Touched by Angels Page 0,5

teacher and strolled out the door, letting it slam in his wake.

"Good riddance," the man murmured.

"I'll talk to him," Brynn said, going after Grover.

She hadn't taken two steps when Doug Keast stopped her. "Let him go."

"But - "

"He's right. Grover's nothing but bad news." Doug looked to Emilio as if to suggest the Hispanic boy fell into the same category.

"Emilio's different," Brynn insisted. "Grover's choosing to give up, to fail. Emilio's got a future."

"Yeah," Emilio muttered, pulling himself free of Doug's hold. "Some future. First you tell me what a great leader I am and then you get me kicked out of school." Having made that little speech, he slumped down on the worn vinyl sofa outside Mr. Whalen's office.

"Did you see the knives?" Gabriel asked Shirley gently. "They were real, and the risk to Brynn is equally grave. She could have been seriously hurt."

"The woman's in profound need of heavenly intervention," Shirley said forcefully. "In other words, this teacher needs me."

"Ah . . ." Gabriel hated to be the one to break the news, but Shirley was out of her league. He'd hoped the prayer ambassador would see it for herself, but now he wasn't so sure.

"I know what you're thinking," Shirley said, eager to prove herself. "You think I'm in way over my head."

"My thoughts were running along those lines," Gabriel admitted.

"I believe I could help Brynn," Shirley insisted, and then stiffened her shoulders. "You're the one in charge of handling the prayer assignments, and I have no option but to accept your decision, but I want to help Brynn Cassidy teach her students to dream. I want to stand at her side when their eyes light up with discovery, and I especially long to be there when she tells them about faith in God."

"There are other teachers who need you," Gabriel assured her. "And they aren't trapped in a poor neighborhood school."

"I see," Shirley whispered, hanging her head in defeat.

"Perhaps another year," Gabriel suggested.

"Perhaps." The word was so low, it dragged against the floor.

Gently patting the discouraged angel on her shoulder, Gabriel escorted her back to heaven, where Goodness and Mercy awaited their return.

"I'll find another assignment for Shirley in a moment," he promised, "but first, I want to introduce Goodness to Hannah Morganstern."

Chapter Two

"Hannah who?" Goodness asked, looking puzzled.

"Morganstern," Gabriel supplied. "The prayer request came in from Hannah's mother and grandmother. They want her to make a good marriage." He opened the cumbersome book that listed the incoming prayer requests and smoothly folded back the page. Running his index finger down a list of names, he paused when he located Hannah's.

Gabriel smiled, pleased with himself. This request would be a simple matter and would quickly appease the novice prayer ambassador. The sooner Goodness was back where she belonged, the better for all concerned.

As it happened, Hannah was close to becoming engaged to Carl Rabinsky, the rabbi's son. Carl was a fine, upstanding young man with a bright future.

Hannah's family was delighted that their daughter had chosen such an outstanding marriage candidate. A professional matchmaker couldn't have come up with a better choice. Goodness would soon recognize how advantageous such a marriage would be for Hannah. Naturally the prayer ambassador would accept full credit for the match, which was fine with Gabriel as long as she left well enough alone.

By his best estimate, Gabriel would have Goodness out of harm's way within a day or two. Heaven knew he wouldn't rest until all three were back where they belonged. There was no telling the trouble they could rouse in the Big Apple. Gabriel cringed involuntarily at the thought of Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy loose on the unsuspecting souls of New York City.

They did try. He'd give them that much. The three angels were dear hearts, but frankly they were trouble with a capital T. There was no end to the mischief they managed to muster each Christmas. The season was hectic enough without having to deal with those three.

"When can I see Hannah?" Goodness asked eagerly.

"When are you going to tell me more about Jenny Lancaster?" Mercy asked, crowding her way between him and Goodness. The smallest of the three juggled her elbows until she'd jockeyed herself into position. "I'm looking forward to meeting Jenny."

"It's my turn," Goodness reminded her friend sternly.

"Be patient," Gabriel advised the two. At times he felt like a referee at a hockey match. "Goodness, let me take you down to meet Hannah."

"I want to come," Mercy insisted.

"Me, too." Shirley was determined