I grew up in a family that didn't go to college, and I knew I'd be the first to go. I was bound and determined to go to Stanford. In my family, this was a pretty lofty goal. But everything I did in high school revolved around getting into Stanford. And when I didn't get in, I was just devastated. My mom saw what was going on and called my basketball coach. He came over and took me out to dinner and we talked. Then he followed up, and came over a few times after that to help me talk through it. I thought I'd never get over it, but I did get over it, and my basketball coach was one of the big reasons why.

I was moving across country and had no idea how much work it would take, so of course I left it till the last minute. The day before the movers were supposed to come I was looking around my apartment and just overwhelmed because there was no way I was going to get it done. And the doorbell rings and it's my friend Pam. I didn't ask her to come, I didn't tell her I needed help, she just showed up and stayed all night to help me out!

My roomate, Angela
I'd been real depressed for a week b/c I was failing my math class and tutors were expensive. So my roomate comes up to me and offers to help out. About 3x a week for the rest of the semester, she sits down and helps me with the math. I passed the class and didn't need to pay for tutors.

I was having car problems but we didn't have money, my husband was losing his job. Our neighbor is good with cars and I wanted to ask him to help but didn't want to impose. Then one day I come home to find him on my porch, saying he heard how my car sounded and thought he could help out. He opened the hood and worked for a couple of hours, fixed it, and wouldn't even take cookies as payment. Brandon, your my hero.

MY ANGEL
By Serina T.
December 2008

He's always been there for me through the good times and the bad. He's
been there to comfort me when I'm feeling sad. Every day of my life for almost
15 years, he has been my hero, the one who quiets all my fears.

No matter what the day and no matter what the time, he is ready to stop what
he's doing and help me on a dime. He is my guardian angel, and is also my
best friend. There has never been a problem that my angel can't help mend.

There are songs I hear and movies I love too, and the ones I'm talking about remind me of him through and through.

I always have my angel and I hope I always will, he is the one I'll call to when I feel like nil.

And who is this angel, whe're I'm happy or I'm sad? My angel... My hero...


MY DAD

dedicated to daddy. Merry Christmas, I'll love you always
Serabear

I was driving one day, about to come to an intersection, when I heard this voice from the passenger seat yell, "Stop!" There was no one in the car but I actually hit the brakes even though I had a green light. Instantly, a car sped through the red light exactly where I would have been if I had continued.

Years later, during a very difficult time in my life, I met with a psychic. The session was uneventful but before I left she asked me if I wanted to know my guardian angel. She gave me the name Thomas. I thought very little of it at the time.

But, as things in my life continued to worsen, I felt all alone. I couldn't see a future for myself. I just wanted it all to be over, just like Jennifer in this novel. I called out to whoever does the listening, "Who is my guardian angel?" At the time, I was opening a box with new cordless phones. Just after I asked, I looked at the phone and printed on the fake caller ID label was the name THOMAS.

Since that time, I have become very aware of my angels. They really do answer us when we ask. We just have to see the signs. Sometimes it comes in words across the TV or something printed on a truck driving by. It might be a song that plays on the radio soon after you ask. Sometimes, you will see a pattern of numbers, almost to the point you cannot ignore.

I have since gone back in my life and remembered incidents like the voice in the car. Times when I was definitely helped by something non-physical. Although I grew up catholic, I don't believe in God the way my religion tells me I must. But I do believe in angels. All you have to do to see and hear the signs, is be willing to suspend your disbelief. The more you are open to them, the more you will see them and remember that they were there from the beginning. We are not alone.

she just knew i was sad...i was at home alone crying and she called out of the blue...said she sensed something and needed to call...

It was the middle of winter in Minnesota, and my axel broke! I sat there in my car, wondering what to do, and a woman drove up and asked me if I needed help. She drove me to my friend's house, which was clear across town, and totally out of her way! She didn't even tell me her name.

I had a two-week-old baby and a three-year-old daughter, my husband had to go out of town, and I got the flu. Really bad. And out of the blue, my neighbor rang my doorbell, told me she was going to the store and asked me if I needed anything! I told her I was sick, and she decided not to go to the store, but take my kids so I could sleep. Connie, you're the best!

As a rule, I'm wary of strangers. I live in New York. But one day I headed to the post office to pick up a package, thinking the package was small--and it wasn't. It was huge, and it was heavy. On top of that, I had recently injured my shoulder. It was near closing time, so I didn't have time to run back to my apartment and get a cart and, feeling brave, I decided just to lug the thing home. (I don't have a car.)

Within two minutes I realized I'd made a mistake; I kept having to put it down, breathe, and pick it up again. How was I going to make it home? A random guy approached me, someone I otherwise would have ignored, and asked if he could help. I really didn't want to say yes, but my shoulder hurt and I had three blocks left.

He picked it up and followed me to my apartment, and then just set it down. I expected him to ask for money--it's happened before--but he didn't. He just said, "Have a nice day," and left.

I did have a nice day, just because of him.