The Real Angel

At the darkest night ever they were sitting in their camp house. Afraid to wake anyone up, they were whispering. 1

“He really told you that?” whispered Abigail looking at the bunk above her.2

“Yes Abby, he did,” answered Judy. 3

“You mean he just said that?” she asked again. “I am sorry but you see… I cannot believe…”4

“He did alright!” Judy raised her voice in anger. She remarked with hesitation, “If you don’t believe then… don’t believe!”5

After a silent moment Abigail yawned, “I do believe you. But ‘I love you’ is not that simple. I am afraid he is just trying to take advantage of you…”6

“You are just jealous.”7

“No,” Abigail whispered calmly. “It is just that I know how it is. Heard a lot about it. When a boy say’s that he loves you and that you are the one and the only one.” She heard unpleasant sounds from above and added, lowering her voice so that the girls on the nearest beds could not hear them at all, “It happened  to me.”8

“What?” Judy exclaimed and her head appeared from above, her long golden queue hanging down like a snake. “You mean you… Aaaaaaaaa”9

She fell on the floor with a noisy crush. Not even realizing what happened, the neighboring eight girls woke up and started yelling. Some of them stood on their beds and yelled as though they were getting operated without an anesthetic.10

“SHUT UP!” shouted Judy. “THE BOYS WILL THINK WE ARE GIVING BIRTH TO BABIES! STOP YELLING!” 11

But of course nobody heard her. When Mrs. Weber eventually calmed the girls down the whole camp was curiously looking at the small camp house. Everyone wanted to know what happened and so did Mrs. Weber.12

“Who is going to explain what happened?” she asked. None of the girls answered so she said, “Do you know that it is eleven thirty at night?! You woke the whole camp up! I want an explanation right now! What about you Zelda?”13

All the students of the tenth and eleventh grades were taken to a one month camp. Zelda was the most hated girl in the whole school. Students always called her ‘the teller’. 14

“It was Judy. She started it, Mrs. Weber,” Zelda said.15

“Is this true Judy?” Mrs. Weber asked looking at Judy. Judy nodded. “So can you explain what happened?”16

“I… I…” she hesitated. She glanced at Abigail who slightly shook her head. One of the camp rules was that the students were not allowed to talk at bedtime. “I… had a bad dream and fell of the bunk.”17

“Oh my god! Are you alright? Are you hurt?” Mrs. Weber hurried to Judy.18

“No, thank you. I am fine,” said Judy. “I landed safely.”19

When Mrs. Weber left, the girls were already in their beds. Two hours later Judy slid down and whispered into Abigail’s ear, “I am in the bathroom.”20

She went out of the room and headed to the bathroom. In there, she waited a couple of minute and somebody knocked the door. She opened it and Abigail went in.21

They silently looked at each other and after a moment they fell on their knees laughing. 22

“So you said it happened to you,” Judy asked when they were through laughing. “You never told me… Who was it?”23

“Frank.”24

“Wha… Who??? Frank?” inquired Judy. Abigail nodded. “The handsome one?” Abigail nodded again. “The tall and muscular one?” And Abigail nodded once more. After long silent five minutes Judy asked, “Did you…?”25

“No!” Abigail said with disgust. “I am not of this type! I am still sixteen! Why did you ask? You know me.”26

“Obviously I don’t,” Judy said. “Frank told you that he loved you and you did not tell me… Anyway, tell me what happened.”27

“Nothing complicated. He seemed to be the perfect one. He told me I was the only one… But one day I found him kissing Penelope.”28

“Parker???”29

“Yep.”30

“Oh no! I am sorry…”31

“Don’t be,” Abigail interrupted her. “He was not worth anything. Maybe he is very handsome but it seems that he has a black hole in his head. He was a total idiot and he still is. Now I know exactly who I want to be with. Someone compassionate and honest. Of course it won’t be easy to know if he is honest or not…”32

“That’s easy,” yawned Judy. “If he does not rush into kissing and does not try to pull you to bed as fast as possible although he finds you sexy and wants it then he is honest. He also has to respect you – that is the most important thing. But it is not always true. Sometimes they can fool you…”33

“Where do you know that from?” wondered Abigail.34

“Read it in a book.”35

“And how is it with Alex, then?”36

“Mmm… Once he told me he tried to kiss me but we were caught by Mrs. Weber.” Judy said. She smiled while remembering what happened.37

“And what about the stuff you told me just now?”38

“No… Alex is not like that…”39

“He is no better than Frank.”40

“Okay! That is enough!” Judy exclaimed and stood up. “If it happened to you it does not mean it has to happen to me!”41

“But what about what you just said…”42

“I read it from a book! Not everything you read is true!!” Judy started walking around the small bathroom – she always did that when she was nervous. “I’ll tell you what… We will go there now!”43

“And what do you expect to find? Him telling all his mates about how he loves you?”44

“Um… Not exactly… but I feel that we have to go there now. I have this feeling…”45

“And do you know what is going to happen to us if we will get caught??” jeered Abigail.46

“There is no need of this sarcasm! I am going!” She opened the door and walked out. Abigail had no other choice – she went after her.47

“Do you know how silly we look in our pajamas?” Abigail asked when they were crawling towards the boys’ camp houses. There were five camp houses for boys and the middle one was Alex’s. 48

“Shhhh!” whispered Judy.49

She looked into the opened window. One of the beds was empty. Judy’s heart started beating faster. She slid down onto the ground and sadly looked at the grass. When Abigail approached her she sat beside her.50

“Maybe he went to another camp house,” Abigail whispered.51

“You know that this is not allowed… But he might.” 52

“Let’s go back!” Abigail begged. “It is getting cold.”53

They started crawling back towards the girls’ camp houses. When they were crawling past some bushes they heard some whispers. 54

“Do you hear this?” Judy asked.55

“I guess,” Abigail answered.56

The whispers were coming form behind the bushes. Judy and Abigail crawled closer. They could hear two voices. A girl’s and a boy’s voices…57

Judy was about to get into the bushes when Abigail stopped her and shook her head. She pointed at her ear showing that it would be too noisy. They crawled round so that they could reach that place without producing any noise. Both of them looked from behind the trees.58

“Is that Penelope?” Abigail whispered. 59

“And Alex,” Judy breathed out. 60

Penelope was the school’s ‘loon’. She was always wearing vulgar clothes and putting on a lot of makeup. She had a beautiful body but the thing that must have been attracting so many youths towards her was her big breast and wide hips.61

“Oh my god!” Abigail whispered. Alex seemed as if he wanted to eat Penelope. “I am sorry Jud! I am… Judy??”62

She looked at her side where Judy was sitting and it was empty. She looked around and saw Judy’s thin image disappearing in the woods…63

The forest was a forbidden place to go into without a teacher. Sometimes, the students could hear the wolves at night. But Judy did not think about anything except Alex and Penelope hugging each other. Her eyes were full of tears and she could not see the way. A tree after a tree, she ran deeper and deeper into the forest. The trees were becoming thicker and the moonlight could barely reach through the branches and leaves. It was dark and cold… and very very sad.64

Judy stumbled and fell down. She sat by a tree and buried her head into her knees. She always felt bad when Abigail was right (again) but this time it was not it. It was the first time a boy told her he loved her. She always liked him and one day he comes and says that he loves her – it was her dream. 65

She was tall and thin. Her golden hair was long and perfectly matched her green eyes. She was very beautiful but never she felt truly loved. Sometimes she was saying that it is a curse. The only one who was making it easier was Abigail, who was also beautiful but never truly loved either. Destiny, Abigail always said.66

“My friend,” smiled Judy while remembering Abigail and the things she always said to cheer her up. “My best friend…”67

Her heart stopped beating and she felt that her guts were squeezed. She raised her head and looked at the front. She could hear a heavy… hungry breath… Slowly standing up, Judy hoped that she was just imagining the sounds. The breath was coming closer and closer… It was heavier and heavier with every minute. Judy pressed her beck against the thick trunk and tried not to move. A nose appeared from the darkness and a hungry head followed. The spit was coming out of its opened mouth; its tongue was hanging out; the teeth were ready to tear the flesh apart…68

Judy was too scared to yell. She just silently turned around and wanted to run away but… She hit something… It could not be a tree’s trunk because it did not feel like it. Judy glanced up and her mouth opened wide.69

A tall youth was standing in front of her. Judy could not see his face because of the darkness. She jumped up and seized the youth by his shirt. She could not speak. She pointed back at the wolf that was still hungrily looking at her. When the youth did not move Judy let go of his shirt and tried to run away.70

He held her by her shoulders and looked right into her eyes. “Don’t be afraid,” he whispered and an unbelievably kind smile grew on his face. 71

“But the wolf,” Judy whispered trying to free herself from the youth’s seize. 72

“Don’t worry about it,” he said and took his hands off Judy. He walked towards the wolf, bent down and said, “Go.”73

To complete Judy’s amazement the wolf turned around and walked away. She was speechlessly looking at the youth not knowing what to do.74

“You are alright, aren’t you?” he asked. 75

“Y… Yes,” she hesitated. “What are you?”76

“I am your friend.”77

Judy remembered an article she read in a magazine lately. It said that maniacs that kidnapped children were always saying and repeating that they are ‘friends’. The moment she had, perfectly matched the article. She walked back and stumbled. The youth walked towards her. She helplessly closed her eyes and waited for something like a hit on her head that might make her unconscious. When nothing happened she opened one eye and looked at the youth.78

He was the first to break the pause, “Are you afraid of me?”79

“W… Yes … No … As a matter of fact I am not,” Judy said trying to show her confidence.80

“There is no need to be scared,” he said and stretched out his hand to help her stand. “You called me and I came.”81

“I called nobody,” Judy said sharply.82

“Yes you did. You said: my friend.”83

“That was not a call. Especially not for you.” She put her hand in his and stood up. “I was going through my memories…”84

“W… Um… I…” he hesitated. He looked very disappointed and lost. He turned around and walked into the dark. 85

Judy remembered the wolf and the way the youth made it leave. Animals can feel bad people and the youth definitely did not cause a bad reaction…86

“Wait!” she begged and ran after him. She could not see a sign of the youth anywhere. “Where are you?” she shouted but there was no reply. She stopped to take a breath and remembered his words. “Um… My… My friend!” She shook her head and whispered, “Oh god. What am I doing. I have to find the way ba…”87

She looked back and saw the youth leaning to a tree’s trunk. He was jeeringly looking at her.88

“I told you,” he smiled. “You were calling me.”89

“Whatever… Do you know the way back to the camp?” Judy asked and the youth nodded. “Okay, Let’s go…”90

“Only under one condition,” the youth said. “You must not tell anyone about me. Promise me!”91

“As if they won’t see you themselves,” Judy jeered.92

“Promise me!” he said and put his hand on Judies shoulder. Judy moved her shoulder away. “Promise me!” he shrieked and seized Judy from her shoulders. 93

“Okay, okay! I promise!” Judy said. 94

Judy silently followed the youth still wondering about his pretty strange behavior. After a moment Judy broke the silence, “Who are you? What is your name?”95

“You choose.”96

“I beg your pardon!”97

“I don’t think you understand who I am.” Judy raised her eyebrows and the youth continued, “I am your angel.”98

“An angel?”99

“You do not believe me, do you?” he asked innocently. “Okay… I’ll prove it. But you must remember to keep your promise. Just follow me.”100

Judy followed him with her mouth still widely open. What kind of freak was that?! Wolves obey him, overreacting about promises and he also claims to be an angel?! Huh!!101

Finally, they went out of the forest into the light of the camp houses. The windows in the houses were lighted. Teachers were running here and there. Mrs. Weber and The Teller saw Judy and quickly approached her. Judy knew that she was in trouble. 102

“Where have you been!” Mrs. Weber cried into Judy’s face. “You are not allowed to leave the house at night!! Do you think this is a game?! Do rules mean anything to you?! You can’t just break the RULES!! And the rules say…”103

Judy was not listening anyway. She looked back at the youth. He was smiling. There were two possibilities – Mrs. Weber totally ignored him or she just could not see him. But Zelda was with her. They couldn’t be blind together.104

“I am mad,” thought Judy while looking at the youth. The wind was playing with his silky brown hair. His blue eyes were smiling along with his mouth. “I must be mad! Yes I am mad! Crazy… insane…demented…lunatic…”105

Her knees bent and she fell down on the ground.106

She opened her eyes and saw Mrs. Weber along with many other teachers and students staring at her. 107

“What happened?” whispered Judy sitting up in the bed. She looked around and did not find the ‘angel’. “It was a dream,” she whispered with relief. 108

“What was a dream?” Mrs. Weber asked.109

“The dream,” jeered Judy. She was just so happy to know that she was not insane.110

“Are you alright?” Mrs. Weber inquired.111

“Yes! Yes I am!”112

After a long interrogatory the teachers agreed that she was a sleepwalker and sent her back to the camp house. 113

When she went into the room Abigail ran towards her. “What happened? Are you going to be sent home?”114

“Shhh! Zelda is here,” whispered Judy and went to bed. 115

She climbed up and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and looked around. The angel was definitely not there.116

******117

At the next morning she told Abigail all about her dream and the way she was accused with sleepwalking. Finally it was her turn to go to the bathroom. She went in and closed the door. 118

“You did not keep your promise,” she heard a familiar voice from behind. The toothbrush fell out of her had and she followed it to the floor. After a moment she opened her eyes and saw the angel looking at her. 119

“Oh my god!” whispered Judy grabbing her head. “I am crazy!”120

“Crazy? No… I am not a result of insanity. I am real.”121

After a long speech. The angel told Judy that he was an angel and that she was not insane in any way.  He explained that all people have angels, guardians or friends but only few of them can see their angels. When Judy asked him why she was one of the few he said that she was in danger and at that exact time she called her ‘friend’. He also told her that if anyone believes that she has got an angel he’ll vanish and will never be able to defend her again…122

“I will always think that I’m insane,” Judy said and went out of the bathroom.123

“What took you so long? What happened? I was knocking the door and you did not answer!” Abigail asked. 124

“You were?” Judy wondered and looked at the angel. 125

He shook his shoulders and said, “I had to.”126

It was fun to have an angel. He could talk to her and no one could hear. She also could talk to him and nobody could hear – he could hear her thoughts. Judy could hardly keep her mouth shut about him because Abigail was her best friend and it was difficult to lie to her…127

She was avoiding Alex in every way. Two weeks passed and they had not even talked. Of course Alex didn’t know that she and Abigail saw him with Penelope. He tried to talk to Judy but she was always fleeing away. 128

“What is happening to you?” Abigail asked one night when they were sitting by the camp fire. “You changed since the night you ran to the forest. I feel that you are far away. We never talk as we used to…”129

“I…”130

“I know that something happened on that night!” Abigail stroke. “Tell me what happened. And don’t you say that nothing happened. You were not sleepwalking for sure because I was there with you!!”131

“I can’t tell you,” Judy said sadly. 132

“Then we are not friends any more, are we?” she vociferated and quickly walked away. 133

“Not friends?” verbalized Judy looking at the fire.134

Days were passing and the two x-friends had not even talked to each other. Every time Judy tried to start a conversation Abigail was saying, “If you tell me then we are friends. But it seems that you don’t need me…”135

One night Judy was remembering all the happy times she spent with Abigail. “Should I tell her?”136

“It is your choice,” the angel answered. “But remember that I will be gone forever.”137

After a while Judy looked down to say something to Abigail but she wasn’t there. The bunk was empty. It was midnight and…138

“Frank!” Judy whispered and jumped down. She had a bad feeling. She felt that Abigail’s disappearance had to do something with Frank. She ran out of the camp house and headed to the bushes where she found Alex and Penelope. She looked around but there was no sign of Abigail…139

“Judy,” someone whispered from behind. She looked back and saw Alex. Her heart started beating faster and her guts turned upside-down. She looked away and tried to leave the place. But Alex caught her elbow and pulled her back. He was tall and strange and Judy could not resist him. He pushed her against a tree and whispered so that the teachers would not hear any noise, “What the hell is happening to you?”140

“Oh come on!” Judy whispered too. She did not want to get punished for going out of the camp house at night again. “I saw you! You and Penelope! And the same night you told me that you loved me!”141

“You were peeking!” Alex said and seized Judy’s elbow so that she felt the pain.142

“I was not!” she whispered and tried to push him away. Alex raised is hand and unbuttoned the first button of her pajamas. “What are you doing?” she raised her voice.143

“Shhh!” he whispered and unbuttoned the second one.144

“Help me!” Judy yelled in her mind but the angel was motionlessly watching them. 145

“I cannot affect him,” the angel said. “I cannot affect people because they have their own guardians…”146

“Stop it! Are you crazy?!” Judy’s whispers raised to talking.147

Alex covered Judy’s mouth with his hand and pulled her after him into the forest. She tried to free herself but he was way too strong for her. The angel would not do anything – he did not even follow them into the forest. Judy could not shout or resist. When they were deep in the forest Alex pushed Judy towards a tree and started unbuttoning the rest of the buttons on her pajamas. 148

“No one will hear your yelling,” Alex jeered. 149

Judy was trying hardly to free herself but it was impossible. Alex moved his face closed to Judy’s. She could feel his breath on her nose. 150

“No… Don’t… Please…” Judy whispered and their lips enclosed. 151

Suddenly, there was a sound of a crush and Alex fell down onto Judy’s feet. She looked up and saw Abigail. They looked at each other and a moment later they were crying together in a hug. They ran back to their camp house before Alex could wake up. They ran into the bathroom and locked the door.152

“I am sorry,” Judy sobbed. “I miss you so much…”153

“I is okay!” 154

“I’ll tell you everything!” And Judy told her ‘best friend’ everything about the angel. She could not sacrifice with her friendship to keep an angel that could not even defend her. Judy understood that Abigail was her true friend that was there to defend her in the worst moment…155