PART 3

PART 3

After driving along the huge green mountains for a few hours, Tess parked the red Cadillac in a small clearing, with a plain ground and surrounded by bushy trees, the ideal place for camping.

“So? What do you think?”, Monica asked, as she had been the one in charge of choosing the perfect camp site for them to spend their days off.

“Well, I have to admit that you have good taste…”, the supervisor said, looking around them, “It’s beautiful and it doesn’t bear any resemblance to a pre historic site! Good choice, Angel Girl!”

“Tess is right; it couldn’t be better, sweetie!”, Andrew exclaimed, squeezing his dearest friend’s shoulder. The Irish angel smiled broadly:

“I knew you would like it! I used to come here once in a while, when I was in search and rescue, you know. I would spend hours walking around, barefoot, just listening to the birds and feeling the warm sun on my face! I’m glad I could bring you two here with me this time!”

Tess and Andrew exchanged a quick glance, not missing Monica’s happiness for being there, which caused them to be equally happy.

“Well, so let’s not lose any time, we have to pitch the tent and set the things out!”, the oldest angel commanded. They got out of the car and started their job, which took nearly 2 hours. Andrew helped Monica to pitch the tent  but, as soon as they finished it, the Irish angel gently shoved him outside because she insisted on decorating its interior and the blond angel had no other choice but to help Tess to organise the other camp objects. And little Joy had been running along the 3 angels’ feet all the time, attentively watching them to work.

*

Some time later:

“Tess, Andrew, I’ve finished!”, Monica happily announced. The 2 angels, who had also concluded their tasks, went to see their friend’s ‘tent décor’:

“Angel Girl, you did a very good job here!”, the supervisor exclaimed, really pleased with her charge’s work. Andrew crossed his arms in front of his chest:

“It’s girlish!”, he protested, with some (mock) annoyance in the tone of his voice. The tent was all decorated with small flowers and there were some pink blankets and pillows neatly folded and placed on its fluffy white floor. Monica shrugged her shoulders and, standing side by side with Tess, she took little Joy in her arms:

“There are 3 girls here, Andrew!”, she replied, somewhat defiantly.

“She’s right!”, the supervisor agreed, “And I like it!”

Joy barked twice, as if she was also agreeing with her mom and grandma. Andrew rolled his eyes even more ‘upset’. Finding his annoyance really funny (and knowing pretty well it was totally fake), Monica pointed out:

“But you shouldn’t worry, Andrew. I didn’t forget you. I set your things over there…”

Right behind him, Andrew blue blanket and pillow were carefully arranged, together with his backpack:

“Yeah… At least they’re not pink!”, he said, a little more resigned. Monica and Tess looked at each other with a mischievous glance and, placing Joy on the floor, the Irish angel grabbed Andrew’s hand:

“I remember there’s a waterfall near here and I can’t wait to visit it again!…”

Although he tried to hide it, a slight smile insisted on appearing on the blond angel’s face:

“I bet I can get there first than you!”, he said, and left the tent in a rush, surprising his dearest friend:

“Hey! That’s not fair!”, she protested, running after him. But, before the 2 angels and the little dog that chased them everywhere could disappear from the camp site, Tess took a whistle from inside her pocket and blew it loudly through the forest:

“Hold it there, you 3!!!”

They immediately stopped running and looked back at her, who stared at them with a serious expression on her face:

“In line, all of you!”

Andrew and Monica exchanged a rather amused glance with each other, finding the expression on the supervisor’s face hilarious, and both angels, together with little Joy, obeyed to that command, standing side by side, like soldiers in a troop:

“There will be rules in this camp site! As I said before, you’re not gonna do everything you want to, anytime you want to. I’ll be in command here, is it clear?”

“Yes, Tess.”, the 2 angels replied, together with a puppy’s bark.

“I will organise the outings in the woods, because I didn’t come her to get dirty, tired or involuntarily wet!”

“Don’t you want to visit to the waterfall, Tess?”, Monica asked, somewhat worried.

“Of course I do, Miss Wings!”, the supervisor replied, “But I don’t have any intension of running around like a desperate angel! We will walk calmly to get there; there’s no reason to hurry!”

“We’ll do as you want, Tess.”, the blond angel said.

“Now, where’s the map to get there?”

“Oh, there is no map, Tess.”, Monica spoke, causing the oldest angel to frown with concern:

“What do you mean ‘there is no map’? How are we going to get there?”

“I will guide you!”, the Irish angel responded, causing both Andrew and Tess to stare at her with worried faces:

“You will?!”, they said, at the same time.

“Yes! As I’ve said before, I used to come here and I know this region very well! You just have to follow me!”, and Monica happily walked ahead of them.

The blond angel and the supervisor exchanged another glance, full of concern, while little Joy moaned somewhat ‘tired in advance’, and, without any other choice, the group followed the Irish angel through the woods.

*

The angels and the little puppy walked for nearly 30 minutes following a small trail that lay amidst the vegetation and Monica couldn’t hide her excitement for being in such a beautiful place:

“Tomorrow we could go to the other side of the mountain, there are many flowered fields there, with all sorts of flowers and birds! It’s so beautiful, Tess!”

“I can imagine, baby…”, the supervisor replied, though her attention was not totally focused on what her charge was saying. Much on the contrary: it was possible to see a trace of concern on Tess’ face as she looked around them and saw that they were each and every minute further away from the campsite.

“Er… Is this waterfall anywhere near here, Angel Girl?”

“Oh, yes, we’re almost there!”

Monica had hardly said that when the trail they were following split up in two, causing the Irish angel to stop walking and frown with concern:

“This is funny…”, she said, a little intrigued.

“What’s funny?”, Andrew wanted to know, as worried as Tess.

“I don’t remember this…”

“You don’t remember what?”, the blond angel asked.

“This path splitting into 2 different trails… I guess things have changed a wee bit since the last time I’ve been here…”

“And … do you know which path we are supposed to follow?”, her dearest friend asked, as kindly as he could. Monica placed her hand underneath her chin and sighed with a pensive expression on her face:

“Well… I think we should go to the left…”, she looked to the other side and  sighed again, “… or maybe to the right…”

As Tess and Andrew looked at each other again, Monica gave a few steps ahead and shook her head:

“No, it’s definitely to the left!”

“Are you sure about it?”, the blond angel asked, but already fearing the answer.

“Yes… Well… I think I am…”, the Irish angel responded, “But it’s been a long time since I’ve been here, I might be wrong… So, if you think it’s better to come back, I’ll understand…”

Tess was ready to agree with her, but it was Andrew who spoke first:

“Well, if you’ve been here so many times in the past you probably may be right…”, he said, not wanting to mar her enthusiasm.

“Do you really think so?”, Monica’s hope was renewed by those words of encouragement. Smiling, pleased to see that reaction, the blond angel held her hand an squeezed it:

“Yes. We trust you, don’t we, Tess?”

“… sure…”, was her feeble reply. A broad smile appeared on Monica’s face and she also held her hand:

“I love you all so much, you know?”

Unable to resist to her sweetness, the blond angel squeezed her hand and smiled back at her:

“We love you too, sweetie.”

“Yes, we do. But, please, be sure we’re going in the right direction, ok, baby?”

“Don’t worry Tess. I promise I’ll take you to the waterfall!”

*

Three hours and a half later:

“… oh… I guess my feet are starting to become numb!!!”, Tess exclaimed under her breath, taking off her sneakers and moaning with pain. The angels and the little dog were surrounded by bushy trees and dense vegetation, and the supervisor’s face was filled with exhaustion. But, before she could say anything else, Monica’s eyes grew wider and she smiled:

“Listen! It’s the water! We’re close now!”, the Irish angel exclaimed, going towards the noise and finally finding the waterfall.

“We arrived Tess! It’s here!”, she happily announced. In fact, the place was beautiful and the water that fell from the rocks was crystalline. Joy ran desperately towards the banks of the nearby stream to drink some of it, and so did Tess and Andrew.

“Isn’t it gorgeous?”

“Yes…”, they were so thirsty and tired that they didn’t stop drinking to look at their surroundings.

Only a few minutes later they could admire the lovely scenario that surrounded them:

“Well, you were right, Monica. The place is really amazing!”, the blond angel exclaimed.

“Yes, you weren’t exaggerating when you said it was lovely!”, Tess agreed, sill with a very tired expression on her face.

“It’s one of my favourite places here on Earth, and now with you three here, it’s complete!”

Pleased to see how happy his dearest friend was, Andrew took her hand and invited:

“Don’t you wanna swim?”

“Sure!”, she immediately accepted, turning to Tess a second later:

“Aren’t you coming, Tess?”

“No way. You two can go ahead, Angel Girl.”, she replied, sitting on a stone, “I have no intention of moving away from here in the next 2 hours at least!”

But, as soon as the supervisor had finished this sentence, the group heard the noise of a thunder echoing throughout the forest and, a second later, an intense summer rain started to fall:

“Oh, please, Father! Have mercy on me!”, the oldest angel protested, distress all over her face. But, despite the fact that there were some sun rays still crossing the sky, the rain poured down incessantly, showing no sign of ceasing:

“Well, I guess that puts an end on our plans for swimming…”, Monica said, a little disappointed.

“Yes, you’re right, sweetie. It’s dangerous to swim or to stay near waterfalls or rivers when it’s raining…”, Andrew agreed, “I’m afraid we’ll have to come back!”

“You gotta be kidding me!”, the oldest angel exclaimed, despair all over her face.

“Nope! We should get going by now, it’s a long way back!”, Andrew replied, secretly finding the expression on her face really funny. Without any other option, the group had to set off back to the campsite. Little Joy wasted no time in running around Andrew’s feet and staring at him with pleading eyes:

“It’s ok, little one. Come here with me!”, he said, taking the little chubby dog in his arms and receiving lots of kisses in reply.

*

Late at night, as the (now light) rain continued to fall down, the angels and Joy arranged themselves inside the tent, ready to sleep after a day of unscheduled tracking through the woods:

“Oh! I think I’ll sleep for 3 days!”, Tess moaned, “I’m exhausted!”

“I’m so sorry, Tess. I was sure the distance to the waterfall was shorter…”, the Irish angel said, with a guilty tone in her voice, “I feel so bad about it. Can you two forgive me?”

Monica was lying between Tess and Andrew and it took just a second to both angels hold her hands, as they weren’t upset with her slight weak sense of direction:

“It’s alright, Angel Girl…”

“Yeah. After all, we got to know all the area around us!”, the blond angel agreed, placing a gentle kiss on her hand.

“And it was really beautiful; I liked it very much!”, Tess completed. Monica smiled and squeezed their hands:

“Aren’t you upset?…”

“What nonsense! Of course not, Miss Wings!”

“Oh, then I’m so glad you liked it! In this case, we could arrange another outing for tomorrow! There’s a lot to explore yet; we haven’t seen half of this area!”

Fortunately, Monica couldn’t see the expression on her dearest friends’ faces and Tess was quick to reply to that invitation:

“I’m sure you’ve showed us the best half, Angel Girl! And let’s leave our plans for tomorrow, cause we’ll have plenty of time to arrange our outings. Now let’s all try to get some sleep, ok?”

“Ok!”, they answered back.

“Good night, Angel Girl!”

“Good night, Tess!”

“Good night, Angel Boy!”

“Good night, Tess!”

“Good night, Andrew!”

“Good night, Monica!”

Some seconds later, they heard a puppy’s bark (somewhat similar to a protest) echoing inside the tent:

“Good night, Joy!”, the angels said, at the same time, receiving another puppy’s bark in reply.