DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own any of the chars from TBAA. They belong to Martha Williamson. I do however own anyone else you don’t recognize.

God loves you

Enjoy!

A/N: This story is based on personal experience, so please review with kindness. Thanks!

“The Truth Will Set You Free”

The three angels sat in Tess’s car, driving up the road to their next assignment.

The youngest of the three gave the building a worried glance.

“Tess, are we really supposed to be here? This place looks…”

“A little rundown.” The second eldest angel supplied.

“Angel babies,” the superior angel, Tess, started, “looks can be deceiving. This next assignment is very important. The people are what matter here, not the location.”

Gloria nodded, noting the tone in Tess’s voice.

In an effort to change the subject and get on her superior’s good side, she asked, “So who’s our next assignment?”

Tess sighed as she glanced out of the car window to observe the students all around them.

“She is.” She replied.

Gloria turned her brown eyes upon the person Tess had indicated.

“Tess, she looks so young.” Gloria observed. “She can’t be more than sixteen or seventeen-years-old.”

Tess shook her head.

“She may look young, but she’s twenty-six-years-old. She has the heart of a child though.” She smiled as she said this. “Just like you.”

Gloria grinned.

“What’s her name?” Gloria asked. She was never out of questions for her superior and supervisor.

“Rose.” Tess replied. “Rose Whitney. She’s a sweet baby in need of a friend.”

“Who’s that?” Monica asked as she saw a man getting out of the car and take a suitcase out of the car Rose had just exited.

“That’s her father, Sam.” Tess replied. “He has some problems of his own. But that’s not who we’re here for.”

Gloria nodded. She got a good look at Rose as she got out of the car and walked up to the door of the apartment building.

She had chestnut brown hair that was light in color and sparkling brown eyes.

As Monica gazed at their assignment, she noticed something right away. She voiced her observation to her former supervisor.

“She looks like she wants to be anywhere else, Tess.”

Tess nodded.

“You’re getting better and better at this Ms. Wings.”

Gloria caught on right away.

“If she doesn’t want to be here, then why did she come?”

Tess frowned. She glanced towards Sam and her frown deepened.

“Because he wants her here and he refused to listen.”

“But I thought earthly fathers are supposed to listen to their children.” Gloria questioned. “That’s how God made things."

“I know, baby. But sometimes Humans don’t listen to God. And sometimes that means they don’t listen to their children either.”

“Oh my.” Gloria said as she followed Tess’s gaze.

“Something tells me this assignment is goin’ to be anything but easy.” Monica said wisely.

“Amen to that, angel girl.” Tess agreed. “Amen to that.”

“So when do we start?” Gloria piped up eagerly.

Tess gave her a look, which the youngest angel didn’t catch.

Monica did though and hastened to intervene before world war III broke out.

“Gloria, you need to settle, little one.” She advised gently.

Tess threw Monica a grateful look as she surveyed the scene in front of them.

They had left the car and were now standing, unseen, in the apartment Rose would be living in for the next nine months.

But as the angels observed the girl unpack, Tess had a feeling she wouldn’t be there that long.

Gloria broke the silence just then.

“So what are we gonna be doing?”

“You’re going to be the new program coordinator and part time apartment manager. Monica will be full time apartment manager and I’m going to be an assistant to a teacher and the director of the program.”

“I’d love to see that.” Gloria quipped.

Tess glared at her.

“You just focus on your part of this assignment. That baby needs someone to help her find the courage to speak up, and soon.”

“Why?” Gloria asked innocently.

“Because she’s feeling trapped, little angel. And when Humans feel trapped and they’re not being heard, they’ll do anything to get out of it.”

“What do you mean ‘anything?” Gloria asked. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to know.

Tess shook her head as she gazed at Rose who looked as happy to be there as Gloria was when she was separated from Monica for a long period of time.

“Just what I said, little angel. They’ll do anything.” Tess replied. With that, the angels continued to observe Rose. Each of their eyes were full of the utmost compassion and concern for their next assignment…

“So who am I going to be working with?” Gloria asked as the angels sat at a café an hour or so later.

“You’ll be working with Monica.” Tess told her, knowing that’s what Gloria was referring to.

The cheer of happiness that issued from the youngest angel’s mouth earned them a few stares from the people at the next table.

Gloria blushed as she felt Tess’s eyes on her.

“You two will also be sharing a room at the apartments as well.” Tess explained.

Gloria grinned from ear to ear at this. She loved working with Monica on assignments. And sharing a room with her was going to be awesome!

“When do we start our assignments?” Monica asked as she gave Gloria’s hand a gentle pat.

“You’ll be starting yours tonight.” Tess answered. “But Gloria and I will begin tomorrow.”

Gloria gave Tess an anxious look.

“But I still get to share a room with Monica tonight, right?”

“Yes.” Tess assured her.

Gloria sighed with relief.

As the three angels ate their dinner, Monica’s mind floated to what the coming days would bring. She knew they were all in God’s hands, but she also had a feeling this assignment was going to be anything but a piece of cake…

When the angels returned to the apartment building, Monica got to work.

She made sure Gloria was going to be okay before she left to meet Rose and the other new girl, Paige, who had just come in.

After they both were sitting down in the common area, Monica began.

“Well, I’m Monica. I’m the new apartment manager. I’ll be here day and night, so if you need anythin’ at all, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Both girls nodded.

Paige spoke up just then.

“That’s what they all say.” She said. There was a hint of mistrust in her tone that Monica detected immediately. “I’ve been through all this crap before.”

Fortunately, Rose didn’t share Paige’s opinion. She had liked Monica from the get go and she had a feeling there was something special about her.

“Thanks.” Rose said sincerely.

Monica smiled at her. She could tell Rose was a sweet girl who just needed someone to listen to her.

“You’re more than welcome, sweetheart. Rose, right?”

Rose nodded.

“Metai, yes.”

“That’s a pretty language.” Monica commented. “I don’t think I’ve heard of it before.”

“It’s Nyatec. I created it myself. My friends and I speak it. I also use it for some characters in my books.”

“You’re a writer then.” Monica observed, smiling from ear to ear.

“Metai.” Rose replied. “I love writing. My favorite part is giving God a gift in return for the one He gave me.”

Monica was amazed at how spiritually grounded Rose was. She had a good head on her shoulders as far as that was concerned.

“Well you should meet my friend, Gloria. She loves writing and reading herself. She’s goin’ to be helping me out as well as taking over for the new program coordinator at the school.”

Rose nodded.

“Sure.”

“Well, I’m gonna give you two your room keys and then I need to go over the rules with you. After that, we’ll be good to go.”

“I’ve heard this all before.” Paige said. “It’s all the same.”

“Well, if you feel you don’t need to hear them, you’re welcome to leave.” Monica told her. “But the new assistant director doesn’t take kindly to any rule breaking, so I suggest you stay and listen.”

Paige sighed, but remained seated.

She twirled a strand of her jet black hair around her finger out of boredom as she listened to Monica start with the rules.

Every so often, her blue eyes would wander around the room as though she was looking for a way out.

“All right. There will be no smoking, no drinking and no loud music after eleven o’ clock. There are also no friends of the opposite genders allowed in the apartment on weekends past eleven-thirty and on week days passed ten o’ clock…”

Once Monica was done, she gave the girls their room keys and told them they could leave if they wanted. She also said they were welcomed to stay and talk to her or just explore the building a little bit.

“I’m out of here.” Paige said as she seized her chance to leave.

Monica silently wondered if they weren’t there for Paige as well.

Even though it was clear that Rose didn’t want to be there, the girl seemed sweet and very respectful of people in authority. She wasn’t showing any display of defiance to anyone-at least not yet.

As Monica gathered up her things, she noticed Rose was still sitting there. She looked a wee nervous, so Monica decided to help her ease into things.

“Rose, is everything all right?”

“Metai.” Rose replied. “I’m just…I guess I’m just nervous.”

“Well, that’s understandable. Would you like to meet Gloria?”

“Sure!” Rose replied. She gave Monica a sincere smile and stood up. She pushed in her chair and made to follow Monica out of the room.

As they walked, Rose’s cane made a tap-tapping sound as it hit the floor with every step she took.

When they got to the door to Monica and Gloria’s room, Monica knocked first.

When she heard Gloria’s cheerful voice say, “Come in!”

Monica grinned. She knew her ‘little one had sensed it was her and therefore, she didn’t need to ask who it was first.

Pushing open the door, Monica found Gloria studying what looked to be a Braille textbook. The book was in her lap and she was concentrating hard.

“Gloria, I brought someone to meet you.” She said with a smile in her voice.

Gloria glanced up and grinned when she saw their assignment standing there.

“Rose, this is Gloria.”

Rose stuck her hand out for Gloria to shake.

“Metai ae, Gloria. Hi. I’m Rose. It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too.” Gloria replied sincerely.

Monica smiled as Rose made herself comfortable on a chair across from Gloria.

This was the most relaxed Monica had witnessed her assignment being since she had met her.

“So Monica said you like writing and reading.” Rose said as she eased into a conversation with the youngest angel.

Gloria grinned.

“I love it!” She exclaimed excitedly. “What’s your favorite book?”

The two soon got into a conversation about books and the various books and stories Rose had written.

Before Rose knew it, it was nearly nine o’ clock.

Monica insisted she needed some sleep for the next day and Rose agreed.

Both angels could tell Rose was comfortable and didn’t want to leave. She and Gloria had been having fun together.

“Will I see you tomorrow, Gloria?” Rose asked hopefully.

Gloria glanced at Monica who nodded.

“Uh-huh. I’ll see you at school.” She told her. “You’re welcome to come to my office any time if you need to talk about anything or you just need a friend.”

“Really?” Rose asked not daring to believe it.

“Really.” Gloria confirmed sincerely.

“Mahalo.” Rose replied gratefully.

“You’re welcome.” Gloria replied. She knew Rose had just spoken to her in Hawaiian.

After Rose left, Gloria turned her attention to Monica.

“Rose’s nice.” Gloria said. “I like her.”

“Me too.” Monica agreed. “But this assignment is goin’ to be anythin’ but easy. We may have started to gain Rose’s trust, but she has a problem with trust.”

“Why?” Gloria wanted to know.

“You’ll get the answer to that question in the Father’s time.”

Gloria nodded in satisfaction.

A yawn escaped her lips before she could stop it.

“I think you may need to get some rest too.” Monica observed, a loving smile spreading across her face. “Come on, I’ll tuck you in.”

Gloria tried to protest, but she knew Monica spoke the truth.

Once she had tucked her ‘little one in, the Irish angel told her she was going to do a final check on the newest members of the program before retiring

for the night.

“Okay.” Gloria replied. She was already almost asleep. ‘I love you, Monica.”

“Aw, I love you too, little one. I’ll be back.” With that, she ruffled Gloria’s hair before leaving the room.

Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Once out in the hallway, Monica decided to check on Rose first.

She became invisible to the Human eye and made her way up to apartment H.

She went into Rose’s room and found her wide awake. She was watching “Punky Brewster” and she looked restless.

As Rose’s cell phone rang, she picked it up to hear her best friend, Anne’s voice on the other end.

“Hey Anne. What’s up? Yeah. It’s all right, I guess. I made two new friends. The apartment manager and her friend, Gloria. No. I guess they got a new one. Her name is Monica. She’s really cool. I really like her accent.”

Monica smiled at this. Rose was so sweet.

“I’m just watching “Punky Brewster” and trying to sleep. I’m used to getting up around five so it shouldn’t be a big deal. I just wish my Dad would have listened to me when I told him I didn’t want to come. But I guess with Monica and Gloria here I’ll be okay. I just pray the teachers are nice.”

The two spoke for another half an hour before Rose said good bye and tried to get some sleep.

She turned the TV off and put on a CD of Christian music that Monica took a liking to right away. She had a feeling Tess and Gloria would like it too.

Around eleven-thirty or so, Rose finally fell asleep.

“Sleep well, little one.” Monica whispered in her ear. She then said a small prayer before going back to her room she shared with Gloria…