Angels on Earth
by Kaitlin Stokes

chapter three

Joan left the hospital that evening feeling more fulfilled than she had in years. She still wasn't aware of why God had given her this mission, but she knew in her heart that it felt right.

"I'm home." Joan said as she walked into her family's spacious house.

"Hi honey, I got your message and I'm very proud of you. A little confused, but proud." Her mother said as she set the table.

"What message?" Will asked. He'd just come in from a long day at work.

"Joan is working at the Children's Hospital.....with the Oncology kids right?"

Joan nodded.

"Are you sure that's wise honey? You may be setting yourself up for some major heartbreak."

"Oh Will, leave her alone. She knows what she wants to do, and no one gets through life without a little heartbreak.

Joan rolled her eyes, "I'll be fine daddy."

Later that night and through out the next day at school, Joan found herself anxious for the day to end so she could get back to the hospital. She felt she had really found her place in the world.

When Joan arrived at the hospital the next day she was happy to find Emma looking well and playing in the playroom with Kait.

"JOAN!!!" Emma squealed with delight, jumping into Joan's open arms.

"Hey there you cute little thing, how are you today?"

"I'm good!"

"Hey Kait." Joan said waving as she rubbed Emma's back.

"Hi Joan! Joan, these are my friends Kayla, Madeline, Cody, Justin, and Christi, guys this is Joan, she's a new volunteer."

"Oh, fresh blood." Justin said sarcastically.

Kayla rolled her eyes, "Ignore him Joan, the cancer has gone to his brain."

Joan's mouth hung open at this remark, but Justin gave a wave of his hand and dismissed the comment, "It's okay, just a little black humor."

"What Justin MEANT in his joke was that most of the volunteers just don't hang around here too long. I think we've met about 100 people over the past few months and they're gone as quick as they come. They get attached to one patient and then the patient dies and it's over."

"But...what about the patients who are still living?"

"It only takes watching one person succumb to cancer to turn you off to the whole deal completely, trust me." Joan squirmed a little at the thought.

Sensing Joan's uneasiness, Kait spoke up, "We really don't talk about this sad stuff all the time, but the thoughts do get to you. Come on you guys, give Joan a break, she's new. Besides Joan, I think there's someone Emma really wants you to meet."

Joan looked into Emma's eyes, having momentarily forgotten that the child was in her arms. Emma smiled, "I want you to meet my bestest friend ever, come on!"

"Well, you just point me in the right direction." Joan followed Emma's instructions through the twists and turns of the hospital halls. Finally, they reached the correct room.

"Joan, this is my bestest friend Lexi." The small child said, pointing to a frail child lying on the bed. "Lexi, this is my new friend Joan, she's all grown up and she's really nice."

"Hi Lexi." Joan said, swallowing the lump in her throat. Lexi looked terribly sick, but Emma did not seem the least bit put off.

Lexi smiled and waved. "She's a little shy." Emma whispered in Joan's ear.

"It's okay Lexi, you don't have to be shy."

"You're not a doctor right?"

Joan looked confused for a minute but then shook her head, "Nope."

"So no shots?"

"No, no shots from me anyway." Relief spread across Lexi's face.

"Well, then you can be my friend too."

"Good, I'll have the two cutest friends of any of the other volunteers on the oncology floor."

Emma giggled, "We're not cute."

"Sure you are, you're cute as two little buttons."

"I've never really understood that, are buttons really cute? Cause I haven't seen a real cute button in a long time." Lexi asked, looking perplexed.

Joan laughed, "I don't know, you sure are clever, how old are you?"

"I'm seven."

"Well, you're a very wise seven."

Lexi nodded, "Yeah, my mommy said my cancer must have come with some extra brain cells. I'd take not being so smart over havin' cancer any day!"

"Where are you from Lexi? You sound like you're from the south.";

Lexi giggled and nodded, "Yep, I'm from Georgia, but my mommy and daddy moved us up here when I got cancer cause this hospital had some hope for me."

Joan simply nodded and looked from Lexi to Emma. She thought about the countless other children who suffered, the families who gave up almost everything in an attempt to save them, the doctors and nurses who devoted their lives to dying children, and the God who had the power to save them, but didn't. She simply couldn't understand.

chapter four

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