Diary of an Angel (2 page)

“Very shortly, you shall go down and visit your Angela. But first, I believe your guide would like to introduce you to a few angels you’ll be working with.” Lyra pointed to my little guide. “This is Anawin, your Angel Mother.”

I turned to look at Anawin. This was news. I had no idea she was my Angel Mother. “That’s right, my child. You are part of my little family. I know you very well.” She patted and squeezed my hand warmly. “Very shortly, you shall go down and visit your Angela. But first, I would like you to meet the rest of your family here. They are all eager to see you.”

“Well,” Lyra said, as Anawin and I were leaving, “come and see me anytime. You know where to find me. I suspect you’ll need my assistance soon.”

With that Lyra bid us farewell, and we headed back down the hallway from which we came. Anawin led me down more stairs and through more hallways. We finally came to a room with towering, book-filled walls, which stretched on and on above my head for miles. The room’s breadth was comparatively miniscule. An infinite series of platforms, interconnected by spiral staircases granted access to the room’s upper-most levels. Directly in front of us, near the center of the floor, sat a small group of angels on sofas. Anawin lead me towards the group, who rose to their feet when they noticed us approaching. One of them came forward to meet us with open arms and a broad smile.

“Forenica, how you’ve grown!” he said, as he wrapped me in a bear hug. Then he let go and stepped back. “If those boys on earth could get a look at you now...” He winked at me. I could feel my cheeks turning red. I guessed he must be my Angel Father. He was the only one of the group with an elderly appearance, like Anawin’s. Together, they reminded me of the grandma and grandpa whom everyone adores as children.

“Forenica,” Anawin began. “This is my husband, Glendor.” Then, out of the corner of her mouth, she said, “He’s a bit of a clown.” Glendor chuckled with delight.

“Come on honey,” he said, offering an arm to each of us. “Let’s introduce this special lady to the family.”

They introduced me to each of the guardians with whom I would labor on earth. Besides Anawin and Glendor, there were six others. They were an awesome sight. Th
ere was the tall herculean Glaven, who guarded Jack. Loreli, lithe and wise, who guarded Catherine. Avin, stout and strong, who guarded Justin. And Viana, sweet and childlike, who watched over Kailey, the youngest.

There were also two others. “Clairus,” Anawin explained, “is assigned to you. As you are a junior guardian angel, she will be your trainer and mentor until you are prepared to fulfill all your duties on your own.”

Clairus put her arm around me. “Ah, I’m sure you won’t need any help from me. I’ll just be along for the show.”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” I muttered.

Lastly, they introduced me to Soren.

“He’s responsible for our logistics on the ground. A very useful fellow to have around.”

Soren bowed deeply.

I instantly fell in love with them all. They were so wonderful, so amazing. And despite my own weakness and inexperience, they made me feel something like a super hero. I was ready to take on the world.

Glendor’s hand touched my shoulder. “Now that you’ve met the team,” he said, “there’s just one more item we need to address before you can start kicking some devil tail.”

“Glendor!” Anawin chided.

“I’m only kidding. You knew that, right, dear? Right. As I was saying, we need to issue you your Communicator.”

“My Communicator?”

“That’s right.”

Glendor turned and grabbed a small wooden box from one of the end tables. The box was simple in design, smooth, and polished to a shine. He opened it and showed me its contents. I didn’t quite know what to expect. A gilded cell phone, perhaps? Instead, I found what appeared to be a simple piece of crystal, flat with rounded corners and beveled edges. At Glendor’s prompting I picked it up and held it in the palm of my hand. It was light and felt warm and comfortable to the touch—not quite hard and not quite soft.

“This,” explained Glendor, “is your Communicator. It is required for all descents to earth. So, I suggest you keep it in your pocket. It does precisely what its name indicates, plus a little more. It allows us to communicate directly with you, likewise you with us. Additionally, you can use it to retrieve needed information about Angela, or others you might happen to be assisting. Granted, it’s no substitute for careful study and meditation, but sometimes urgency requires its use. In fact, it can tell you anything you need to know when you’re down there.”

“How does it work?” I inquired. I didn’t see any means of operating it. No markings or buttons of any kind. Just a perfectly smooth crystal.

“Oh, you’ll figure it out. When you need to know, you’ll know.”

I inspected the crystal once more before slipping it into my pocket.

“Now, I think you’re all set. Are you ready for your first descent?”

I gulped. I had not been to earth since I was mortal
.

The Descent

G
lendor instructed me on
safe and proper descent protocol
as we traversed the labyrinth of corridors and passageways.

“As I mentioned earlier, never attempt to descend without your Communicator. It’s not permitted. Always stay with Clairus. She’ll make sure you don’t end up in China, on the top of some frozen mountain peak. And finally, when you are ready to return, simply clap your heels together three times an
d say, ‘there’s no place like―’”

“Will you never grow up!” interrupted Anawin. “When you’re ready to return, dear,” she said, taking over the instruction, “contact us with your Communicator. If you lose it, pray and He’ll bring you back. But don’t worry, C
lairus will be right by your side.” I felt Clairus’ arm around me for reassurance.

“When you’re down there,” Anawin continued, “you’ll notice that the strength of Father’s presence is much weaker. This will take some time to adjust to.”

I had little time to contemplate this piece of news, for we came to another room, which spread out extensively on all sides. Shafts of intense light reaching from the floor to the ceiling stood in long rows spaced throughout the room, like massive supporting columns. Everywhere, tiny crowds of angels were gathered around various columns.

“Welcome to the transportation terminal,” Glendor said. “Each one of those pillars is a portal to earth. You just hop in one of those beams of light, then off you go—it’s rather fun, like being on the Starship Enterprise.”

And just as he was speaking, I spied an angel hop into one of the beams and disappear.

“So, how do you tell it where you want to go?”

“You just tell it. But be careful not to mumble. We’ve had angels end up in all kinds of strange places.”

“Don’t listen to a word he says, Forenica,” said Anawin. “There’s no way you’ll end up in the wrong place. The portal knows where to send you. You don’t have to tell it.”

Glendor laughed. “Alright, I was only kidding. But it would be funny if that did happen, don’t you think?”

“We’re over here,” she said to me, ignoring Glendor. She’d pointed to one of the nearby portals, and we made our way towards it. A sentry greeted us as we approached, inquired about our business, and requested to see our Communicators. Finding Clairus’ response acceptable and seeing that we both produced our Communicators, he permitted us to pass.

Clairus took my hand in hers. “Ready?”

“I suppose so,” I said, unsure what to expect once we leaped into that magic light beam.

“Don’t worry, it’s fun. Here we go!”

It all happened so quickly. Jets of light shot all around me. I couldn’t make out anything. I no longer felt the solid floor beneath my feet. We seemed to be floating, or else traveling with such speed that our motion was imperceptible. I did have a slight sense of falling, but not in a physical sense. Suddenly, it stopped, and all was quiet and still. I surveyed my surroundings and recognized it instantly. Earth.

I blinked my eyes several times, attempting to adjust them to the darkness. Even though the midday sun hung over head, the difference in light from heaven was striking. Clairus was right about a shock. I felt like I was reliving a long forgotten dream―a bad dream. Though Anawin had warned me, I was shocked by the weakness of God’s presence there. If I could have vomited, I probably would have.

“Are you OK?” Clairus asked,
still holding my hand.

“I think so,” I replied—not entirely sure I didn’t want to go back already.

“Just take your time.”

I closed my eyes and tried to imagine I was back in heaven with a cool breeze rushing through my hair and the mighty sun warming my face. I shivered a little and looked up.

“What’s wrong with the sun? It’s so...dark.”

“This isn’t heaven, silly. Things are going to look a little different than you remembered.” Then she directed my attention to the scene in front of us. “Well, here we are. This is Angela’s mortal abode.” she said. A little yellow house stood before us. Before I knew heaven, I think I would have called it a cute house. Now, it looked downright dismal. The lawn, however, was neatly trimmed. The flower beds well maintained. Cheerful curtains hung in the windows. A welcome sign on the front door waited to greet visitors. Except for a hot-pink Barbie bicycle left lying on the driveway, everything looked tidy.

Clairus nudged me with her elbow. “Shall we go see who’s home?”

“Sure...do we ring the doorbell, or just walk right in?” I asked.

“Personally, I like going down the chimney,” she said. “It makes me feel like Santa Claus. On second thought—”

She grabbed my hand again, and before I knew what had happened our scene changed. We weren’t outside in front of the house anymore, but inside a bedroom. And there, lying on a ruffled bed, was Angela.

“Ah, sleeping peacefully,” said Clairus, looking lovingly upon her.

“Should we come back later, after she’s woken up?” I asked in a whisper.

“Come back later? What are they teaching at the Academy these days? You never leave your charge, unless there’s another angel to watch her.”

“Even at night, while she’s sleeping?”

“You don’t need to whisper, she can’t hear you. And yes, even while she’s sleeping. Isn’t that right, Lina?”

“Quite right, Clairus,” answered a voice from behind us. I quickly turned to find an angel I had never met standing behind us. She smiled at me.

“Forenica, meet Lina, Angela’s night guard.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize there were night guards,” I said.

“That’s right,” Lina replied kindly, “our job is not nearly as important as yours, but somebody has to keep
him
from causing trouble.” Lina pointed toward the back corner of the room.

I turned to see who she meant. I gasped. There, crouched in the corner, shaking feverishly, was one of the Devil’s very own. What a miserable, deplorable creature! Thin and gaunt. A parasite longing to sink his jaws into a mortal’s soul, to sate his abominable appetite. So lurid was the thought of this demon dragging Angela down to that interminable pit of torment that I shuddered and turned my back to him. I couldn’t bear the thought of Angela willfully letting that beast fetter her soul to be delivered to the Father of Despair. Could he really have been a soul who once dwelt with God? What a sad end for those who rebel.

“Those hideous monsters never stop licking their chops. They’d love nothing better than for us to leave Angela alone for a few hours. Well, she’s all yours. See you tonight.”

There was a puff of light, and Lina was gone.

“Perfect timing,” Clairus said, turning her attention back to Angela. “She’s waking up.”

That morning and afternoon was a whirlwind of emotions for me. It was difficult for me to remember that Angela and her family couldn’t see or hear us. I kept saying excuse me, or whispering when I didn’t need to, or hesitating to stand close to Angela. What frazzled me even more was my ability to hear all of Angela’s thoughts. There was no end to it. They just kept flowing in one continuous, disheveled stream. It was supposed to be a major part of my job to influence those thoughts for good? That might have been a trivial task, if it weren’t for the television, or Justin and Kailey fighting, or the devils wreaking havoc every chance they got. Many times throughout that first day I was grateful for the support of Clairus and the other angels.

Despite my state of shock, most of the day passed by with few troubles. It wasn’t until that evening that I got my first real taste of being a guardian angel. Angela was busy in the kitchen preparing supper. Kailey was off playing, somewhere—not bothering Angela—and she was rather content with that. Angela had the radio on, blaring a dance-inducing song about...who knows what? But Angela enjoyed it, swung her hips in time to the music as she prepared dough for rolls. A picture of contentment!

“Pardon me, ladies,” came an unexpected voice from behind. I turned to find Soren. He bowed his head briefly, but ever so formally. “I’ve just been with Viana. Kailey is about to climb the large oak tree in the backyard. And Viana has been unsuccessful at deterring her. Kailey will fall if she is not stopped.” With that he bowed again and vanished from sight.

Clairus shook her head reproachfully. “That Kailey’s always up to trouble...This ought to be interesting.”

“Interesting! Kailey falling from a tree is hardly what I would call
interesting
.”

“Well, you’d better stop her, then,” she replied calmly.

“Me?”

“Yes, you. You’re the guardian angel, not me.”

“But what if I mess up? Maybe you should handle this one.”

Clairus took me by the shoulders and moved me closer to Angela.

“You won’t mess up; it’s not in the program. Now, get moving.”

Couldn’t we have started with something less dramatic? A stubbed toe or splinter w
ould not have sufficed? Angela’s youngest daughter was about to fall from a tree and break her neck, and somehow I had to convince Angela to stop having fun and go check on her daughter―and quickly. My heart thundered in my chest. I placed my hand on Angela’s shoulder, taking a deep breath to calm myself. Then I spoke to her, not for her ears to hear, but for her soul. “Angela, you need to check on Kailey.” I waited for a moment for a response. The message percolated into her brain, where it was instantly ejected. I attempted again, more earnestly. This time she paused her dancing, letting the thought linger for a moment. My spirits rose. It looked as though she received the message. Then
he
stepped in.

Still hiding in the corner, he slung one of his most potent weapons at her. Doubt. It clouded her brain, assured her she did not need to check on her daughter. She was simply acting paranoid. At that moment, I really wished he would take a smoking break or something. Couldn’t he go bother a stray dog or some p
igs? But he knew―all too well―the importance of each battle. I tried again. Nothing.

I looked at Clairus imploringly.

Clairus shook her head. “Don’t look at me, she’s your mortal.”

“But she’s not listening.”

“Mortals are good at that. Just keep at it.”

I t
ook another deep breath and squeezed Angela’s shoulders between my hands. “Angela, check on Kailey!” She hesitated. “You need to check on Kailey.” More hesitation. “Do you know what Kailey is doing?” I continued to persist until she finally relented. Wiping her hands on her apron, she made for the back of the house. Frustrated, the devil continued to attack her with distractions and doubts. To my great relief, though, Angela remained on course. Clairus and I followed close behind her, whispering words of encouragement.

Angela reached the back door and opened it. She needed only a second to discover Kailey, beginning to scale the large oak. Kailey had managed to shimmy her way up to the lowest branch, on which she teetered precariously. Next to her on the branch, doing what she could to keep Kailey from falling, was Viana.

“Kailey! Get down from there. You’ll fall,” Angela shouted.

“No I won’t,” insisted the six-year-old.

“Kailey Anne, you get down or you’re grounded!”

Kailey made one last wistful glance up the tree she had planned to conquer, then started working her way back to the ground. Angela hurried over to help her. Once she had Kailey safely back on the ground, Angela gave her a big bear hug, followed by a vigorous pat on her bottom. “You’re much too small to be climbing trees, sweetheart.”

Kailey didn’t protest, but rolled her eyes and offered an exacerbated “OK” before running off to ride her bicycle. Viana smiled and waved at us as she chased after her.

“Well, that was a little tougher than I thought it would be,” I said.

“That’s just the tip of the iceberg, kid.” Clairus replied, patting me on the back. “You did well, though.”

Angela finished preparing the rest of the meal in silence. Jack’s beat-up Ford truck rumbled into the driveway at half past five. Angela was putting the finishing touches on supper, while attempting to get any of her children to help set the table. Kailey had run off to a friend’s house without permission. Justin lounged on the couch, utterly enthralled by his latest video game. Catherine was locked in her room, glued to her computer, where she kept the whole world abreast of her every thought and action, and gobbled up the gobs of gossip about who’s dating whom and who broke up with whom.

With our help, Angela suppressed an urge to cut the cord of every T.V., computer, and video-game console, and then to flush a certain teenaged daughter’s cell-phone down the toilet—I didn’t entirely think that was a bad idea.

Jack entered the kitchen through the back door. A tall, dark, bristled-faced man with large muscles and deep brown eyes. Lyra wasn’t kidding—he was a hunk.
Glaven came trailing behind. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Jack’s homecoming. He greeted Angela half-heartedly, then went to the living room to relax in his chair.

“Can’t I get someone to help me around here!” she grumbled to herself, beginning to feel a surge of anger. “Justin, turn off that stupid video game and come set the table before I microwave your Xbox for dinner!”