by C V Ricks
“Are these any of my relations?” she asked.
'Yes, Becky will be your niece.”
“Oh,” she smiled. “My sister will have a child.”
“Yes, apparently. In the future.”
The bell chimed and we walked out of the classroom.
We went into the choir room. Angel Crystal was director today. When everyone was seated in the choir seats, Angel Crystal started.
“How many of you think that you are ready to float in the choir loft without seats tomorrow?
About half of the class raised their hands.
“Okay,” said Crystal. “Those of you who can float will do so tomorrow instead of sitting or standing.”
“Today we will sing, “Amazing Grace,” and “Beautiful Savior,” said Angel Crystal. “Also, today we are going to use instruments to accompany us. Who can play the piano?”
Emma raised her hand.
“Emma, will you please accompany us on “Amazing Grace?”
“Sure,” she said.
“Who can play the harp?”
No one raised their hand. “Oh, dear,” said Angel Crystal. “We need a harp player. Who would like to learn to play the harp?”
Journey raised her hand.
“Very well,” said Angel Crystal. “Journey may take harp lessons as one of her electives next week.”
“Who would like to play the cornet?”
Five boys raised their hands. “Very well,” said Angel Crystal. “We will have a tryout to see who will be the cornet player, please stay after class, I'll let the rest of the class out early.”
Crystal chose a violinist as well, then distributed the sheet music. “Please practice playing or singing your parts this evening so that we can practice as a class tomorrow, except for Journey who needs to learn her instrument first. “You are excused to leave,” she said, “except for those who are trying out for cornet player.”
We went to floating class. Professor Heather greeted the class. “Tomorrow will be our final exam. Those who pass will be able to go on to Floating 201. Those who fail, will retake Floating 101. To pass the final you will need to float-sit for 5 minutes straight, float a mile in less than 5 minutes, and stay float-standing for 5 minutes. Today we will go to the field and practice floating our mile. I will time you.”
We got to the starting line. At the sound of the trumpet blast we all began floating around the track. I was surprised at how much easier it was to float around the track than run around. In life, I had enjoyed track in high school. Now I was floating around the track and it was easy. I knew that in the future, though, I would need to float even faster, almost so fast that I couldn't be seen with the naked eye.
Chapter 15
Professor Occult greeted the class as we entered the room. This time he was not invisible.
“Today I started out visible because I would like to talk about Visibility today. Most of the time as a guardian angel you will be doing your work under the guise of invisibility. For the most part, humans will not know you are there. That's as it should be. However, there are occasions when guardian angels do show themselves in human form for brief visits. Sometimes angels come to earth in all their glory, floating and glowing to deliver their messages. However, there are times when you may need to come to Earth in human form and present yourself as a human. This is rare and you may never need to do this, however, I would like you to learn how to do this in case you find it necessary.”
“First I would like to show a movie of an instance of this.”
The lights were turned off and the movie began.
Two college-age girls sat together on a bus. Kerry was with her college roommate and friend. Some of the guys on the bus started to get rowdy and threatening. The girls were concerned about what they may do to them, so they decided to get off the bus even though it was not their stop. They got off the bus in an area they had never seen before. It was a dark area and some of the characters standing around the bars in the streets were eyeing the girls. As if out of nowhere, a woman came up to the girls and asked them if they would like directions to the next bus stop. The girls said yes and the lady led the way, passing by some shady looking characters who seemed to not even see them. As they followed this woman, they were invisible to others. They came to a bus stop and looked back to thank the woman, who was nowhere in sight.
The lights came back on. Professor Occult spoke to the class. “The woman in this example was a guardian angel. She chose to show herself in the form of a human. She helped the girls to get where they were going safely and then she disappeared. This is a way you can do your job while being seen yet not discovered as an angel. You must make yourself appear and act human. Instances like this are pretty rare. We will practice making ourselves invisible and making ourselves appear human for the rest of this hour. Tomorrow will be the final exam.
As we floated back to our rooms to get ready for dinner, we thought about the week. “It seems like we've been here longer than four days,” Journey said. “We've learned so much.”
“I know what you mean,” said Kevin. “Tomorrow will be the last day of our first week. Three more weeks to go and then we are officially guardian angels.”
“I really miss my husband and kids,” I said, “but we are so busy here we hardly have time to think about that. What are you guys' plans for the weekend?”
“The directors said that on Saturday they will have some fun activities for us to do and we can practice any of our skills we'd like to. We are allowed a short visit to our relatives. Sunday, of course, will be church,” said Kevin.
Journey and I went to our room and freshened up for dinner. The other girls were doing the same and getting ready to go to the cafeteria.
“Are you going to study for finals tonight?” I asked.
“Yes,” said Journey. “I'd like to be sure to pass Invisibility and Glowing. Then I can fill those spots with electives.”
“What electives do you want to take?” I asked.
“I'd like to take Harp lessons and Telepathy.”
“Yes, I'd like to take Telepathy and Angel Characteristics. Tonight I want to practice that music for choir and study for finals.”
We woke up to the sound of the many alarms. One at a time, each girl got up when her alarm rang. My alarm was the third of the six to ring. So, I knew after the second alarm going off, my turn would be next. Immediately after hearing my alarm go off, I got dressed in my gown for the day and freshened up.
Journey and I headed out for breakfast at the same time. Her alarm rang just before mine because it took her a little longer to do her hair. We floated toward the freshman breakfast room. “Only a few more days of this green room and we get to move up,” I sighed.
“Yes, that will be nice,” said Journey.
“Do you feel ready for finals?” I asked Journey.
“I think so,” she said.
Just then Kevin and Felix arrived at our table. “So, what are your plans for next week?” I asked Felix.
“Didn't you hear, I'm flunking out. I have to go back to the Spirit World.” Felix opened his juice container.
“What?” I asked.
“Just kidding,” said Felix between sips. “I'd like to take Mind instillation, Controlling the Elements, Suicide Prevention, Evil Spirit Confrontation, Choir, Floating, Invisibility, and Intangibility. I have a feeling that I'm going to need a full two weeks of Invisibility. I have trouble making myself invisible.”
“No problem. It was meant to be a two week class anyway,” chimed in Kevin. “I don't have any problem making myself invisible, but I think I'm going to have to take the full two weeks of glowing. I just can't keep my glow up for long. How about you girls.”
“We think we'll be able to take two electives, but after today we'll see for sure,” said Journey. “Josie wants to take Telepathy and Angel Characteristics and I want to take Harp lessons and Telepathy. By the way, what is Intangibility?”
“Intangibility is like walking
through walls, you know. Being able to be intangible,-also vaporous, filmy, gossamer.”
“That could really come in handy,” I said. “Being able to walk through objects or even people. I will definitely take that course.”
“Sounds great,” said Kevin. “Well, let's meet in here for dinner and see how we all did.” We headed to our first hour class.
Chapter 16
Angel Walter announced that we will be taking our final exam for Mind instillation 101. Those who pass will go on to Mind instillation 201 next week. Those who fail, will retake Mind instillation 101.
“For our final we will watch a movie of a girl who was helped through mind instillation from her guardian angel. I would like you to write on your paper what you think the angel did to help her.”
The lights went out, the movie began. A girl named Patty in her early twenties was driving home one night from her job. As she was driving over a bridge, she noticed a small orange light underneath the bridge. She kept driving but then started to turn around. She drove back to the bridge and got out of the car, to see a car had slid off the bridge and was in the ravine. She quickly dialed 9-1-1 and emergency personnel came to help save the three survivors of the five people in the accident. Lives were saved because of her actions.
The lights turned back on. Okay, write down what you think the guardian angel did.
This is what I wrote: I believe the guardian angel told Patty to stop. When she kept driving the angel then told her to stop and turn around and go back She followed the prompting and lives were saved.
For the final in Controlling the Elements, we went to the practice rooms We were to each choose a partner. I chose Journey. Kevin and Alex were partners. We were to save our partner's life by controlling the elements, as we had before. Our partner would be in a scenario that would seem so real and we were to watch and go into the scene saving our partner when the time was right.
Journey decided to go inside the practice room first. I watched outside, getting ready to go inside at any moment.
The scene began with Journey asleep in a bed. Smoke filled the air around her as the kitchen of the house had caught on fire. I tried to think quickly of what to do. The fire was coming closer to her room. Journey woke up coughing and straining for air to breathe. She looked toward the door and saw the flames headed her way. Quickly she went to the window and pulled up the blind. She tried to open the window but it wouldn't budge. Quickly I pushed up the window with a strong gust of air. Journey jumped out of the window, pushing the screen out as she went. She hurried out onto the front lawn and away from the house.
The scene turned back into a practice room. Journey and I came out of the practice room, relieved that we had passed that portion of the test. Next it was my turn to be the subject and Journey to save me.
I nervously walked inside the practice room, butterflies fluttering inside my stomach. I stood still in the quiet room. Then, all of a sudden I found myself in a terrible storm, maybe a tornado. Would Journey know what to do to save me? I decided to duck down close to the ground. I saw other people motioning and yelling at me to come into the root cellar. I tried to walk that way, but the wind just pushed me back the other way. Shutters flew off windows and gates banged open and shut. I prayed, please help me! Then it happened. The wind that was pushing me away shifted and I was pushed toward the root cellar. The wind nearly lifted me off my feet, forcing me to run quickly. I scrambled in and the lid of the cellar was shut tight. Huffing and puffing, I was safe inside with the other people. Then it was over and I was once again in the bare practice room, with Journey at my side.
“Thank you for saving me,” I said. “How did you do it?”
“I actually was able to direct the wind to blow the opposite way. I'm not sure how I did it, but it worked!”
“Well, that was amazing!” I said. “Wait until I tell the boys about this.”
As Journey and I floated out of the practice rooms, we met up with Kevin and Alex who were also floating toward our next class. We all had Glowing class next. “So, did you guys pass?” I asked.
“We did,” said Felix. “It's always kind of scary to have to do those near death experiences.”
“I know what you mean. Even though we know we can't die again, it is still frightening. What happened to you guys?” Journey asked.
“I was in a terrible train crash,” said Felix, “But Kevin helped me get out alive.”
“Yes, and I was in an earthquake,” said Kevin. “How about you guys?”
“I was in a tornado and was able to get to safety thanks to Journey causing the wind to shift and Journey was in a house fire.” I said.
“Wow,” said Felix. “Well I wonder which of us will pass glowing today.”
“I think you all will except me,” said Kevin.
We got to the classroom and Professor Angel Jeremiah greeted us. “Today for our final you will need to glow up the room and stay so for twenty minutes. You will be timed. Those of you who succeed will pass the Glowing course and not need to take anymore glowing classes. You who do not succeed will need to take this class again next week. Get ready to start. As soon as the lights go off, you may begin. The lights in the room went off and everyone began to glow. With everyone glowing it was very bright in the room. Professor Angel Jeremiah watched us while the time clicked by. After about ten minutes, some of the students started dropping out. Each student whose glow went out were eliminated and were required to take the course again next week. Up through the brightness, I looked at Kevin and he was still glowing. I had hope that he, too, would make it. We continued to glow until the time was up. Kevin, Journey, Felix and I all made it. We excitedly gave each other a high five.
The final in suicide prevention consisted of a written exam. We were given twenty-five scenarios and were to write down what we would do to save the potential victim. If the answers were solutions that would indeed work, we were given full credit. Otherwise we were marked off.
After class, I walked out in a daze. “I think I did pretty good, but it's hard to tell,” I turned to Journey.
“I know what you mean,” she replied. “We can only hope that we passed.”
We floated to the lunch room. “This floating is getting easier. I don't have to float-walk anymore. I can actually float all they way there.”
“Me, too,” said Journey. “It so beats walking.”
We sat at our usual table with Felix and Kevin. “Four more classes and week one is over.” said Kevin.
“Yes, I'm looking forward to relaxing this weekend and just taking it easy,” I said.
“It will be fun,” said Felix “I hear they have some fun games and activities for us to do.”
“I also look forward to visiting my family, those who've passed anyway.”
“Don't you wish you could go back and talk to your husband, what's his name, sometimes?” asked Felix.
“You mean Nick?” I asked. “Sure I do. I'd love to. But I know he's got to live the rest of his life without me.”
“That is the tough part,” said Journey, “You miss him and it may be years before you are together again.”
“I guess you don't have those worries, Kevin, seeing you haven't lived yet.” Felix said.
“No, I can visit all my family. They haven 't gone to earth yet either. Who knows when my turn will be, but I can guess that in about 20-30 years from when my Mom goes down to earth.”
“Do you know how often we get to visit our family members in the Spirit World?” I asked.
“I think every Sunday we get to visit them.””
Angel Jeremiah greeted us and passed out a written final exam. We were given various scenarios and ways in which we should react to the situations, all involving evil spirit confrontation. It was all multiple choice and I was glad. That just seemed easier to me. I didn't feel like I knew a lot about evil spirits and hoped I wouldn't ever have to learn about them. But I surely wanted to be prepared for anything.
I was glad to
get to choir. No one could fail choir. I enjoyed choir class. I loved the music and I loved singing. Surely an angel would feel out of place if he or she didn't enjoy singing. I also loved to play the piano which I had the opportunity of doing from time to time. Journey was excited to start learning to play the harp.
“For our final, we will sing all of the songs we know so far, by heart and those who can, will float as if on risers.” Angel Crystal took charge of class today.
Most of us were able to float. Others had to stand on the floor. Journey and I decided to go to the highest level and float while we sang. A few other of our roommates joined us.
“I think I will definitely get over my fear of heights now that I know nothing bad will happen if I fall.” I said.
“Yes, you will just float, you won't fall at all,” said Journey.
Angel Heather greeted the class. “We will get started with the Float-sit Exam. When I say to begin you will float-sit from where you are in front of your chairs. Those who make it for the whole 5 minutes, will pass this portion of the final exam. “Ready, begin,” she motioned for all to start by waving her arm downward. I began float-sitting. I looked around the classroom. Some students made it look easy, as if just sitting on a chair. Others looked like they were straining to keep sitting upright. Others were somewhere in between. I remember as a human, doing the sitting against the wall exercise. That's how float-sitting felt to me at first. But not now. I was improving. Five minutes ticked by slowly, or at least it seemed so. But, finally the five minutes were up and those of us still float-sitting passed. About 75% of the class passed.
Next we went on to the 5 minute mile. We floated out to the field and lined up at the starting line.. The trumpet blasted and we all started floating as fast as we could around the track. As I floated, I hummed one of our choir songs. Finally I hit the finish line before the 5 minute bell went off. I made it!
Next was the float-standing portion of the test. This time we were to float-stand in the air without touching the ground for at least 5 minutes. “Ready, begin!” said Heather. Once again, five minutes seemed like a long time, but finally the bell went off. I made it!
