Blades Of Grass

Naomi's feet flew across the pavement as she raced into her school. She hadn't realized she was this far behind in her morning schedule until she glanced up at the clock and discovered that it was 10 minutes until the start of her first class. Panicked, she dashed off. Naomi would be fine if she could make it to her seat before the bell rang. If she was late, she might get a detention slip and that could jeopardize volleyball. Miles of hallway remained before she would reach her destination, on top of stopping to get her books from her locker. She needed to focus and hustle.

Naomi huffed and puffed, weaving in and out of lanes of students, all moving at different speeds. Naomi couldn't help but feel a little frustrated at the situation. She couldn't figure out how she'd gotten herself so late. The last thing Naomi remembered was walking across the street to the gas station for a soda. After that, nothing, until she woke up this morning and was super late.

With her goal in sight, Naomi checked her watch. Score! Less than one minute left and the teacher was nowhere in sight. There was plenty of time to be in her seat, before the bell rang, avoiding a tardy. One final sprint and Naomi collapsed in her seat, resting her head of her table, trying to catch her breath. It was too early in the morning to get so worked up and so exhausted.

Naomi reached for her purse, hoping to retrieve a water bottle for a drink. Naomi heard the familiar muffled chatter and whispers of students waiting for class to begin. She had a weird feeling. Naomi shot a bewildered look at the clock. Naomi been sitting for 20 minutes past the first bell of the day, but it hadn't rang. Class didn't start. Looking around the room, Naomi saw that the room was only half full of other students coming and going as they please, all while the teacher observed, subdued, from his desk. Echoing from every corner in the room, sniffling, crying, and words of sympathy was heard. Something was definitely wrong. Naomi saw that her two best friends were drifting in through the open door. She rose to go greet them. "Guys! What's - -" Naomi passed right through her friends. "Huh?" She shivered.

"They can't see or hear you," answered a calm voice from the hall .

What? Why?" Naomi jumped at the strange voice. "Who are you?"

"Hello, Naomi." A tall, plain woman stepped forward. "Listen closely to what your friends and classmates are saying as we pass."

Naomi focuses on a nearby conversation. Two students are talking. Someone had been killed in an accident. Naomi nods, still not putting all the pieces together. She turned to the strange woman. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"

"My name is Judy." The woman smiles, trying to put Naomi at ease. "I know your name because my niece is in your class."

"Your niece?" Naomi follows Judy as she begins moving away down the hall.

"Uh-huh." Judy points to an awkward girl with hair in her face. The girl is sobbing and crying pretty hard. "That's her."

"The weird girl?" Naomi makes a face. "Nobody wants to be friends with her." Naomi blushed, changing her tone. "Uh… sorry. She's your niece?"

Judy smirked. "Yes, she does have the reputation of being a bit, doesn't she. She is my niece. Her name is Tressa. I've been watching out for her."

"Watching out?" Naomi cried. "What do you mean? And how come nobody can see or hear me?" Naomi sits on a bench, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

"Oh, honey." Judy goes over to Naomi and puts an arm around her shoulder. "There's no reason to cry. I know this is all confusing and frustrating. It's okay. I seem to have forgotten how unsettling all this can be for someone new to this experience."

Naomi allows herself to be embraced by Judy, holding onto the woman, grateful for the solace. Her attention wavers to some students are sitting against the wall. They are telling stories. A name drifts by Naomi. Her own name. "Judy, am… am I dead?" Naomi blinks, rapidly.

Judy nods.

"NOOOOO!" Naomi began to wail and cling to Judy. She trembled with each sobs.

"There there, I know." Judy holds the girl tight, rocking her. "Go ahead, sweetie, let it out."

Naomi cries for hours. "How?" she squeaked.

"Take this, baby-girl." Judy offered Naomi a silk, embroidered, handkerchief. "How?' You mean how did you die?"

Naomi took the hanky, blowing her nose into it. Folding and crumpling the tissue into her fist, Naomi wipes her tears with her shirt sleeve.

"Remember when you went on your walk, yesterday?" Judy, frankly, explained. "You were hit by a car crossing the street. The driver was drunk and going too fast. By the time the police and ambulance arrived, your life was over. I'm sorry, Naomi."

"Sorry?" Naomi stared.

Judy nodded. "Yes. It's a tragedy whenever a life so young is lost. That's why all your friends and classmates are like this. They're mourning."

"Mourning." Naomi repeated, then blinked, furrowing her brow. "Is this Heaven? Shouldn't I be in Heaven? What is all this?"

"No, this isn't Heaven. " Judy said. "All we know about heaven, is that it is paradise. But different people have different ideas on what that paradise is. Like a city person would imagine Heaven to be a big city, with lots of buildings and streets of gold and people everywhere. A country person might see Heaven as a beautiful garden. Heaven can be something different to everyone, based on who's imagining it. The only thing we know for certain, is that Heaven is a place where there is no pain or suffering. As for what it physically looks like, the living cannot know."

"Is God here?" Naomi asked. "Am I going to meet Him? Does He even exist?"

"Oh, God exists." Judy explained. "God is everywhere and everything. It knows all, sees all, and does all. In a way, you've already met it."

"It? I thought God is a man."

"God is everywhere and everything. Why should't God be male and female or even a gender God chooses for itself? God decides all things, right?"

"I guess." Naomi slumped on her bench.

"Yes." Judy explained. I am one of the guardian angels. Do you know what a guardian angel is?"

"Yeah." Naomi sat up, nodding. "They are angels that are specifically designed to protect and guard the living . My grand-" Naomi choked back a sob. "My gran-gran told me that for every blade of grass in there world, there is a guardian angel. "

"That's right." Judy pats Naomi on the shoulder.

"Is there something I'm supposed to do? How do I...?" Naomi trailed off.

"I'll show you what to do and how to do it,. When you find who you're supposed to take care of you'll take it from there and go off on your own." Judy returned.

"Thank you." Naomi felt small and numb.

"Have faith, sweetie." Judy smiled. "Everything will work itself out. You'll see."

"Mmmm" Naomi whined, "I don't want to be alone. Since your the only one that can see or hear me, c-can I stay with you?"

"Of course, honey." Judy smiled hope. "I'll be more than happy to help you. Me and Grandpa."

"Grandpa?" Naomi asked.

"Grandpa Fred. My father's father." Judy chirped. "He takes care of my sister. Tressa's mother."

Naomi went quiet for a bit. "Do guardian angels always guard their families?"

"Not always." Judy bit her bottom lip. "Grandpa was guarded by great-grandpa's old army buddy. Angels can wind up guarding anyone."

"How..." Naomi started and gave up, defeated.

"It's all new and shocking, now." Judy encouraged "Give yourself time. You'll feel better, soon."

"If you say so." Naomi stated.

"Time," Judy intoned, patting Naomi on the back. "It'll get better and eventually, someday, you'll be ready to take care of someone yourself. You'll see."

Judy got up from the bench to follow Tressa, as she wandered down the hall. Naomi rose, shuffling along after her. By the end of the day, she was still miserable.

Joining Tressa on her bus, Judy sensed Naomi's mood. "Maybe you'd like to give yourself a little makeover?"

"Makeover?" Naomi half-whispered.

"If you close your eyes and concentrate, you can make yourself appear older, more mature." Judy explained. "Like you would look if you had lived to adulthood."

Naomi stared past Judy.

"Give it a try," Judy chirped. "You don't want to look like a scrawny, awkward, teenager, forever, do you?"

Naomi sighed resignation. She closed her eyes. Forcing herself to focus, she imagined herself older. Like if she was in her mid-twenties instead of her mid-teens.

"Very nice." Judy crooned after a few minutes.

Naomi opened her eyes. Still blah. She glanced in the mirror above the bus driver. "Huh." She mused, "I look a little like my mom."

"Feel better?" Judy asked.

Naomi paused. "A little," she admitted.

"You'll be okay, honey." Judy smiled.

After a short ride, Naomi and Judy departed the bus at Tressa's stop. Tressa slung her bag over her shoulder, hopped down the steps, landing with both feet on the pavement below. Judy and Naomi descended the bus with a little more dignity. From there, Tressa walked to her apartment with her head down and her hand in her pocket, fumbling for the right key. Naomi couldn't keep herself from chuckling at the odd way Tressa moved and walked. It was as if the girl were in a world of her own.

Naomi couldn't help but laugh at the antics of the girl. Suddenly, she stood face to face with heavy steel. "HEY!" Naomi pounded on the door.

"Not a problem." Judy took Naomi's hand and passed through the door. "A locked door is no problem for us."

"Oh." Naomi mumbled, then blushed.

"MOM, I'M HOME!" Tressa entered her apartment and dropped her bag on the floor.

Not hearing an answer, Tressa found a note and some money on the kitchen table. Tressa shrugged, tossing the note out. Tressa grabbed a can. She left the money for her mom to reclaim later. Then, she started her homework.

Naomi was surprised at the speed with which Tressa worked. "It used to take me forever to do all my work. How does she do it?"

"Tressa has an odd mind." Judy explained. "Most of what she writes down for notes and in class, she remembers. So, she doesn't bother too much with the textbook."

Tressa turned on the TV and sacked-out on the couch. Naomi and Judy joined her,. "So, is there anything else for us to do, besides hanging with the person we're supposed to take care of?"

"Not really." Judy replied. "It's pretty boring being dead."

"Is there anyway we can interact or communicate with Tress?" Naomi wondered aloud

"To a certain degree," Judy commented,"if the person you're taking care of is really sensitive, we can leave some impressions. You've heard of instinct?"

Naomi nodded. The front door opened, Tressa's mother entered the apartment, followed by a middle-aged gentleman with a paunch and bib overalls. While Tressa and her mother greeted one another, Judy ran over to her grandfather, and gave the man a big hug. Naomi hung back, fidgeting.

"Grandpa!" Judy exclaimed.

"SPROUT!" Judy's grandfather returned her hug, then, he noticed Naomi. He straightened his posture, then took his big, floppy, straw hat into his hands, and ran hand through his salt and pepper hair. "Ma'am."

"Hi, I'm Naomi." Naomi extended her hand towards the man.

"Nice to meet you." Fred wiped his hand on the front of his coveralls before shaking hands with Naomi. "Name's Fred."

"I met Judy at Tressa's school. I was student there." Naomi explained.

Fred nodded. "I understand. Has Judy been helping you out? Explaining everything?"

"Yes, Judy was very kind and helpful, sir." Naomi answered. "I don't think I could have made it without her."

"That's a good girl." Fred beamed at Judy. "You do not have to call me sir ma'am. Call me Fred, miss."

"Sure." Naomi returned Fred's infectious smile. "Call me Naomi."

Naomi studied the man before her. He had the appearance and subtle accent of an early 20th century midwestern farmer, yet not as old as she expected him to be. "E-excuse me s-, I mean, Fred," Naomi tried.,"if you're Judy's grandfather, shouldn't you be older?"

"Didn't Judy explained the age trick?" Fred's eyes twinkled at Naomi's nod. He replaced his hat. "It works for us old folks, too." He brushed his knuckles along his temple, careful not to knock off his hat. "How do I look, Naomi?"

"Fine, Fred." Naomi blushed. "I was a little upset when I found out I had died."

"Everybody is." Fred grinned. "You should have seen Judy. She was crying like a baby."

"I was a baby, Grandpa." Judy chuckled. "He loves telling that joke."

Naomi joined in on the laugh with Fred and Judy. "I was stillborn," Judy explained, staring off into the distance. "Mom developed, something called, preeclampsia ." Judy looked down. "Neither Mom nor me were the same afterwards."

"Did Judy tell you about finding your own person to guard, Naomi?" Fred changed the subject.

Naomi shook her head, grateful to leave Judy to her sad memory.

"Basically," Fred began.,"every person is on a journey; a path they could follow. Other people pass by or cross that path. Doctors, teachers, fellow students, co-workers, passersby on the street. A person could come into contact with countless people as they go through life."

Naomi nods, considering.

"At some point," Fred continued, "while you and Judy are working together to take care of Tressa, she will come into contact with someone that needs you as their angel. When that time comes, you'll go off with that person, leaving Judy and Tressa."

"How will I know, if I'll supposed to go with somebody." Naomi asked.

"It's difficult to explain," Fred affirmed. "You'll know. Trust. Judy will help. And I will, too, for as long as I can."

"For as long as you can?" Naomi was confused.

Fred nodded. "I am responsible for Tressa's mother. Tressa is a child. Tressa will grow up, move away, live her own life. When that happens, you and Judy will go with her, but I will have to stay."

Naomi frowned. "But..."

"That's the way it is." Fred shrugged. "You'll be okay. It won't be forever. Tressa , in her adult age,will visit her mother. When she visits, we can visit."

"Mmmm," Naomi grunted, understanding.

"And then," Fred reminded.,"when Tressa and you meet the person you are to take care of, you'll go off to take care of them."

Naomi nodded, solemnly. It was overwhelming, a lot to take in. She elected to let the information sit. Whatever happens, will happen. She'll trust and have faith. She'll figure it out. For the moment, she was grateful to have Fred and Judy around. Naomi doubted that she could do this if she was alone. She managed a ghost of a smile, her thoughts drifting.

~~~~

As Tressa matured, the camaraderie between the three guardian angels had grown. When they weren't protecting Tressa or her mother they would keep themselves entertained. Fred would share stories and slyly inappropriate jokes. Judy would sing; Naomi would dance. Naomi felt like one of the family. She regarded Fred as grandpa and Judy as auntie. It was as if she had always belonged.

One day, Tressa was an adult and found herself with a job and a place all her own. She was collecting the last of her things from her old home. Her mother stood by watching, a wadded tissue in her hands. Both mother and child reassured each other that things would be all right. Tressa promised to visit; her mother promised Tressa she would always have a home with her. Unseen by the living, the dead were sharing farewells of their own.

Tears fell. Embraces tightened. Judy and Naomi each gave Fred a kiss on either side of his face. None wanted to part; yet, that always happens when children grow up. Fred honked his nose into a red hankie with white polka-dots, then clapped the girls on their shoulders. "You'd better go," his gravel voice, said. "You don't want to lose track of Tressa."

"We won't lose her, Grandpa." Judy reassured.

Naomi dabbed her eyes with her sleeve. "I don't want to go."

"I know, baby-girl." Fred patted Naomi on the shoulder. "But you'll be okay. You're both fine, smart girls. You'll be fine. Besides, this goodbye may not be forever."

Naomi hugged Fred. "Hmmm." She whined.

"Chin up." Fred said. "Tressa will come back to visit her mother. When they visit, we'll visit."

"That's right." Judy joined Naomi in hugging Fred.

Tressa climbed into her car, starting it. Judy and Naomi, reluctantly, released Fred, and crammed themselves into the vehicle alongside Tressa's stuff. The girls hung out the window, waving, as they drove away. "Hope to see you soon, Grandpa!"

"Good luck, girls!" Fred returned the wave. "And trust God!"

~~~~

Tressa was speeding towards work. Judy and Naomi were in the backseat. All were anxious and tense.

"Why didn't you remind her to set her alarm?!" Judy hissed.

"I can only do so much!" Naomi spit back. "She's so scatterbrained to begin with, it's hard to get the right frequency to reach her."

Judy scanned the vista. "I just hope we don't run into a - -"

A siren sounds. Tressa checks her rear view mirror, curses, and pulls the car over.

"Cop." Both angels buried their faces in their hands.

"Maybe we can beat the ticket." Naomi sounded more hopeful than she was.

"Unlikely," Judy responded. "We were really flying. I hope she doesn't lose her job over the ticket."

"Yeah." Naomi nodded. "Last time she got a ticket, her boss said that if she got any more points on her license, she'd be fired."

The angels quieted, watching Tressa roll down her window to talk to the officer.

"License, proof of insurance, and registration, ma'am." The cop stated.

"Y-yes, sir," Tressa whimpered. "It's all in my glove box."

Tressa watched the cop nod, then reached for the information. With all documents in hand, the officer walked back to his vehicle. Tressa took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

"She really hates the idea of being in trouble,doesn't she?" commented Naomi.

"Been that way all her life.," replied Judy. "If her parents called her or if she'd been sent to the principal's office she'd blow the situation up in her mind. She'd be terrified. Fear kept her from a lot of things."

Naomi blinked. "Why's she so scared?"

Judy shrugged an answer. The angels watched, anxious, as the policeman made his slow walk back to Tressa's window,. All three of the girls had their fingers crossed and all their faces fell, when a ticket was included in the documents.

Tressa smiled, crookedly. "Thank you, sir." She tossed the papers onto her passenger seat, put the car in gear, and drove away at a much slower speed.

"But why?" Naomi still didn't understand. "The worst that could happen here is she gets a ticket."

"You and I know that," Judy said. "But in Tressa's mind, she's getting a ticket, being arrested, taken to jail, facing a judge, and being sentenced to life in prison."

"What's that?" Naomi noticed some writing on the back of the ticket. She manipulated the wind to turn the ticket over. "Traffic School…"

"Traffic school?" Judy peered over Naomi's shoulder to read. "If Tressa attends traffic school, she can remove points from her license."

"Mmm." Naomi nodded, glancing toward Tressa's intent expression. "The paper's in a good position for her to see it when she stops and picks it up."

"Mmm-hmm." Judy agreed. "She needs to read this."

Tressa parked and ran, on foot, into her job. Five minutes later, she reappeared, face red, head down, and tears streaming down her cheeks.

Judy frowned. "Not good."

"At least they didn't fire her." Naomi said.

"Yes." Judy agreed. "It was considered a no call/no show. She can't do that anymore."

Tressa bent to get back into her car and Judy tapped the upside down speeding ticket laying on the seat. Tressa noticed the paper. She picked it up, read it, flipped it over, and came to a decision. "Traffic School…" she murmured.

Traffic School was basically a condensed version of Driver's Education. It takes place over the course of a single day. They go over the Rules of the Road, administer written and driving tests. Any violations get either wiped completely from a driver's record or lessened. There was a fee for the course, but the cost would be the same as if she paid the ticket outright.

Tressa drove home to call the number on the back of the ticket to get directions and a schedule for the next session of the Traffic School. The next class day was two days away, on payday. Tressa decided to go for the class and swung by the Department of Motor Vehicles to pick up the class book.

Until the day of traffic School, Naomi and Judy focused hard, to make sure Tressa studied. Most of the time, Tressa was reliable. But she could get easily distracted. With her, Judy and Naomi had to keep on their toes.

Finally, the day of Traffic School arrived and a miracle occurred. She awoke bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, a half hour before her alarm. Judy and Naomi were flabbergasted. Even the drive to the school went smooth. (Tressa can get so unsure of herself, she becomes daffy with directions, getting lost easily). The only explanation Judy and Naomi could come up with: something special was about to happen. They decided to sit back, and watch what happens next.

Tressa arrived at the class early. She wanted the seat closest to the door,. However, there was already someone else there. Something about this person seemed interesting to both Tressa and Naomi. Judy noticed, but didn't think anything of it. It was rare for Tressa to seek friendship. When she felt compelled to make a new friend, if Judy didn't feel any danger, she encouraged it. Judy assumed Naomi was interested, because Tressa was. Either way, she let the encounter happen.

"Hi." Tressa was polite. Tressa would never think or say that someone was strange, since Tressa had been teased so much about being weird. Still, the person before her was unique: clearly female, but her style was very masculine. Tressa took an immediate liking to the strange girl.

"Sup"came the reply.

Both Judy and Tressa leaned in. "I don't get this guy,." Judy mused to Naomi.

"Girl." Naomi stated.

"Girl?" Judy blinked at Naomi. "How can you tell? It looks like a man."

"I don't know," Naomi remained firm, "but that's a girl."

"My name's Tressa." Tressa smiled. Guy or girl, it didn't matter. This person was interesting. That was all Tressa cared about. Tressa knew they would be friends.

"Frieda." The girl introduced herself.

Naomi grinned with pride. "Told ya." Naomi taunted.

"So you did." Judy rolled her eyes. "What else do you know about her?"

"Hard to tell." Naomi wrinkled her brow. "Something about her makes me sad. She's been through a lot and hasn't really had anyone there to help or do anything or keep her safe."

"What do you mean?" Judy puzzled.

"I…" Naomi frowned at the floor. "I think I might go with her at the end of Traffic School."

Judy's jaw dropped, then she set it, again. "If you're sure."

"Yeah." Naomi wiped a tear from her eye. "I'm sorry, but I am sure."

"You have nothing to be sorry about." Judy put an arm around Naomi. "You have to go where you have to go. It's okay. I understand."

"Thank you." Naomi returned Judy's hug. "I'm going to miss you."

"I know." Judy patted Naomi on the shoulder, then noticed the way Tressa and Frieda were interacting. "Maybe you won't miss me too much."

"What do you mean?" Naomi wiped her eyes on her sleeve.

Judy pointed. "They seem to like each other. Maybe they'll hang out and be friends."

It was Naomi's turn for her jaw to hang open. "Has Tressa ever reacted like that with anyone else?"

Judy shook her head. "Not that I've seen. Tressa's always been shy. She's never the first person to greet someone new."

"Look at that!" Naomi beamed when she saw Tressa and Frieda exchange numbers, email, and addresses.

"I can see." Judy squealed in delight. Her hopes were lifting. Judy hoped she wasn't fooling herself. Something in her said that she was seeing magic happen. She had grown with Naomi. It was bittersweet to say goodbye.

When Frieda got up at the end of class, Naomi, Tressa, and Judy joined her. When the four girls reached the parking lot, the living and the dead shared hugs. The living shared new friendship and joy. The dead expressed farewell and sorrow. The four parted and separated into couples, both going their own ways.

Everyone needs help, sometimes. There are angels; enough guardian angels for all the blades of grass in the world.