aNgel

by Star Child

To my friend Nagel

with heartfelt thanks

for all the cups of tea we’ve had together,

for everything you’ve shared with me,

for everything I’ve learned from you

and just for being there.

Gabriel, his halo a bit askew after last night, sighed and absent-mindedly tugged at his beard.

‘Do you really understand what you’re asking for?’

The pleading eyes of the Junior blinked. A moment of hesitation?

‘Yes, Your Brilliance, I’ve read the rules, I understand all the consequences and accept the full responsibility.’

Youthful fervour, vigour—and stupidity. Or maybe love? Maybe it does exist after all.

Gabriel sighed again.

Gabriel, you silly old bugger, let the boy find it out for himself. Let him fly even if he falls.

‘All right then,’ said Gabriel picking up the humongous ancient stamp—3500 B.C., Made in Egypt, not some puny modern gadget—and applying it with a loud thump.

‘There you go, boy. And remember, you’ve asked for it.’

***

‘Sit down, just be careful not to wake her,’ he said without opening his eyes.

The transparent figure hovered over to his feet and chuckled in the darkness.

‘She won’t see me anyway. It’s not her time. Yet. But maybe we can go to the kitchen and have a cup of tea? I would enjoy watching you drink it.’

More chuckles.

Nagel sat up slowly and looked at Alyson. It was a long and loving look. He was pleased to see that her face was peaceful and her breathing was slow and regular. He put his feet down and stood up, careful not to disturb her. The house was a bit chilly on this April night, so he put on his dressing gown. He closed the bedroom door behind him and shuffled downstairs.

In the kitchen he didn’t bother to turn the lights on. The full moon was sailing high in the clear skies, turning the world into an eerie jumble of silvery light and inky shadows. A wide shaft of moonlight lit the bench and blended into the darkness in the corners.