Angel of Mercy Read Online Free PDF Page A

declaration. Gloria was right!
    The two friends walked the rest of the way home in silence. Gloria hoped that she hadn’t come on too strong to her friend. Chelsea was wondering if Gloria had come on strong enough.
    Chelsea had a lot to think about over the next several months. The more time she spent with Gloria, and the more excited Gloria became over her coming enlistment, the more Chelsea pondered her own future. She had developed the true heart of a nurse over the two years that she spent in nursing school at Keystone. In solitary moments of introspection Chelsea knew that she was late to the party where empathy was concerned. Her early upbringing engendered a lack of awareness of people less fortunate than herself, if not a disdain.
    Charitable giving was an afterthought in the George Bannister family and was something most properly handled by Mr. Bannister’s accountant. That way the best tax break possible could be garnered. Chelsea grew up not knowing whether she was an elitist or not. She just never knew any poor people except for the people that worked for the Bannister family or the family of one of Chelsea’s friends.
    It was only later, after the financial collapse and the beginning of her college career that Chelsea realized that not knowing whether she was an elitist was the best evidence that she was one. The upshot of Chelsea’s realization was that she felt late to the party that was called, “Caring for Your Fellow Man.” Her sense of embarrassment over that, the loss of Guy Harris, her friendship with Gloria Vesta, and the exploration of her true heart brought Chelsea to the decision that had her aboard a troop plane to Afghanistan almost a year later.
    As Chelsea tried to find a comfortable spot on the buffeted plane, she recalled the teary conversation that she had with her mother when she told her about her sudden change of plans. Chelsea had driven down to Philadelphia to speak to her mother in person. Linda believing that her daughter just needed a weekend getaway from school asked Chelsea if she would like to have some people over.
    “Would you like to have a little reunion with some friends?” Linda asked over the phone. Chelsea shook her head, though Linda was unable to see the reaction. “No, Mom. Remember I never really connected with anyone my senior year. That is my fault now that I think about it, but it’s true. Anyway, I need to talk to you about something. Let’s just have a girl’s night.”
    “That sounds fine, honey. I look forward to it.”
    When Chelsea arrived at Linda’s apartment in Philadelphia, she looked around in wonder. It seemed as if so many changes had happened in the almost two years since she had left Philly. While there had actually been very few changes to the apartment, Chelsea was right about changes. They had been within her. After a bit of small talk, “How are the boys?”
    “Oh, fine,” kind of thing Linda and Chelsea sat in the kitchen while the pot roast simmered on the stove. Linda folded her hands together on the breakfast bar counter top and asked, “Okay dear, would you like to tell me what you need to talk about?”
    Chelsea swallowed and began, “Mom, when I graduate I don’t think that I’m going to go straight into hospital or clinic work. At least not here.” Linda looked perplexed as Chelsea paused for a beat. “Where would you like to work then? I didn’t know if you would be coming back to Philadelphia or looking to get away. I guess you want to get away, is that what I’m hearing?”
    “Yes, but it isn’t that I just think I need a change of scenery. Mom, I’m going to go into the service. I want to be a combat nurse overseas!” Linda looked shocked but kept her voice under control.
    “Honey, that’s a very dangerous idea. I admire you for wanting to serve your country but…you’ll be so far away…” Linda’s voice trailed away as she realized the grave import of what she had just heard. She had thought that her