CHAPTERS 6, 7 and 8

CHAPTER 6

Monica was sitting in one of the 150 seats inside of Cathedral High School gymnasium, surrounded by many other people, mainly students. All of them eager for the basketball match to start. Andrew soon came along carrying two large size cups: one of soda, another of coffee, and it didn’t take him too long to spot his best friend among the crowd, having gone to sit beside her:

“Here it is...”, he said, handing her one of the cups, “Double mocha late with cinnamon.”

“Oh thank you, Andy!”

Happily, she wasted no time in grabbing the cup and taking a sip of the drink she loved so much. Andrew watched her: although her addiction to caffeine was something to be worried about, he couldn’t help chuckling at her almost childish satisfaction in tasting it.

“Just do me a favour? When we report our ‘free time assignment’ to Tess, don’t tell her how much coffee I let you drink, OK?”

“Deal!”, she said, with a smile and a wink. Annie soon came up and went to sit together with the two angels:

“Hello Annie, anxious to see Brian play?”, asked Monica.

“Well... yeah... kind of...”, the girl replied with some despondency.

“Hey, what’s the matter, Annie?”

“Nothing really, Andrew... It’s just that I’ve already watched four matches in just two days. I’m a bit tired of gymnasiums and stadiums and people screaming around me all the time.”

“How was the outing at the museum yesterday?”

“Oh... I think Brian was really impressed by Picasso’s paintings, as he wanted to know when he was going to pop in and give a night of autographs...”, she explained, a little disappointed. Andrew and Monica’s first impulse was to laugh, but they didn’t, as they saw the expression on her face:

“Oh Annie, you just have to give him a chance, Brian is making a lot of effort to be familiar with the things you like.”

“I know that, Monica, I really do. And I appreciate that, be sure. I’m just tired, that’s all.”

In another part of the gymnasium, Kate, followed by Edward, who carried a lot of shop bags, looked for empty sits. After looking for them for almost half an hour, they could settle down:

“Oh, finally! I was almost sitting on the floor!”, said the boy, with relief and a physiognomy of tiredness.

“I’m glad the match hasn’t started yet. Grandma said that the team is one of the best in the schools championship, and, indeed, the boys haven’t missed a single match yet! I’m eager to see this one!...”, replied Kate, enthusiastically, and not seeming to be a bit tired.

“We’ve been walking for such a long time today... I’m so thirsty...”

Although he was on his last legs, Edward stood up and went to look for something to drink, as he too was thirsty.

The game finally started, and, although the visitors were really good, the Cathedral players were better, and managed to open 10 points of difference, winning the match. The audience applauded them excitedly, congratulating the team, with the exception of Edward, who had fallen asleep during the game and despite of all the noise that could be heard for over a mile.

CHAPTER 7

The movie session would start at 6 o’clock on that Saturday. The audience was starting to form a queue in front of the movie theatre and the film to be presented was a horror one. Among these people, there were an excited Brian, together with a not all too convinced Annie; and an anxious Kate, together with a tired looking Edward.

“Are you sure this film is good, Brian?”

“Yeah, I’m telling you, Annie. This film is really cool! I’ve already seen it three times! And I can’t believe you haven’t just once!”

“Ok, then. If you say it, I’ll give you some credit.”

*

“Kate are you sure you don’t want to see the other film?”

“Oh no, Eddie. I just love this one, it’s such a lot of fun! You’ll like it, I’m sure!”

“That’s alright, today is your turn to pick the outing, anyway. I’ll trust you!”

*

The theatre was opened and the public went in. Together with all those people, but unnoticed by the four teenagers, there were a worried Andrew and a nervous Monica. Hand in hand, they got into the movie theatre and took a seat in the back of the projection room:

“... I’m telling you Monica, everything will be ok around here! I’m sure the kids will do just fine.”

The Irish angel was a little hesitant:

“I know it, Andrew, it’s just that... well, I had to see them for myself, you know. Yesterday I met Annie in the library and I had the impression that she was a wee bit... disappointed...”

“Don’t you think it could have been just an impression?”

“Yes, maybe. But I also met Edward later on, and he had such a tired face... in fact, he slept over a book in a desk inside the library and I had to wake him up...”

“Maybe they’re having a hard week, with many tests and research works to do, besides, of course, having to go out with their new dates, it’s just a phase, and it’ll be over soon. Relax, Angel Girl, I’m sure everything will be fine. Remember that, although we are giving these kids a little help, there’s Someone in the control, and He never makes mistakes!”

She nodded:

“You’re right, Andrew. As usual. I guess I’m a wee bit overworried because it’s our first ‘free time assignment’...”

The blond angel chuckled at her wording:

“Well, then stop being overworried and try to enjoy the film... if it’s possible... As Brian and Kate would say, we really form a great team!”, he said, taking her hand and kissing her cheek. The film started and the audience turned its attention to the screen.

But, half an hour late, Annie stood up:

“Brian, will you excuse me for some time?”

“What is it, Annie?”, he asked, deeply entertained by the film.

“Well, I... I’ll buy some more popcorn...”, she replied, with a little uncertainty.

“Oh, could you buy some for me too?”

“Sure...”

The girl left the projection room and went to the cafeteria. Andrew and Monica saw not only her leaving, but also the expression on her face.

“Andrew... I think something happened... Did you see the look in her eyes?”

“Yes... Well... Let’s wait a little longer, if she doesn’t come back, you go and talk to her...”

A minute later, Kate, who was enjoying the film as much as Brian, turned to an almost sleeping Edward:

“Hey Eddie! Wake up! You are missing the best part!

“I’m sorry, Kate. It’s just that I worked until late yesterday evening, after we left the Mall... I think I’ll buy a cup of coffee, ok? I’ll be right back...”

Again, the angels watched the other teenager leaving the room: a tired looking Brian went to the cafeteria, the place he also worked:

“Angel Girl, have a look...”, said Andrew, now really worried.

“It’s Edward... Oh my, Andrew...”

“I’m afraid his face is as bad as Annie’s...”

Monica was really nervous with that:

“Our assignment, Andrew! We are going to fail our assignment!”

“Calm down Monica, we’ll do the following: let’s wait for 10 minutes, and if they don’t come back, then we’ll go after them, ok?”

The two angels decided to wait, although both of them were rather concerned with the last events.

*

At the cafeteria there were many posters of different kinds of movies, all of them had been great hits of their time. There, Annie and Edward stood for some time, looking at those posters, standing unnoticed by each other and separated by some meters of distance.

Annie was staring at the photographs with a sad look on her face.

“Here is your drink!”, said the man behind the counter, handing her two large cups of soda. She took the drinks and was already leaving when two tickets fell from her backpack. They were invitations to go to the preview of Disney’s ‘Monsters Inc.’. She didn’t notice it, but Edward, who was the only one around, took the tickets:

“Excuse me!”, he called. She turned around: “You let this fall from your bag.”

*

In this meantime:

“Andrew, it’s been such a long time, I think we’d better check them to see what has happened...”, said Monica, extremely worried. The blond angel glanced at his watch:

“Yes, they’ve been out there for over 10 minutes. Let’s go check on them.”, he agreed.

They moved from the projection room to the hall, looking for the two teenagers:

“They must be at the cafeteria”, said Andrew.

“Oh, I hope so. It’s quite dangerous to go out in the streets alone at night!”, Monica shook her head, “And we have to fix this situation immediately!”

“I’m afraid you’re right. If Tess finds out I don’t even want to think about what she’ll do...”

Suddenly, they heard a strong and familiar voice coming from behind them, which made both freeze:

“I suppose the movie isn’t that interesting, which doesn’t surprise me, as the announcement says ‘horror’ before its name!”

The two angels turned around to face their supervisor, who had her arms crossed, eyebrows lifted and a rather angry expression on her face:

“Tess!...”, they whispered, now much more worried then never. She walked over to them:

“But you know what really amazes me? Two angels coming in here to see that!... Unless, of course, there’s another good reason for them to be in this movie theatre, with those ‘guilty faces’ standing before me!”

They looked at each other without knowing what to say and, at the same time, thinking about what had happened to Annie and Edward.

“Tess, we...”

“Don’t you ‘Tess’ me, Miss Wings! I want a good explanation for this, and I want it now!”

CHAPTER 8

The girl took the tickets Edward handed her and smiled feebly:

“Thanks... I guess I’m quite absent minded today...”

“This film seems to be a lot of fun.”, he said. Annie nodded:

“Yeah, I think so. Besides, it’s all made with the use of the computer, and I love these kind of films!”

“Me too! Have you ever seen ‘Toy Story’?

“You’re kidding me! It’s my favourite one! And I’ve been watching all computer animated films since ‘Cassiopeia’, have you ever seen this one?”

“Of course I have. ‘Cassiopeia’ is a Brazilian film and was the first one all made with the use of the computer!”

She looked at him surprised:

“So you’re really an expert, aren’t you?!”

“Yep, I think I know a little about this kind of stuff!”

“Well, if you are so smart, then tell me who made the voices in ‘Toy Story’?

“Oh, c’mon, this is easy...”

*

Andrew and Monica looked at each other one more time and, realising there was no other choice, started to tell the oldest angel the truth:

“Well... everything started when I took Monica to the cinema for the first time...”, the blond angel started.

“That day we came back from Minnesota and you caught that terrible cold and couldn’t come with us, remember?, interrupted Monica.

“Just go on!”, fumed their supervisor, not pleased at all.

“Well...There were these two young boy and girl who were so lonely and unhappy...”

“And Monica and I decided to help these two teenagers to get out of all this sorrow they were through, to try to show them both that life is not to be lived in the pain and loneliness they were in.”

“We intended to make them get back all the enthusiasm and happiness they seemed to have lost.”

“As they study at the same school I was assigned, to help Margaret in the first place, it became easier.”

“And they really started to feel better...”, added the Irish angel.

“So we had to go on, to continue close to those kids so that we could transmit encouragement and hope to both.”

“And that’s what we’ve been doing so far, during our time off, you know.”

“To be honest, I don’t know it, as the word ‘supervisor’ doesn’t seem to mean anything to you!”, grumbled Tess.

“Oh, but it certainly does, Tess! We intended to tell you! It was a surprise for you, something that we knew you would be proud of, as it is you who always transmits to both Andy and I so much wisdom and courage...”, concluded Monica.

Although she still was a bit angry, Tess was really touched by those kind words, and, indeed, she was very proud of her two charges. But the oldest angel kept a stern look:

“Well, and where on earth are these two teenagers you have been babysitting for the last weeks?!”

The Irish angel bit her lips, looked at her best friend and after to her supervisor:

“That’s... That’s a very... pertinent question, Tess... You see... we...”

“C’mon, we don’t have all night long!”

“Well... Andrew and I... We’ve...”

But before she went on speaking, Andrew put his hand on her shoulder, to stop her:

“Monica, look!...”

The three angels looked at the entrance of the hall, from where Annie and Edward were coming, entertained in a good conversation. They crossed the hall and got into the projection room:

“Well, my friend is sitting over there.”, pointed the girl.

“I’m with a friend too. She must be somewhere over that way...”

A brief silence passed between them, and it was broken by the boy:

“It... It was really nice talking to you... I’ve never met somebody who knew so much about computers. She smiled shyly:

“I guess the same goes to you. I was beginning to believe that I was the only person in the world that enjoyed films and computers and them both together!”

He, too, smiled shyly:

“My name is Edward Davis.”

“Nice to meet you, Edward. I’m Annie Carter.”

The two teenagers shook hands with each other:

“Listen, Annie, I work here, so, if you want somebody to talk to...”

The girl was surprised:

“You work here?! But it’s cool!”

“Yeah, I think it is...”

“Well, I don’t work yet, but, if you wanna talk, I study quite near here, at Cathedral High School.”

“Are you serious? I study there too!”

“Really?! Wall, that’s what I call a coincidence!”

They shook hands one more time:

“So, I guess I’ll see you at school, Annie!”

“Deal! I’ll see you back on Monday, Edward!”

In the hall, Monica and Andrew were surprised to have seen the couple together and talking, as if they were old friends. Their first plan had eventually worked out well, as they had previously imagined, and a smile of relief appeared on their faces. The blond angel took his best friend’s hand in his own and squeezed it:

“As I said, Angel Girl, He is always on the control!”, he whispered into her ear. She smiled lovingly at him, but, before they said something else, Tess stared at them:

“So, I imagine this ‘secret assignment’ of yours has succeeded after all...”

“Actually Tess, we called it a ‘free time assignment’, and we were a wee bit overworried because we had some pro...”

“What Monica wants to say it that, yes, we’ve managed to achieve our goal: help Edward and Annie, as we imagined right from the start!”, interrupted Andrew, afraid that his best friend would say something unnecessary.

“I was under the impression that you were rather nervous when I arrived here...”

“...It’s because Monica and I wanted to see if everything was really going on well...”

“Yes... We would never want to disappoint you...”

“Umm... I see... And now that all this has finished, do you intend to go back inside that room to continue to watch that horror humans call a movie? No, that’s what I thought, so you’d better move your angelic butts outta here straight home, because I’m not to baby-sit two grown up angels anymore!

They looked at each other, knowing that that command was to be followed under no protest:

“Yes, ma’am!”, both replied.