understand why God would put a child on Earth, only to have him live a short life filled with illness. Joan was jolted from her thoughts as the bell rang.

"Joan, what's up? Looked like you had some pretty intense thoughts running through your head. Were you trying to understand the chemistry or just thinking about how hot you think Justin Timberlake is?" Grace Polk asked coming up behind Joan, giving her a slap on the back and laughing.

"I was contemplating the great mysteries of the world actually."

"Yeah right, you?? What, why your hair stands up like it does on some days? Like I said, sometimes I just think about it and laugh."

"Never mind Grace, you wouldn't understand." Joan said, almost snapping.

"Wow, testy!" Grace said, holding her hands up in defense.

"Sorry I've just got a lot on my mind."

"Like what? Adam?"

"Among other things."

"Look Joan, don't worry, I'll talk to him okay?"

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Thanks Grace."

"No problem, just don't let it get around the school that I've actually done something nice. I've got my reputation you know."

"Yep, no problem, but we better hurry or we'll be late to our next class."

Grace waved her hand dismissively, "I told you Joan, I've got a reputation to keep, and that won't happen if I show up on time for a class."

"Right, see ya then." Joan said with a nod as she rushed off.

Joan was once again lost in thought as she walked home after school. Luke had to stay late, and her mother had some work to catch up on so she agreed to just take Luke home herself. Joan was walking particularly slow, not really anxious to get home. She walked passed the playground and took a peek inside, almost half expecting to see the adorable big eyed, curly haired little girl God. No such luck, Joan let out a sigh of relief, she was not in the mood to talk to God, but that was usually when God decided He wanted to talk to Joan. She walked further along, humming the song Angel, almost completely unaware of her surroundings. She turned around when she heard the cheery bells of the Ice Cream truck.

"That's odd, Ice Cream in November?" she said aloud to herself. As she continued to walk, the Ice Cream truck pulled up beside her and came to a stop.

Puzzled, she said, "I don't want any ice cream today thanks."

"Oh sure you do, it's your favorite. I think I may even have some of your favorite flavor Cookie Dough. Which by the way, I saw you eat straight out of the carton when you though no one was watching."

"God?" Joan sighed, almost exasperated.

"But of course."

"God serves ice cream?"

"I am everywhere, I do everything."

"That's almost cryptic." Joan said with a slight laugh. "So what do you want me to do today God? Ask the school bully to the dance or break my best friend's heart."

"I told you Joan, I have a reason for everything. You altered the course of many peoples lives, and saved a dozen people by asking Ramsey to the dance."

Joan sighed, "I know, it's just..sometimes I doubt."

"Doubt me? My reasons? That's human nature; everyone has his or her doubts about something. But still, you trust, that's part of faith Joan, trusting in what cannot be explained or grasped by the simple human mind."

"So now you're insulting me?"

"Well, you've insulted me before Joan."

"What are we, five?"

"No, actually, you're 16, and I am not of any age. Remember Joan, I am not bound by time."

"What do you want me to do?" Joan said, ignoring his last comment. "If I stand here talking to you much longer people will think I'm strange."

"I want you to love Joan. I want you to love, learn, listen, and comfort.

"In other words..."

"I want you to volunteer at the Children's Hospital."

"Sounds simple enough, I'll volunteer on the surgery floor or something and file papers."

"No Joan...I knew you'd say that. I want you to volunteer on the Oncology unit."

"Oncology?"

"Cancer Joan."

Joan's face changed to one of shock as she recoiled at the sound of the word. "You want me to volunteer on the floor that treats children with cancer."

"Yes."

"But...those kids die."

"Yes Joan they do..but there are lessons to be learned and children to be loved. Worry about their now, in the very moment you are spending with them, not their future."

Joan shook her head, she could not begin to understand why. "And if I don't?"

"I told you Joan, you have free will, but I'd hope that you've come to trust me enough to know that I would only request you do this for the greater good."

"Right," Joan nodded, "the greater good." And with that she walked off in the opposite direction towards the Children's Hospital. God simply smiled, satisfied.

Joan almost gagged on the all too familiar smell of the hospital as she walked inside. She wanted to turn around and leave, but she didn't. The faces of the lives she saved by obeying God kept flashing in her mind. These pictures alone allowed her the strength to walk up to the desk.

"Um, hi, I'm Joan Girardi, I'm interested in volunteering on the Oncology floor."

The nurse at the desk looked a little surprised, but smiled at Joan and nodded. "Of course, I can take you up there if you like, it's the 5th floor."

"Thank you." Joan said, thankful for the woman's company.

"They really need people up there. A lot of times it's hard to find volunteers to work with the sickest kids, they're too afraid they'll have their hearts broken."

"Will they?"

The nurse nodded, "Yes, whenever you work with medically fragile kids you risk getting your heart broken. But you also can almost guarantee smiles, laughs, and lots of love."

"Medically fragile?"

"Yes, the very sick, the dying, the ones with terminal illnesses."

"I babysat a little boy with Cystic Fibrosis for a couple of days."

The nurse smiled sadly, "Well then, you know just what you're getting yourself into then, don't you dear?" The nurse said as she stepped off the elevator onto the 5th floor. Joan simply shrugged.

"Here we are." The nurse said as she lead Joan into the spacious hall. The walls were painted brightly with a mural of a beautiful field of flowers and a vast blue sky.

"Wow." Joan said looking around. The halls were lined with medical equipment, and strangely enough wagons. There were children, some bald, some not, riding their IV poles through the halls.

Approaching another nurse, the nurse Joan had been following said, "Sarah, this is Joan Girardi, she is interested in volunteering up here for you guys."

Sarah smiled and extended her hand, "It's very nice to meet you Joan."

"Thanks, it's nice to meet you too."

"Well Joan, I'm going to leave you in the very capable hands of Sarah. If you need anything while you're visiting here just come find me, I'm Erin by the way." The pretty nurse said, turning to leave.

"Thanks." Joan said waving.

"So Joan, how old are you?" Sarah said, leading Joan to the nurse's desk.

"Sixteen."

"Fabulous." Sarah said clapping her hands, "Just old enough to volunteer."

"Well Joan, I'll just need to go over some rules with you and have you fill out some forms, and you can even start today if you like."

"Great." Joan said smiling.

"Girardi, is your father the Chief of police?"

"Yes, he is."

"Wonderful, I hear he is a great man. We'll be lucky to have his daughter working here."

Sarah talked to Joan as she filled out some papers. "We just have some basic rules, the main one is you must never come in if you have so much as a sniffle, these kids have no immune systems and a simple cold could kill them. Hand washing is important anytime you go from one child to the next. Of course, we have to keep our patients medical information confidential. But most importantly, have fun. These children really need some light in their lives."

"I can handle that." Joan said, a smile slowly spreading across her face. She was beginning to like the idea of helping sick children. Little did Joan know, the children would really be helping her.

chapter two

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