Angel's Angels

The man sat there, peering through the stain-glass window.  Inside the church was a glow of light from the candles at the alter.  People sat at the benches that extended from the back of the church to the front.  Their faces all tainted with red from the section of glass he looked through.  The priest was standing holding his arms wide and talking about something. Angel couldn’t make out the low mumble behind the walls that were betwixt him and the congregation.  He sighed and dropped his head and put his dirty hands together and started to pray.1

“Dear God, please lend me your strength to get me from this day to the next and grant me with happiness which I so long to have. Imbue me with joy so that it may rub of onto all of the sinners of this retched place which we call home.  When I cease to be on this plane of existence grant me access to a place you call your home.  I wish that my prayer may reach you and see what a treachery this land you have created, has become. May the heavens bless us all and the sinners become welcome. Amen.”2

He raised his head and slid his slender hands into his pockets which were torn and tattered from the years he lived on the streets.  Seven years now, it’s been since he was cast out from society as a bum.  No-one wanted, or had, anything to do with him in his everyday routine.  This particular church did not welcome him for he was not of the right mind to enter “this place of God”, or so they said.  3

“Why not go in and sit down?” he thought to himself.  “They would not approve of my wardrobe.” 4

He was wearing a long brown jacket that he had bought years before when he was nine-teen.  Now being thirty-two it was rather taken over by time.  Torn sleeves and missing buttons, with only one pocket is what he was now sporting.  His pants were not much different from his jacket and he had a pair of gloves, with the fingers cut out, which provided a sufficient amount of warmth.  5

Church was now ending and the people that filled it were leaving.  Angel turned and started to walk, but as he did a man yelled out his name.  He turned and saw a man, about six foot two inches walk up to him.  6

“Hello, my name is James,” the man said holding a warm smile towards Angel.  7

“I’m Angel,” he said shying at the way he looked.  “Why have you gone out of your way to greet me?”8

“I just have something you might like, because I saw you looking through the window.” James said reaching into his sack, and pulling out a bible which looked very new and still in excellent condition.9

“Why, I can’t take that from you, its brand new. You must have just bought that but a few days ago.  Thank you for the offer sir, but I’m not able to accept.”10

“It’s fine Angel please take it, I’m sure that I could very well get another one. I insist,” holding out the book towards Angel.  11

With a great smile on his face Angel took the book from the man, for no one has called him by his name in a unusually long while.  “Thank you very much kind sir, I will treasure it and keep it in great condition.  Maybe even return it to you when I finish.  Although I’m sure I will never be able to finish it.”12

“Please call me James; it isn’t like I’m higher than you in this world.  And there is no need to return it.  Think of it as a gift.”13

“Thank you again James and have a delightful day, I must be off to the soup kitchen for dinner.  God-speed.”  Angel said as he nodded slightly and smiled with joy.14

“And you as well, Mr. Angel,” replied James as he nodded, turns and walked away.15

It appeared as though God had heard his plea to the heavens above, for Angel had been filled with so much joy it may have been unhealthy for him.  But who has ever heard of someone passing due to an excessive amount of joyousness.  Angel turned and walked down the rugged sidewalk for a couple of block, just staring at his gift.  He wondered what it held within. So many stories detained inside. He had known about the bible but had never owned one.  Now he had his own and he greatly cherished it.  After a couple of blocks he turned left onto a street with cobbled stones, in various places they were missing, and a street lined with cars.  The soup kitchen was just up on the left-hand side and this was his destination.  16

He entered the place, with his book under his arm, and walked toward the serving table.  He grabbed a bowl and stood in line.  Maybe twenty people were ahead of him, while at least a hundred were already sitting at the massive tables enjoying their hot soup.  Today’s soup was broccoli and cheese, which Angel was very fond of.  The building was old and used to be a factory that went out of business years before.  He had once wished to work here but was too low on society’s chain to even have a chance.  His mother had died when he was a small boy.  Thereafter his father did his best to provide for him and his brother.  Unfortunately his father passed away when he was twenty-three and his brother, who was three years older had moved away.  He was alone with very little money and only a place to stay for a short while.  17

He got his soup and went to table and sat down.  He set his book, down on the table and began to eat.  He placed himself a distance away from everyone else so as to not be disturbed when he went to explore his new tome.  Halfway through his bowl he decided to open it and look. It was thin paper and thousands of pages.  Section after section filled with stories of the past, before their time.  It was the time of God and his children.  These types of stories fascinated Angel and he began at the beginning. Genesis.  Angel could not believe that the world was created in only seven days.  He read on.  Finishing his soup he closed the Bible and put it back under his arm.  Putting his bowl down in the dishpan to be cleaned, he left.  Walking back towards his “home”, all he could think about was reading all of the text that was inside his book.  The street where he stayed was Edsol drive in a small wooden shack where three other men stayed with him in the tight quarters.  18

When he arrived he found two of them sleeping so he sat by the burning candle and propped the hardcover book on his legs.  Getting drawn in he kept reading for what seemed like eternity.  He wound up stopping at page two hundred thirty four and set it down.  For the past few pages his eyes had become heavy and he decided to get to sleep.  He tucked the book into his jacket and lay down.  Slowly drifting off to sleep he began to dream.  He dreamt of angels and good people doing good things.  People creating things from nothing with their bare hands and just plainly giving them out to people they did not even know.  After some time he woke the next morning.  19

He wasn’t very hungry so he took the book and sat near the doorway.  The sun shining brightly through the buildings around him provided as his light source.  The three men that housed with him were all gone, “probably to get some breakfast,” Angel thought.  He sat there and started to read.  Shortly after turning some pages, he arrived at page two hundred sixty-seven, and reading he came upon something most unexpected.  It was a small letter, unopened.  “James must have left this in here,” came to his mind.  He looked at it.  Addressed to no one the letter was new, like the book, and he could see that there was a folded piece of paper inside.  He decided that he would open it and give its contents to James after the next service.  Carefully breaking its seal Angel opened the epistle.  Gently sliding the paper out of the other paper that it was enclosed in, he opened it carefully as well.  In between the tri-folded paper were currency, and a large abundance of it.  Angel’s eyes grew wide as he looked at the one thousand dollars contained in the parcel.  “James must have just misplaced it and forgot about it,” Angel imagined, “but how on earth could you forget about a thousand dollars.”  That is what puzzled him the most.  Forgetting about the paper the money had been placed in, Angel glanced back at it.  Confused at its words he just placed the money back and slid it in the back pages and left it.  The message plainly said:20

A Gift, God-speed.21

Three days later was mid-week mass at the church.  Angel was more than half way through the bible and was happier than ever.  He had planned to give James the envelope that was inside of it, after mass today.  He silently sat outside peering through the stained glass as before, daring not to go inside.  When everything was said and done he went towards the exit.  Even after all of the people that had come out of the church he had not seen James.  He walked up to the priest and questioned him about James.  The priest simply replied that there were no men by the name of James that attended the services.  Angel was puzzled and quietly left the “holy haven”.  22

Back at home, Angel did not know what to do next.  He thought for a fairly long time on the matter and decided that he would proceed to go to the church for another month looking for James, and if it was as the priest had said he would simply keep the money as his own.23

A month and several days had passes and still not a sign of James.  Angel had finished the Bible by now and he was planning on giving it back to James along with the money.  But, unfortunately he could not find the man, wherever he looked.  24

A week later he took the money and went to the train station and got a ticket to Ameston.  This is where his brother had moved to and Angel thought maybe if he found him, that he could contribute his money in living with him.  He stood at the landing and waited patiently for the train to arrive.  When it had come he stood up, presented his ticket and got onto the steam-engine.  He slowly walked down the isle looking for a place to be seated.  He happened to catch the glance of a young girl, probably in her late twenties.  She smiled at him and he blushed and looked away, ashamed at the way he was dressed.  The seat next to her was open and there were no more in this car.  He didn’t want to keep going car to car when there was already a seat available, so he sat down.  25

The woman put out her hand, “Hello, my name is Autumn, it’s nice to meet you…?” holding the end as a question of his name.26

“I’m Angel, and its nice to meet you as well, miss,” said Angel shyly.27

“Please, call me Autumn, its not like I’m more important than you.”28

“Nice to meet you Autumn.” Said Angel correcting himself from before.29

“So where are you headed, if you mind me asking?” she asked with a comfortable smile directed toward Angel.30

Angel smiled back, “Just to Ameston.  To find my brother who resides their, I hope.31

“Why, do you not know if he’s there?”32

“I haven’t seen him in several years and I’m just hoping he is still there.”33

“That’s wonderful, I’m actually headed there as well, to see my mother.  I go to see her at least two times each year.  But sometimes I can’t take the time to get out here.”  She said, seemingly ignoring the tattered clothes that Angel was sporting.34

Their conversation continued throughout the entire forty-five minute ride from Edgerton to Ameston.  They talked about life and Angel brought up the Bible that he’d read, but not the money which it contained.  Their conversation was filled with laughter and memories.  Sadly Angel had not had too many pleasant memories.  35

When the train arrived at the platform the passengers all got off, and Autumn had invited Angel to join her for coffee and a snack at the local coffee shop.  He gladly accepted and they walked there from the station.  36

There was just something about Autumn that filled Angel with happiness.  He could never put a finger on it but it seemed as though she had brought him something that he hadn’t felt in forever.  After he had his coffee with her he walked towards the post office.  Autumn’s mothers house was on the way, so when they passed by, she pointed it out and parted ways with a comfortable hug. 37

Angel walked into the post office with a smile on his face.  “What a wonderful day this has become,” he thought.  Walking up to the counter he asked the clerk for the address of his brother.  The clerk gladly looked through their archives.  He found it and pointed Angel in the direction.  Walking down the clean streets, Angel felt uplifted by the fact that he was in a much cleaner society.  He trekked for about twenty-five minutes when he arrived at the door of his brother.  For a split second he thought about not knocking and walking away.  Then he slowly pounded the knocker on the door.  Angel’s brother, Marcus, answered and recognized him straight away.  Gladly welcoming him inside Marcus shut the door behind him.  38

The two talked for hours of the days before.  Angel showed him the Bible he had received.  Angel also showing him the money that it contained, making Marcus gasp at its abundance.  Slowly sipping coffee and having the conversation of their lives.  39

A few days later Angel decided to go and say hello to Autumn.  He walked the familiar roads and sooner or later arrived at the door she had pointed out to him only days before.  He knocked on the door and asked if Autumn was around.  The woman who answered the door seemed confused at what Angel had asked.  She told him that no one by the name of Autumn had never lived or visited here recently.  He was dumb-struck and didn’t know what to do.  “Maybe it was the wrong house?” he asked himself.  So he went to a couple of the neighbors and got the same responses.  Almost angry he ventured back home to his brother’s house. 40

Just days later, Angel had a heart-attack and fell into a coma for months.  His brother kept him sleeping in the spare bedroom.  Afraid that he would never come back, he kept the doctors on call.41

The gates opened wide and the bright light blinded him.  He looked across through the gate.  The grassy green meadow had a pond and was littered with people, all having a wonderful time.  He walked through the gate and was immediately greeted by a man in a white robe.  The man lead Angel into the forest nearby,  42

“Where am I?” asked Angel.43

“This is heaven, and you are here because you asked to be.  I am God, but please just call me sir, because calling me God just makes me feel much to important.” Said the man in the robe.44

Angel looked star-struck and asked, “So am I dead right now, sir?”45

“Heavens no, you are simple in a coma on earth.  You are here on a visit.  If you enjoy what you see then you are welcome to stay.  But, if you enjoyed your life on earth more, then you are just as welcome to depart from my sanctuary.”46

“Thank God.” Said Angel with relief.47

God simply chuckled and smiled at Angel, “I heard your prayer that day, when you stood outside of the church because people did not welcome you with their hearts.  I quickly sent one of my angels to greet you.  His name was James and he gave you the gift of the Bible, which I see you have read with quite some interest.”48

Angel nodded still in awe.49

“That was my gift of joy that you had asked for in your prayer.  I am glad that it brought you a wealthy amount of joy.  For a while I thought of how to bring you your happiness, which you asked for.  That is when I realized you were going to see your brother.  I sent another one of my angels down to greet you, Autumn.  She was beautiful and gave you overwhelming amounts of happiness. I was glad that you enjoyed talking to her so much.”50

“So they were just angels?”51

“Yes Angel, just angels to guide you on your path to the prayer that reached me with urgency.  And now it is your final portion of your prayer.  You asked me to take you into my realm with open arms.  I am giving you a chance to live here and be free from everything evil and earthly.  When the time comes that you decide to stay or go your life on earth will continue, or you will cease to exist.”52

“Such a wonderful gift you have given me. There is no way that I will ever be able to repay you.  I will be in debt to you for all of eternity.”53

“I have many people that are so.  They are all continuing life happily in heaven.  And you will have the chance to choose between the afterlife or your real life. It is a decision your conscience can only make.  Please take some time to get acquainted to my region.”54

“I will, and thank you so much sir. I will cherish this memory for the rest of my life or afterlife. Thank you.”55

And when all was said and done, God nodded and left Angel to be on his own.  Over the next month of his afterlife Angel got to know all of its inhabitants and their pasts.  The joy everything in this place brought him was glorious.  He was not certain if he was dreaming or not, but he accepted it and kept on enjoying it.  When the time came and God asked him which he chose, Angel’s choice was a great shock to God, but angel wanted to go back to earth and continue his life.  56

All of the sudden Angel woke with a jerk and opened his eyes.  He was back in the room where he had slept days upon days ago.  Marcus rushed into the room and gave a sigh of relief.  He was glad that Angel was ok and awake again.  The two of them talked thereafter and Angel told Marcus of what he had experienced.  Marcus was amazed at all of the stories that Angel had to tell, and he only dreamed of going to heaven when he died.  57

The two led a wonderful life.  Neither of them ever got married but they were still happy with what they had.  When both of them had passed decades later they both were greeted into the heavens above.  When Angel arrived he was greeted by his two guardian angels, James and Autumn.  Angels jacket seemed heavy and he reached in the pocket and pulled out a long lost memory.  The Bible which James had given Angel was still in wonderful condition.  Angel smiled at James and handed him the book.  “Think of it as a gift” he said, as he gave it to him.  58

After some time James decided to read his Bible that he carried around with him everywhere.  He noticed a little gap in the pages.  He turned to it, page two hundred sixty-seven, and there was a letter.  It was noticeably opened before.  He looked inside and saw that there was one thousand dollars inside the paper that said “A Gift, God-speed.”  He simply smiled.59