Christmas Angels

Chapter 19 & 20

Chapter 19:

JULY, 2011

Summer came and Angela took a job working in the Mount Bethel Animal Shelter to earn money to go to venture to university and also partly in honour of the memory of Bandit, who had once been homeless, and on his own, too. Caring for the animals was very satisfying to her and helped to heal the hurt of losing Bandit. The summer flew by, and before she really felt ready, it was time for Angela to make the trip to New Haven, Connecticut. She had graduated in the spring, and thanks to all her extra work and study over the winter, she was at the top of her class. In January, she had applied to Yale University, Southern Connecticut State University, plus one other university, just in case Yale turned her down. She was ecstatic to receive a reply from this venerable old university, accepting her into the nursing program. There was no question, this was the one place that she had always hoped would accept her. It was a dream come true.

Angela had never lived away from home or her family. She was quite nervous about the prospect, so she opted for a room in the university residence buildings. It was all very exciting, but at the same time, more than a little frightening for her, too. She tried not to let on about that to her mother, who was worried to death about Angela moving so far away from home.

"Are you sure you have all the clothes you will need?" Marianne asked for the third time.

"Yes Mother, I have plenty of clothes. And shoes. And boots. And a raincoat too. Don't worry, I will be fine", Angela lectured her.

"I just can't help it, Angela. I'm going to miss you so much."

"I'm going to miss you and Dad, too. It's only a couple of hours away, remember, and I will come home lots of weekends. And Christmas, don't forget Christmas!"

"I know you will, Sweetheart. I actually think this is going to bea

harder for me than it is for you. You get all the adventure; I get all the worry."

"I will call you every day and we can 'Skype' each other, Mom. Just don't forget that I will need a little time to study, though", Angela said. as an afterthought, with a laugh.

Josh and Marianne made the drive to New Haven with Angela and all of her luggage. She would share an apartment suite in West Campus Hall with three other girls, none of whom had arrived yet. The building was quite modern and the suite featured individual bedrooms for each of the four occupants. There was a common living area, two baths and two microwave/mini fridge units. Angela's bedroom contained a desk and chair, a bed and one dresser, plus a closet. They helped her organize her room, as tiny as it was, and they had another quick tour of the campus before sharing a very teary goodbye. Then, after extracting a promise on Angela's part to call them every day, they got into the van to return to Mount Bethel. With a sinking heart and a queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, Angela waived as they drove away. Feeling forlorn and more alone than ever in her life, she realized she truly was on her own here.

Her room seemed a lot less cozy to her when she returned to the dorm. While her parents had been there, everything seemed safe and warm. Now she shivered as she reviewed her few belongings and the place she would call home for the duration of the school year.

"Hey!" A voice made her whirl around in surprise.

A dark haired girl, about her age, stood just outside the open door, smiling. When Angela turned to face her, she stepped forward, offering her hand. "I'm Carley. I'm second year, so I know the ropes around here. Sorry to startle you. Just wanted to say 'hi', welcome to Harkness Hall, your home away from home for the foreseeable future."