Jasper and the Shelter of Angels Read online

CHAPTER 5

  FEW HAVE ENCOUNTERED despair as figuratively as West. From the bowels of Hell the spiritual existence of a disfigured bat-like beast lays prostrate, in chains, at the feet of Satan. Only a selective few lights pierced the darkness, from torches and veins of magma.

  Reigning upon his abrasive throne of volcanic stone, before his Demon minions who worshiped him, Satan sneered. Filled with a vile hate and disgust for all things, the Prince of Darkness brooded with the deepest grudge fathomable.

  “Behold! At my feet is an Angel, but this is West, a former member of the Seven, and as you can see, he’s going to fit in nicely here.” The Demons cheered for West.

  “Wengroangrinch!” Satan called.

  From the assembly of countless Demons, a member of the Insufferable Six approached the stairs at the foot of Satan’s throne. Holding out his sceptre of bone and touching it to Wengroangrinch’s shoulder, Satan announced, “I reward you, Wengroangrinch with power so you are faster, stronger and a clearer telepath. Serve me well with the power I give you and more power will be given to you. That goes for you all!” More Demons cheered for their malevolent lord, but when he raised his outstretched arm along with the sceptre, everyone was silent. Then the Dark Lord spoke to his Demons again, “Wengroangrinch delivered West into my hands and for this I am well pleased.”

  West awakened to the nightmare reality of where he was. He was in Hell and looking at his hands he discovered he was still in Demon form. Standing up, West towered over Satan who remained seated in his throne. The Devil’s throne, appeared to be made from bits of molten, molded stone and though it was monstrous and looming, West was still taller. When the Ruler of Darkness looked up at West and smiled maliciously, West lashed out and tried to attack him. The infuriating Devil laughed maniacally, for around him sparked a protective force field of green energy. Turning to escape, West opened his wings and bolted into the air, but his flight was cut drastically short when his chains pulled tight. It aggravated him to be yanked back to the foot of Satan’s throne.

  Wrenching at the thick spiked chains, West challenged the integrity of his bonds.

  “Why do you bother tugging at your chains? You’ll never break them. But I will break you. Soon you will be tamed. Then you’ll be one of us.” Satan sneered with an endless supply of snarky confidence.

  “I will be free of this place.” West quickly shot back, “Rock bottom sounds like a good place to change direction to me. You will watch me open my wings and fly. Even with these wings of darkness, I’ll rise higher and higher. No power you possess can keep me down here.” West spoke with a surprising level of faithfulness.

  Satan shook his head. ‘This will not do,’ “I will fill you with fear and anger to choke you off from the things you used to know; faith and love. Such things will become an uncommon memory. Despair shall become your new best friend.”

  “You will try, but unfortunately for you, you have not taken just any mere Angel to this dark and detestable realm, I am, West and you, Satan, will remember my name!”

  “Oh, no. I can assure you. By the end, it is you who won’t forget me…” Satan leaned in on West like a lightning strike, passing through the field barrier, mouth open wide, sharp teeth barring down. West was horribly bitten on his shoulder. His eyes went wide as pain shot through him. Black venom polluted the spirit of West right to the core of his soul. He tried to fight the effects, but there was nothing he could do. The black venom had invaded him and made a residence of him. Falling to the ground like a bird with its wings clipped, West experienced the hopelessness of a duped victim.

  “Oh, what is this?!” Satan asked, “Are you bowing to me? I’m touched.” But the look in Satan’s yellow eyes was of complete mockery. He really didn’t care about the worship of others. He only wanted to make sure no one worshipped God. “The old West is dead. This new West is one of us. I want all of you to treat him as your brother.” Satan had addressed the Demons.

  For the sake of pure entertainment, Satan sent for West to have a seat at his table feast. On occasion, Satan did this to mock the last supper. Cluttered with plates of decayed flesh and bones, the stone table of the Devil’s feast was all that occupied the room besides the Demons who were there to eat and the Imps who were there to serve. The area was a spacious cave; poorly lit from the torches and magma seeping out of the walls. At the far end of the cave was a sluggish swill of Demon sewage travelling throughout a long ditch. Seated next to Satan was none other than Judas Iscariot. The very man who betrayed Jesus. Judas laughed at West and reached across the table to slap him across his head. Beside West sat Wengroangrinch, who held West’s chains.

  “Very good, Judas.” The Devil howled, “What took you so long?” the Devil asked.

  It was a brutal choice between getting there too late and still being in the middle of lurking trouble. “We arrived as soon as we could, master.” Wengroangrinch sniveled.

  Satan spoke to Judas again, “Now pour our guest a drink.”

  Judas reached out for a pitcher of steaming hot black blood, but Satan stopped him, “What are you doing? Don’t give him that! It’s our best stuff.” Noticing there was only a couple of bottles of black blood on the table, Satan looked around to see what else might be available, “Pour him a cup of raw Demon sewage.”

  Judas had to step away from the table to scoop the cup through the ditch of thick, slow moving sewage. Hobbling back to the table, Judas set the cup before West. West knew he was expected to drink of the Devil’s cup. He pulled it closer to himself. Bending forward, West took a sniff. His head was involuntarily thrown back by the potent, putrid stench.

  Trying to keep his head back and to one side, West slightly opened one eye and looked down at the cup. In it he saw a festering green, yellow and black slew. It bubbled slightly, emitting more of its gaseous stench with a wheeze. Maggots crawled and squirmed throughout the surface of it and little curly hairs grew out also. The thought of touching his lips to the greasy cup alone was unthinkable, but to everyone’s surprise, West touched one of his Demon clawed fingers to the slurry before taking a quick sip.

  “Ew, yuck!” the Demons remarked. Not even they would have amused Satan to take a taste without being forced into it. Satan bellowed out a hearty laughter and pounded the table-top with his huge fists.

  Then West let out a satisfied breath and said, “Ahhh, That’s good wine.” Wiping his mouth with his arm, he continued. “Just as Jesus turned water into wine, I have turned your vile sewage into, not quite so good, wine.”

  At these words the whole room went silent, “What?!” Satan was astonished.

  “Well, I guess I’m not quite as good as Jesus at this sort of thing.” West tried to explain why his wine wasn’t the best wine.

  Pointing to the Demon Wengroangrinch, Satan shouted. “Take that cup! Drink it! I want to know if it really is sewage or wine.” Wengroangrinch was reluctant to take the cup, but he had his command, and no one dared to refuse the Devil’s command.

  West sat back, smiling contently at what he had started and said, “Yes, Wengroangrinch, don’t you trust me? Go ahead, take part and drink from my cup.”

  Looking to Satan, then the cup and back to Satan again, hoping he would change his mind at some point Wengroangrinch lifted the cup.

  “Come on, now!” Satan persisted critically, “Drink it!!!”

  Startled, Wengroangrinch took the cup, spilling a little on the table. Wiping the spillage with his sleeve, he glanced at West as though making a silent vow to punish him for this. But to Wengroangrinch’s surprise, the cup really was full of very good wine. Wengroangrinch then tossed the cup’s contents back and drank it all up at once.

  “Hey! Stop it! Not all at once! Give that to me, you worm!!!” Satan called but it was too late. Wengroangrinch had drank it all and smiled contently. “Awe, no matter.” Satan pushed his cup of black blood to West. Wengroangrinch burped with satisfaction. Satan heard this and became all the more anxious. Looking at West he said, “You can mak
e more.” Full of expectation that West would perform the miracle again he acknowledged, “If there’s one good thing Heaven can produce, it’s good wine.”

  “Yes, alcohol! Give it to us!” Shouted other Demons at the table.

  “We channel our talents through alcohol all the time!” Judas cheered.

  “It is a popular form of art!” Satan tried to explain to West.

  West touched his finger to the liquid content of Satan’s cup and passed it back to him. Satan smiled as he watched the contents of his cup begin to change in consistency, “It will be nice to have you around after all.” Throwing his cup back, Satan drank the contents like Wengroangrinch had, but when he figured out West had turned his black blood into raw sewage, it was too late.

  Satan began hacking and coughing up the thick mess of festering faecal matter. If there was one thing that fired up the Devil like nothing else it was to be humiliated in front of his Demons. He wasn’t even finished regurgitating when he grabbed hold of West and tossed him into the pit of Demon feces.

  As West crawled out of the pit, he was saturated. The Devil pulled him out and dragged him through the long corridors of Hell to a set of tall iron doors. Within a depression above the doors were a series of massive spiked church bells. These were Hell’s bells and when they rung, they were heard from every corner of Hell.

  Kicking the tall iron doors open, Satan dragged West inside and marched down a long passage to the podium. Among many Demons were the Insufferable Six, kneeling at the podium and praying to Satan. “Get out! All of you! Except you, Wengroangrinch. You, come with me!” Forcing West to kneel at the base of the podium, Satan intoned softly, “That’s more like it. Pray to me you insolent rat. Forget your God, for he has surely forgotten you.” Straightening up, Satan curved his long neck around to see and address Wengroangrinch, “Chain him up here and make sure his chain allows for lots of slack! I want him to learn a new religion. Make sure he understands he cannot leave here until he worships me!”

  Charging out the door of the stairway, the security guards huffed and puffed to catch their breath. When they caught sight of Jasper, he was stepping out of the elevator casually and strolling toward the door. Catching their second wind, the security took off after him. Glancing back and seeing the security officers, Jasper leaped into a sprint and took off running. Slipping through the narrow gap of the closing main doors, he was free of the hospital.

  The security guards stumbled out of the main doors well behind Jasper. Bending forward to support themselves with their hands on their knees one of them said, “If a patient can take off like that, they don’t deserve to be here.”

  “Yeah, good riddance.” Added the other through his heavy breaths.

  Jasper made his way downtown where he could blend in. In the company of the Angels, Jasper began to fill his lungs and enjoy the fresh outdoor air of the day. “Hey, don’t you guys have some other place to be? I mean, I’m out of the hospital now, you’ve done your job. Don’t you need to help someone else now? I’ll be fine from here out.”

  “It doesn’t work that way.” Wilson told Jasper, “We’re doing the Lord’s work by being with you.”

  “Well, I’ve heard of a guardian Angel but why do I have six?” Jasper questioned, scratching his head.

  “We’re not guardian Angels.” Joel corrected before he paused with a blank expression and turned to Wilson, “Are we?”

  “Perhaps we are.” Starr added, taking a step closer to Joel, “We have been like guardians, watching over Jasper.”

  “No, we are leading him so he can complete his purpose in this world, right Wilson?” Roger contributed.

  “Jasper completes us. We have been and always shall be ‘the Seven.’ Like it or not, Jasper. You are one of us, now.” Wilson explained. “We are a part of you as much as you are a part of us.”

  “But why me?” Jasper piped up and asked. Everyone became quiet and just looked at Jasper. “I think you’ve all made a big mistake. Perhaps you’re supposed to lead Ned all this time and help full fill his purpose in the world. Ned was the one who almost fell off the roof if it wasn’t for me, besides he’s trying to lose weight and talks about making a commitment to a new life-change, you know?”

  “There are no mistakes. You are definitely the one.” Wilson confirmed again.

  “Yes, but you guys are so much greater than I am, or any human for that matter. You’ve talked with God face to face.” The look on the Angel’s faces and the expression in their eyes spoke the truth of many such Godly encounters they have had. “You are invincible, experienced, wise, knowledgeable and you can fly. You’re rich in life. You must look at us earthlings as disgraceful, dirty little parasites.”

  “Not true. Most of our friends in Heaven are faithful people who once lived here in your world.” Roger added with deep compassion, “Come with us and we shall show you a miracle of life and death.”

  Jasper didn’t understand but he followed the Angels a great distance through the old part of the city. Wilson promised the other Angels, he would take them to a grand church.

  As Jasper made his way down the sidewalk, he talked to the Angels about many things. He had many questions about Heaven and about God. The Angels told Jasper all about Heaven in great detail. The history was incredibly rich. They even tried to explain where God the Father came from, but it was so complicated, Jasper didn’t understand what the Angels were talking about. Their explanation was so detailed with concepts and words he wasn’t familiar with that he finally lost interest altogether. The whole idea was just too much for him to comprehend. Unable to keep up, Jasper looked at the faces of other pedestrians as he passed them on the sidewalk.

  “Are you sure none of these other people can see you?” Jasper asked inquisitively.

  Pedestrians nearby had strange expressions and Jasper thought they too could see the Angels. Elana explained, “The people surely don’t see us by form, but they do see something peculiar.” She waited a moment, then Jasper figured it out.

  “They think I’m talking to myself?” embarrassed, Jasper, directed his attention to the blank faced, curious people. “I’m not crazy.” He told them. “I’m not talking to myself either.” The people tried their best not to make eye contact with Jasper. The more he tried to prove he wasn’t crazy, the crazier he seemed.

  “Don’t lose heart, Jasper.” Taila spoke with the sweetest voice of emotion and genuine love. “We must sustain a high level of patience if we hope to work through this present situation.” What an elegant voice this Angel had.

  Shuffling down the sidewalk, Jasper tried to ignore the Angels, who distracted him and the other pedestrians who looked at him strangely.

  Along his way, a sweet old lady stopped on the street and looked at Jasper oddly before she said, “You are very special.” Saying this in passing, Jasper didn’t pay it any mind. From what Jasper could reckon, the lady was poor but very faithful. Her spirit shimmered with God’s full armor. Not knowing this lady, Jasper was quick to dismiss her from his mind as the topic of discussion he was indulged in with the Angels, distracted him.

  Walking a few blocks further, Wilson led them all to the promised Church. The church was of old design but that was why it still stood. They don’t make them to last anymore as they once did. Mainly brick construction with tall pillars and even taller archways, the church seemed historical, like its authority had faded along with its followers. It made Jasper feel similar; cold and empty.

  Then Jasper noticed some ladies step out of the main doors. They appeared to be friends but they didn’t speak to one another. They just hurried down the steps. Though these believers were free from the Demons, they still felt like they were in bondage to the darkness like a bad taste left in your mouth after eating something bitter. They were so used to day-to-day life pulling their spirits down that even after discovering the joy of the Lord, their lives were lived heavy heartedly. Jasper wondered if they liked to feel pity for themselves because they were used to getting
attention that way.

  “What is wrong with those ladies?” Jasper asked, “Aren’t they believers?”

  “They do believe, but they have taken on a victim-like nature under their long years of oppression under Demon tyranny.” Elana explained, “Though the Demons stay away from them because of their faith, their long life of hardship has left them believing that was the best life had for them. So they continue on through their lives with the delusion that Demons still attack them with any little mishap.”

  “The damage has been done, if they believe it to be so.” Taila added. “Angels are with them, trying to persuade them to accept a renewed frame of mind and change course. It is up to them if they will listen or choose to slip back into the mindset they are used to.”

  Within the church sat a little girl crying. The Angels told Jasper to go and sit beside her. Providing further information, Starr told Jasper, “The little girl’s father has recently died, and she is taking it very hard.”

  Jasper, then, was able to see the ghost of the girl’s father sitting beside her. With his arm around his daughter, he could only do what was in his ability to comfort her. As a ghost he had little to no ability to communicate. “There, there now Kitten,” he said, “Pa-pa’s here.” He knew she couldn’t hear him but he spoke the words none-the-less.

  “There, there, now, Kitten, pa-pa’s here.” Jasper repeated what he heard the girl’s father say with a very similar imitation in his voice. The little girl lifted her head immediately and looked at Jasper, as did her father. Wiping away her tears quickly, the little girl noticed Jasper’s white murky eyes. She felt sorry for him. He was a stranger to her, but because of his handicap she didn’t run away.

  “Y-you sounded exactly like my father.” The little girl said wiping the last of her tears from her cheeks.

  “Can you hear me?” asked the girl’s father.

  Jasper answered them both, “I can hear your father’s voice like I can hear yours.” Jasper went on, seeing how he had the girl’s full attention. As the father spoke, Jasper repeated every word he said. “Your father is saying; ‘I am so sorry I have had to leave you behind. You are the most precious gem of my life. Perfect and beautiful in every way. I am waiting for you here. We will be together again one glorious day. Until then, live in the moment. Enjoy every minute. You’re here for a reason.’” Jasper’s tone resolved. Then he looked at the little girl like he wasn’t blind at all. “Your father is here in this church, right now, with us, and he’s saying, ‘I love you, Nancy with all my heart.’”

  The little girl started crying, but she choked it back long enough to tell Jasper, “Thank you.” she kissed him on his rough, unshaven cheek. Then she left the church with the gift in her heart of her father’s love.

  The Angels turned to Jasper and found the moment produced a tear in his eye. “You humans have a great capacity for love, worship and obedience.” Joel said, “The Lord your God values each one of you more than you know. He will give you what you need. All you have to do is ask it of Him.”

  “All right, where to next.” asked Roger impatiently.

  “Hey guys,” Jasper interrupted, “We’ve been walking all day. I’m bushed and I just want to go home.”

  “Then let us all go to Jasper’s home where we will find rest tonight.” Wilson declared.

  Jasper knew the journey home would be a long one. He saw unlocked and unattended bicycles. He’d like to convenience himself with a restful journey if only he could convince the Angels he was only borrowing one of them. In his heart, Jasper knew, the Angels would never support such a suggestion. Wanting to take a bus or cab would’ve been ideal, but Jasper had no money at all. Remembering his rent, and how behind he was in payments, Jasper regretted that his home was the only place he had to go.

  With no other mode of transportation, Jasper kept on trudging along. He found it irritating how the Angels just floated along beside him with no effort at all.

  Amazed at how much ground he could cover in five hours, Jasper found the journey wasn’t so long and difficult after all with so much to talk to his friends about. Time went by quickly.

  Evening, throughout the streets of a familiar but average middle classed neighborhood where Jasper finally made it to his basement rental unit. Parked out in front of the home was a police car. The lights on the roof of the car weren’t on and there were no people outside.

  Up the front steps of the house, Jasper knocked on the door. Homeowner; Chad opened the door. Taking one look at Jasper he spun around shouting. “Hey, officer! Jasper’s here at the front door!” Lunging out the door Chad grabbed hold of Jasper. Flinching defensively Jasper didn’t try to escape.

  “Got yourself into a little trouble did you?” Chad asked quietly in Jasper’s ear.

  The police officer appeared behind Chad. Chiseled out of the word ‘serious,’ he was as big as a tank and twice as solid. “I’ll take it from here, thank you.” the Police officer took Jasper by the arm and led him out to his police cruiser. Detaining Jasper in the back seat, and slamming the door, he immediately had a rotten feeling grow in the pit of his stomach. “Why did you lead me here?” Jasper asked the Angels quietly.

  Wilson phased into the backseat and appeared to sit next to Jasper where he explained, “We had to get you out of the hospital because the doctors were about to be uncooperative with you. They decided to sedate you and perform their eye operation on you without your consent. It would’ve failed and left you permanently and completely blind. We had to protect you. Worry not, we’re always with you.”

  “And are you going to help me get out of this mess, now?” Jasper asked Wilson as he raised an eye brow.

  “These things have a way of working themselves out sometimes.” Wilson answered with a wink like he knew something.

  Relaxing a little, Jasper felt better knowing the Angels were there.

  The Police officer opened his driver’s door and dropped his weight into the seat. Then he began to ask Jasper some questions, “State your name.” The officer pulled out a clipboard and began to fill out a report. The police scanner would cut in from time to time with the voice of a partially static female dispatcher.

  “I am Jasper.” he answered.

  “I need two pieces of ID from you.” the officer required robotically.

  “It’s still at the hospital someplace.”

  “I see; you expect I wouldn’t be suspicious that you’d go to the front door of this residence if you’re renting the basement suite? Why wouldn’t you go to the back entrance where you supposedly live?”

  “I-I needed a key.” Jasper was somewhat surprised by this police officer’s character.

  “Okay; no ID, no belongings; so why did you leave the hospital without checking out?” the pushy police officer demanded to know.

  “I had urgent business to take care of.” At a glance, Jasper could see Chad and his wife Dianne stood at their front door watching him.

  “What kind of business?” The cop pressed for answers. This officer looked like Mr. Olympia in uniform. He was so intimidating, Jasper felt jumpy and uneasy.

  “I had to meet someone at a church.” Jasper tensed.

  “Did this meeting have anything to do with drug trafficking?”

  “No! Of course not!” Now offended, Jasper was ticked.

  “Do you realize that anything you say can and will be used against you? My report will hold up as evidence in court. Do you feel the need to speak to a lawyer, now?”

  “No, sir. I-I mean, y-yes, sir. I mean, I understand what you’re saying, and I’ve told you the truth, sir.” Jasper couldn’t hide his anxiety. His eyes became shifty.

  “Then why do I suspect you’re hiding something? Do you realize that by leaving the hospital the way you did, your family and friends were very worried about you and filed a missing person’s report?” The officer asked with quick strong words, then he peered at Jasper through the rear view mirror.

  “They wha...?” Jasper replied in astonish
ment. “I wasn’t gone that long, was I?”

  “Why do your eyes look funny? You high?”

  “Of course not.” Jasper was getting tired of the cop’s persistent questions.

  “You blind?” asked the officer, then he turned in his seat to take a closer look at Jasper. “You take’n drugs? Hmmm, I’m going to have you scheduled for a drug test… Urine should do.”

  As the officer opened his door to step out, Jasper was desperate to explain. “No-no, I had an accident at work and I was almost blinded for life.”

  “I’ll look into the report.” The police officer opened Jasper’s door forcefully and hoisted Jasper out, “All right, come on. Get out’a there.” The cop spun Jasper around and slammed him face down on the trunk of his police cruiser. Taking Jasper’s hands he cuffed them together at his back. “Now spread your legs.” the officer ordered.

  Jasper saw as the police officer pulled out a pair of surgical gloves and snapped them over his hands.

  Jasper was nervous a moment ago, but now he panicked, “What’re you planning to do now? I thought you said urine test, urine test!”

  The boy hit a new level of fear as he noticed curious neighbors at their windows and in the streets watching the commotion. Jasper didn’t want to find out what direction this drug search was going.

  “Enough boy! You need to relax! From now on you’ll only speak when I ask you to, so shut up! Are you carrying anything? Anything sharp I might find in your pockets?”

  “No, nothing.” Jasper told the officer.

  A strong tug came to the top of Jasper’s pants and he shut his eyes as tight as he could. Jasper was on the verge of crying when the cop asked him another question, “Oh, no? Then what’s this?” The police officer pulled out the Bible Jasper was given from the Pastor at the hospital. It was stuffed in at the back of his pants because the pants were a little too big and the pockets way too small. “Well, answer me! What is this?” The police officer thumbed through the pages and shook it to see if something incriminating fell out.

  “It’s a Bible! A gift from Pastor Jay Reynolds. He gave it to me.” Jasper spoke quickly, answering whatever the cop wanted to know. Then the officer backed away and removed his rubber gloves. It appeared the pat down was over. Breathing a little easier now, Jasper realized the rubber gloves were just for searching his pockets.

  The police officer found the name of Pastor Jay Reynolds written in the first page. “I better not find out this was stolen, punk.” The police officer continued to search Jasper’s clothes and pockets but he came up with nothing.

  Frustrated, the police officer flipped open his small cell phone and tapped in a number he found inside the cover of the Bible. “This is Constable Miller of the RCMP. Do you know a young man by the name of, Jasper? Ah, yes well he is here with me and he possesses something of yours. It’s your Bible. He claims you gave it to him, is that true? I see, that was unusually generous of you. How do you know Jasper?” Some time passed as the debriefing seemed to go on and on before the officer realized, Jasper was really quite harmless. Releasing Jasper from his hand cuffs, the officer returned his Bible. As the cop drove off, Jasper noticed Jessica standing on the other side of the street amongst other neighborhood folk. Looking at Jasper, she tried to wave but he quickly turned away, embarrassed.

  Wanting to just go home and hide from the world, Jasper knew, Jessica and the others would believe he was in a lot of trouble. He had some explaining to do. Taking a deep breath, Jasper turned and began to speak to everyone.

  The crowd was breaking up as everyone avoided eye contact with Jasper. “This was all a big misunderstanding.” Jasper said loudly. The people tried to ignore him, drifting off to their homes. “Don’t you see?” Jasper continued, “This is why the police officer drove away.”

  Jessica began walking away also, but she paused for a moment and glanced back at Jasper. For a moment, when their eyes met, Jasper sensed a spark of interest, but it quickly faded as she turned away. Though he thought she’d departed and would never want to see him again, Jasper didn’t notice when she changed direction and began walking toward him. Approaching the front door, where Chad and Dianne stood, Jasper said, “I don’t have my keys. They’re still at the hospital. Can I borrow your spare so I can get into my place?”

  Mesmerized by Jasper’s white eyes, Chad and Dianne exchanged looks, “You don’t look good, Jasper. Can you even see?”

  “I’m fine, guys. Thanks for your concern, but I just need to get some rest.” He tried to explain.

  “Listen, Jasper, if my tenant is going to have problems with the law, maybe this isn’t the best place for you to live.” Chad said with heartless eyes of business. Again, he looked at Dianne, but his eyes changed like they could communicate without moving their mouths.

  “You’ve caused quite a show for our neighbors.” Dianne added from Chad’s arms in support of her husband.

  Jasper dropped his head. He wasn’t going to ask for the spare key again. Then a soft delicate voice spoke, “Please, give Jasper the key.” It sounded like the voice of one of the Angels. “I have some questions for him.”

  Turning sharply, Jasper was surprised to find Jessica standing behind him. She smiled and gave him a quick hug. With the sound of metal, Jasper turned back to Chad and found him offering his spare key.

  Taking hold of the key with humility, Jasper said, “Thank you.” before turning away. He and Jessica walked around to the back entrance of the basement suite. There, Jasper opened the door wide for Jessica to enter. Following her in, he led the six Angels who radiated the bright brilliance of Heaven’s glorious light. As eye catching as the Angels were, Jasper couldn’t take his eyes off Jessica. He had dreamed of having a conversation with her. Now she was in his living room.

  Jasper glanced around his unkempt room noticing dirty dishes and laundry out of place. Jessica was also scanning the room. She saw what kind of music he listened to; mostly hard rock. She could see the kinds of movies he liked and the computer games. An ash tray was on the coffee table with a few cigarette butts in it. Displayed above the kitchen cabinets were some empty liquor bottles.

  Jessica wasn’t the only one checking out Jasper’s crib. The Angels also whispered among themselves, pointing out many worldly and sinful habits of Jasper’s lifestyle. They wondered what the Lord saw in him and why He would want them to associate with such a person.

  Roger whispered, “The mystery of the Lord is unfathomable.”

  “We have to full fill our mandate.” Wilson added quietly.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” Jasper quickly asked Jessica. He was beaming from the kitchen. The Angels observed this interaction. Jasper was nervous, but they spoke to him with comforting words;

  “She’s checking you out, but she doesn’t dislike you.” said Starr as she continued to read Jessica’s emotions.

  “She was hope’n taw come’n visit you in this very manner so she could get a gander of the real you.” Spoke Elana with her unique cowgirl slang.

  “She likes you.” added Roger as he bounced his eye brows up and down.

  “Your hospitality will put her to ease.” Wilson suggested.

  “No, thank you.” Jessica replied. She turned from eying the room to give her attention to Jasper.

  “I have food. Are you hungry?” Jasper persisted.

  “No,” Jessica backed up to the couch and moved a shirt to sit down. “I’m just fine.” Sinking a little lower than she expected to into Jasper’s couch, she quickly shrugged off her stunned moment and crossed her legs.

  “Well, I’m starving.” Jasper searched his small open kitchen. He wanted to grab a bag of potato chips from the cupboard, but Taila suggested for him to find a snack that was more natural and healthy. Jasper closed his cupboard door and opened the fridge door instead. “Do you mind?”

  “No, not at all.” Jessica replied sheepishly.

  Jasper took two apples, a cluster of seedless green grapes and a block of cheddar chee
se out of the fridge. He cut the apple cores out and sliced up the apples, then he sliced up the cheese and put it all on a platter.

  “Jasper? You seem like a quiet and private person. I’ve heard about you when we were in high school together, but you were always so shy and mysterious. You never really fit in with any group and you never really seemed to have very many friends, yet at the same time you were never really a nerd either.”

  “And your point is?” Jasper questioned, slightly distracted by Jessica’s beauty he sliced the cheddar a little slower. He saw something mysterious and exciting lurking behind her dark brown eyes.

  “Well, let’s just say, I’ve noticed you, noticing me and I just wanted to give you notice that I have noticed you also.” Jessica began to blush. She tried to look at him but she couldn’t keep her eyes on him long enough to read his expression.

  Jasper on the other hand was stunned and couldn’t keep his eyes off her. At the kitchen counter, he began to smile from ear to ear. Elana helped Jasper, suggesting to add a handful of crackers to the platter along with a cluster of grapes. Carrying the platter to Jessica, Jasper slid the snacks onto the coffee table, pushing the garbage off to one side.

  “I’m glad you’re here.” Jasper told Jessica.

  Jessica looked at the platter and her eyes lit up. She was hungry. Booking it back to the kitchen to find something to drink, Jasper opened the fridge door and reached for a couple beers, but Joel said, “Stop!” Jasper pulled his hand back right away.

  “What?” he asked, keeping his voice low.

  “Did you ask me something?” Jessica asked.

  “Oh, no nothing. Sorry.” Jasper replied.

  The glory of God shone from Joel’s face, “Perhaps you should consider serving your guest something else.” Joel was very serious. Jasper thought he even seemed rather stern.

  “I don’t have anything else.” Jasper whispered, shrugging his shoulders.

  “Use your imagination.” Joel said basically.

  Jasper closed the fridge door and leaned against it. Looking around his little kitchen, Jasper thought, ‘Besides beer, I’m really out of choices.’ By the time Jasper’s thought was through, he’d poured two tall glasses of fresh water.

  “It is nice to know you’re glad I’m here, but don’t get me wrong, I’m just here as a friend, Jasper. I just want to make that perfectly clear.” Jessica said.

  “Is that a rule?” Jasper asked playfully.

  “Yes. Yes, I suppose it is.” She decided.

  “Rules, are made to be broken.” Testing her, he responded.

  Jessica almost broke her neck when she swiveled around so fast to look at him.

  “I’m kidding.” Jasper quickly told her lifting his hands defensively.

  She smiled, covering her mouth with her hand to hide a giggle.

  Jasper couldn’t see her very well but he unmistakably heard her bite into a grape. “Of course, Jessica. Just friends. We’ve always been friends.” Jasper set the two tall drinks on the coffee table. Then he held a garbage can close to the edge of the table and brushed the clutter into it.

  For a moment, Jasper just looked at the garbage in the waste basket. It was like it spoke to him somehow with an important message. ‘What? Does this mean something?’ He wondered.

  Sitting on the floor facing Jessica, Jasper smiled at her, “Please, excuse the mess. I don’t usually have guests show up around here.”

  “I don’t mind.” she said looking around again, “It’s honest.” Jessica reached out and placed a slice of cheese on a cracker, then she put an apple wedge on top. She bit it and smiled as the cracker crumbled. “Do you always eat like this?” She spoke with her mouth full.

  Jasper was trying to reconstruct the same cracker, cheese and apple as Jessica had. “Recently, I’ve been trying to turn over a new leaf in my life.” Jasper noticed Jessica and all of the Angels smiling at him proudly.

  Jessica saw Jasper’s white eyes and how they looked right past her. She didn’t know he was looking at Angels. It appeared, to her, like Jasper was just very blind.

  “You’re different, Jasper.” Jessica took a sip of water, “I can see it. It’s not just your eyes either. Somehow, you’ve changed.”

  Gathering some of his clothes, Jasper said, “If I had more money, I’d hire a maid. The employment system is wound pretty tight. You can see it reflected in my bank account.”

  “I understand. It’s tough for everyone.” Jessica smiled sweetly, before straightening up a bookshelf.

  “I feel so tied down now. If I could start over, I’d do things differently. Like, I wouldn’t throw my money away on all this garbage.” Jasper waved at his messy place.

  “I know, right?” Jessica responded.

  “You see your belongings differently now?” Joel asked.

  “I feel like I’ve been given a second chance.” Jasper said out loud. “Not to spend my time like I did before, listening to music and watching TV. I don’t have a lot of time, so everything I do needs to fit with what’s most important.”

  “What is most important?” asked Starr.

  “God.” Answered Jasper. Jessica stopped what she was doing to look at Jasper, trying to figure him out.

  “Of course,” Jasper went on as he stacked his CDs. Going through all of his belongings allowed Jasper to remember the life he once lived. Since the Angels came into his world, he saw things so differently. Now he saw his existence clearly. “It’s been the missing piece to the puzzle of my life from the beginning.” He shook his head and laughed. “Such an obvious piece; God. And so easily overlooked.” Taking his stack of CD music, Jasper dropped them all into a trash can when there it was again, a message, only now he did understand it.

  “What are you doing?” Jessica asked.

  Jasper didn’t want to reveal that he could see and speak to spiritual beings. Since becoming used to the presence of the Angels, he found them comfortable to have around. Jasper felt safe when they were near. Fearing his special ability to communicate with them would end as suddenly as it began if he made a mistake of some sort, Jasper also feared if he didn’t get along with the Angels, they would leave him. This would mean failure and his second chance at life would be over.

  Continuing to clean while listening to the Angels, Jasper was more certain than ever there was much more going on than just the simple reorganization of his place. He felt like a curtain had been removed and the truth was revealed. The clarity of his purpose here on earth was mapped out before him. A fragment of God’s plan was realized. The Angels challenged him to let go of the person he used to be, in place of an entirely new Jasper who would never be the same again.

  After Jasper unplugged his stereo system and stacked the components outside, he put his computer outside as well, including all of the software.

  “Are you crazy? You can’t just throw everything you own in the garbage.” Jessica didn’t know what else to say to Jasper, he just kept throwing things out; plants, watches, even personal photos. “You don’t have to do this to impress me, Jasper.”

  “Impress… This is simply me, taking a step toward a positive life change.” He was interested to see her reaction. So far, Jasper was surprised how understanding she seemed. Even Jessica wouldn’t usually condone such strange behavior, but there was something about that particular moment that made throwing out the past feel right, like they were making room for something greater to come in the future.

  Mid-afternoon quickly drew into the late hours of evening. Time flew by, when Jessica looked at a clock. Her eyes went wide with surprise at how late it was.

  “I didn’t realize the time. I have to get going.” She said, “Thank you for everything, Jasper. I had a real nice time.” Jessica told him with a dazzle of excitement and appreciation in her eyes. “The crackers and cheese were the best I ever tasted.”

  “You’re thanking me?” Jasper was surprised, “I’m sorry you came over for the first time only to end up working. This wasn’t how I thoug
ht we would meet.”

  “But you did want to meet me, didn’t you?” Jessica asked with a playful twinkle in her eye.

  “Yes, of course. You know I did.” Jasper answered with a soft chuckle.

  “Your place looks one hundred times better, now that it’s had a woman’s touch.” Jessica played.

  They made their way to the door and Jessica twisted the door knob open. “So will I see you again?” Jasper asked.

  “Are you going to continue cleaning up?” Jessica arched her back and held her breath.

  “Yes, I’m in the zone now. I never thought I could be so interested in this kind’a thing.” Jasper answered her.

  Jessica let out her breath, “Well, you’re quite good at it. I’ll be back tomorrow to see what improvements you’ve made.” Jessica impressed Jasper when she invited herself back.

  “I’ll be finished, and you’ll be astounded.” Jasper responded.

  “Good-bye, Jasper.” Jessica winked at him before she slipped out the door.

  Jasper turned back to look at the suite with his six Angelic friends floating in the room. “It’s good to have nice friends.” Elana commented.

  Jasper’s smile brightened with teeth. “Yes, it is.” Then he cheered as he threw his fists in the air like a champion. Jasper’s excitement quickly became serious. “Let’s finish what we started here.” Feeling great, he flew at the room with a new goal to achieve.

  Life surged through his veins like bolts of energy. Jasper was determined to get everything out of his home. Moving his television out, along with his DVD player and his entire collection of movies, he realized none of this bothered him at all. None of Jasper’s belongings held any value any longer.

  Boxing up his books and magazines and putting them outside also, Jasper took up the Bible the Pastor gave him. All of the Angels stopped what they were doing and set their eyes on Jasper. Jasper looked at them and chuckled. “Hey, I wouldn’t let go of this.” He stated bashfully. It was obvious the Bible was special when it had the power to stop Angels on the spot and capture their attention.

  When Jasper moved everything out, he felt a great weight of stress leave him. He realized how these material things were weighing him down. Letting them go made him feel light and free. While ‘complicated’ was moving out; ‘Simple’ was moving in. Crossing Jasper’s mind, ‘Will I regret the choices I’m making here one day?’ but his decision to let go of his belongings over ruled any doubt. If he ever needed his stuff back, he’d deal with it when and if that time ever came.

  Moving the last of his belongings outside at midnight, Chad, the landlord, came to Jasper’s door. “Hey, Jasper! What is all your crap doing in my yard? Did you finally lose your mind completely?”

  “I thought you were kicking me out! I don’t need any of this stuff anyway, so I’m getting rid of it.”

  “Hold on! What’s going on here, Jasper?” Chad asked, more compassionately now.

  “This is the new me. I’m starting over. I’m going to do it right this time.” Jasper explained.

  “I could hear you were still up and because of it, I couldn’t sleep. You want to talk at all?” Looking around the suite Chad noticed how clean everything was and just how much of Jasper’s belongings had been removed. “I had no idea you were planning to move out.” Chad concluded.

  “I’m not moving, Chad.” Jasper told him. “I’m just getting rid of a few things.”

  “A few things? Are you planning on keeping anything? You’re even giving away your clothes!” Chad said with a baffled look in his eye.

  “I’m not getting rid of all my clothes. If you and Dianne would like anything here, you’re welcome to take what you want, otherwise the garbage truck can have it.”

  Chad looked at the stacks of things as though it was all smelly garbage. “It’ll cost you to have a truck show up and take all this away.” Chad told him.

  “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.” They looked at everything for a moment and considered what they could do to get rid of it. “What about your truck?” Jasper suggested. “I bet I could get it all into the back.”

  “My pick-up?” Chad questioned. “Right now?” Clearly, Chad was angry now.

  Wilson came up behind Jasper and insisted, “You must do this, Jasper, and you must do it right now!”

  “Chad, listen to me.” Jasper said, trying to keep Chad calm, “You have no idea what I’ve been through lately. We have to do this. The sooner, the better. We don’t even have to take it to the dump, we can take it to a thrift store or leave it outside a pawn shop or something.”

  Chad thought about it for a moment. He tried to come up with a better time to deal with it, but there really was no other time. Chad was planning to take Dianne on a trip for two weeks and he couldn’t just leave this problem until he returned.

  “Oh, Jasper. Your timing is terrible... Come‘on then, let’s do this.” Chad told him. “But on one condition, and I’m sorry. You have to move out.”

  Jasper could see the nod of the Angel’s approval so he agreed. “Very well, Chad.” Offering his hand, Chad wanted to shake on the agreement. Reluctantly, Jasper honored the agreement and they shook.

  They spent an hour and a half loading everything into the pick-up and tied it all down tightly. The final thing Jasper packed into the back was his favorite baseball bat. Joel suggested that Jasper depart from it also, though Jasper couldn’t figure out why. It held more sentimental value than anything else, but who was Jasper to argue with an Angel. The very last thing Chad did was close the tail Gate. Slamming it shut, Chad had gotten his hand caught between the television stand and the tail Gate.

  “Ouch!!!” Chad yiped. He pulled his hand free quickly. The skin at the back of his hand had been scraped with a lot of redness.

  “I’ve got ice!” Jasper suggested right away and led Chad into his suite. The appliances came with the suite so Jasper couldn’t get rid of them. In the freezer, an ice tray still remained. Cracking the tray, Jasper placed a cube on the back of Chad’s hand. After an exchange, Chad held the cube on his own hand. While Jasper began running cold water to fill the sink, he dumped the tray of ice cubes in. Chad grumbled as he soaked his hand.

  “Ice? This isn’t a burn, Jasper, but thanks.”

  “No problem. You’d do the same for me, right?”

  “Hey, don’cha go think’n this makes us best buds or noth’n. This’s your fault. If you could see, you wouldn’t have slammed the tailgate on my hand.” Chad could see how he hurt Jasper and he didn’t want to make him feel worse by mentioning his impaired sight. “Everything’s loaded, let’s just get going, okay?”

  Jasper agreed. Hopping into the tuck, they both headed down the road.