I settle onto the couch, arranging the blankets around me as if I intend to sleep. The sounds of Bailey getting ready for bed filter through the thin walls, water running, drawers opening and closing, and the soft pad of footsteps. I wait, listening intently, until I hear her breathing even out into the steady rhythm of sleep.
Once I’m certain Bailey is deep in slumber, I carefully extract myself from the blankets. It’s time to return to heaven. I want to check in with Henry. With one last glance around the apartment, I focus my energy and I’m off.
The air here is different—cleaner, purer, filled with the faint sound of distant choirs and the gentle rustle of wings.
I make my way to Henry’s office, my footsteps echoing softly in the vast, shimmering hallways. I love this campus. There’s a spirit of learning and wisdom that raises me higher than I thought I could be. The door to his office stands open, warm light spilling out invitingly. I take a deep breath.
“Ah, Gladys,” Henry’s voice greets me before I even step through the doorway. He’s seated behind his imposing desk, a kind smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. He has several clocks around the room and one of them is open on the side table, its gears spilling out and tiny tools laid just so to the right. “Come in, come in. How goes your assignment?”
I enter the office, immediately comforted by its familiar warmth. The scent of old books fills the air. I sink into one of the plush chairs across from Henry’s desk, trying to organize my thoughts.
“Well,” I begin, “I think I’m making progress with Bailey. She’s starting to open up, even invited me to stay at her apartment tonight. But...”
Henry leans forward, his blue eyes twinkling with interest behind his thin glasses. “But?”
I sigh, the frustration I’ve been feeling bubbling to the surface. “But it’s so slow, Henry! And I’m not even sure if it will stick. She’s changing her mind about one person—me!—when I need her to understand harmony with everyone. I don’t have time to do this person-by-person in Benton Falls, let alone the world.”
The words tumble out in a rush, and I feel a twinge of guilt at my impatience. Isn’t patience supposed to be a virtue, especially for angels?
“You know,” I continue, unable to stop now that I’ve started, “it’s so much easier on the Blessing Hotline. I can take care of things quickly and then move on to the next case. This... this is like trying to melt a glacier with a matchstick.”
Henry listens to my outburst with a patient smile, nodding understandingly. When I finally run out of steam, he leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers.
“Gladys,” he says, his voice gentle but firm, “do you remember what I told you when you first started your training?”
I rack my brain, trying to recall the specific piece of wisdom he’s referring to. “That... every soul is precious in God’s eyes?”
Henry nods. “Yes, that’s true. But I was thinking of something else. Do you remember what I said about porcupines?”
The memory clicks into place, and I can’t help but smile. “You said that God loves porcupines too.”
“Exactly,” Henry beams. “Now, why do you think I told you that?”
I consider the question, thinking about Bailey and her prickly exterior. “Because... even the most difficult people are worthy of love and patience?”
“That’s part of it,” Henry agrees. “But it’s also a reminder that sometimes, the souls that need the most love are the ones that make it hardest to get close to them. Bailey is like a porcupine, Gladys. She’s built up her quills to protect herself from hurt, but in doing so, she’s also keeping out love and connection.”
I nod, understanding dawning. I’ve been calling her a cactus, and now Henry says she’s a porcupine. All I’m getting from this conversation is pricked. “So what does that mean, as far as my assignment goes?”
Henry’s eyes twinkle. “A porcupine lowers its quills when it feels safe. If Bailey can feel safe with you, and then another person, and then another, she’ll trust herself more. That could be the ticket to this whole thing.”
His words resonate deeply, and I feel a renewed sense of purpose. “I hadn’t thought of it that way,” I admit. “I’ve been so focused on the big picture, I forgot that small changes in direction can plot a new course.”
“That’s the spirit,” Henry encourages. “Give your assignment room to grow, Gladys. Trust in the process.”
I stand, feeling reinvigorated. “Thank you, Henry. I needed that reminder.”
He rises as well. “Keep up the good work, and remember, God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels slow to us.”
My eyes fall to the clock he’s building. One cog at a time, I tell myself.
As I’m leaving, Celeste hurries up to me. “Gladys, I’m so glad you’re here. Can you cover my shift? I have a test and I need more time to study.”
I nod. It’ll mean not being there when Bailey wakes up. But how can I say no? I remember my first few tests in guardian angel training classes. They are tough. “I’ll head over there right now.”
“Thank you so much!” Celeste hurries off in the direction of the library.
I second guess my willingness to take over for her. I should be on Earth right now, –the pull to help Bailey is strong. But doing good for others always pays off, right?
