PAPER ANGELS
By Christy Frazier
Published by Christy Frazier at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 Christy Frazier
Cover Photo and Design Copyright 2011 Christy Frazier
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This book is dedicated to all those who believe in the magic of angels.
PAPER ANGELS
By
Christy Frazier
Chapter 1
“Run away, that is what I should do, just run away,” Ari grumbled to herself.
“I’m sorry miss, what did you say?” asked a small elderly man on the other side of the customer service counter. He was thin and had a gentle smile.
“Oh, nothing,” Ari said, quickly clearing her throat. “Here is your bag and thank you for shopping at Garland’s.” She handed the medium size package over to the waiting hands of the older man.
He smiled at her. “You have a Merry Christmas.” Turning he walked away.
The next customer in the long line approached the customer service counter. The scowl on the thirty-something woman was a clear warning, she wasn’t going to be pleasant.
“Welcome to Garland’s, may I help you?” Ari greeted. It was the greeting all sales associates were to use when customers or “guests” as they were to refer them as, approached her.
“I’ll have you know, I have been waiting in line for at least fifteen minutes,” the disgruntled woman informed her.
“The lines on Black Friday traditionally tend to be long. We are sorry for the inconvenience.” Ari was hoping this would pacify the woman.
“Well if I wanted a lecture, I would have asked for one,” the woman sneered. “Now, I want to pay cash for these three shirts, which are all on sale.” She set them down onto the counter. “Then use this credit card for all of the towels, which are also all on sale.” She placed the large stack onto the counter too along with the credit card. “The rest of these items, which are also on sale, I want to put on my store credit card.”
Ari rung up the shirts and towels as instructed. The remaining items were scanned, but the store credit card was declined by the register’s internal computer. Ari dreaded having to tell the woman that her card had been declined.
“I’m sorry ma’am, your card is being declined,” she quickly said, then waited for the woman’s expected wrath. Her six months of experience in working a retail job had already taught her what the signs of a disgruntled customer looked like. It prepared her to put her invisible combat uniform on.
“What do you mean declined?! I know for a fact I haven’t reached my credit limit, so try again. I am sure you made an error.”
Ari swiped the card and once again, it was declined. She looked at the angry customer. “I’m sorry–”
“This is why I hate shopping here,” the woman complained. “You people aren’t any help.” She began to dig through her purse, and then pulled out another credit card. “Try this one.”
Ari swiped the new card and it too was declined. The woman gave her another one to try, but as the two previous cards, it was also declined. With a reddened face, the woman pulled several twenty dollar bills out of her wallet and threw them at Ari.
“Just use these, I’m sure they won’t be declined,” she sneered, as she stared at Ari like a lioness who was about to pounce upon an unsuspecting antelope.
Ari picked up the scattered bills and promptly finished the sale. She learned quickly that the sooner you got rid of an unpleasant customer, the better things would be. She handed the customer her change. “Thank you for shopping at Garland’s,” she said as she handed the woman her packages.
“I don’t suppose you could gift wrap these?”
“No ma’am, but I could give you some boxes if you would like?”
The woman huffed loudly. “That would mean I would have to wrap them. I don’t think so.” She snatched the bags out of Ari’s hands and stormed off.
Ari groaned inwardly. “Like I said, I should just run away.”
“You look like you could use a lunch break?” asked Elise, one of her coworkers as she approached Ari.
“You have no idea.”
Elise, who was in her twenties smiled. “Go to the break room and put your feet up and try to close your eyes for a while if you can. We still have four more hours to go.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me,” groaned Ari as she logged off of the register. With her head down and avoiding any eye contact, she hastily made her way to the employee lounge hoping she wouldn’t be stopped by a customer. The door to the lounge swung open as she pushed on it and she slipped inside. Taking a deep breath of relief, she stopped short as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror that was hanging on the wall by the door. Her brown hair was pulled back tight into a ponytail, but a few strands had escaped. Her blue eyes which normally sparkled with life looked tired and red.
“Ari, if I didn’t already know you were only eighteen, I would think you were somewhere in your seventies,” she said critiquing herself. “Then again, you are eighteen and working two jobs, to save enough money for college in the spring.”
Her dad had been one of the many victims of the poor economy and lost his job eight months ago. Since then he had been working odd jobs to help support her mom and their four kids while searching for a better job. Ari was the oldest. Her mom worked as a dental assistant, but it wasn’t enough money to pay all of the bills. Instead of immediately going to college like her friends, Ari decided to put it off until the following spring. She was working two jobs to help pay some of the bills and save some of the money for college.
She walked into the lounge and went straight to her locker and pulled out her sack lunch, then sat down at one of the tables. She propped her aching feet up onto one of the empty chairs and closed her eyes for a moment.
“Ewe-wee, girlfriend you look tired.”
Ari opened her eyes and looked over to the couch. Ethel with her flawless ebony skin was slumped back into the cushions. “Yeah, I guess you could say I am Ethel. What is it with people? I have had some very nice customers today, but there have been several who really deserve to burn in–”
Ethel burst out laughing. “I know what you mean. I firmly believe that there is a very hot place for nasty customers. One day I plan on visiting them with a nice tall cool glass of lemonade, and I don’t plan on sharing it.”
Ari laughed. “I hope you are right.”
“Oh I am sure I am. In fact, I think I already have several relatives there waiting for them.”
Lola, a tall thin woman with graying long hair, walked into the room and joined them. She had a smug look on her face.
“Oh girlfriend, you have been up to something devious, do share,” coaxed Ethel.
Lola looked around making sure there wasn’t a manager in the room. “Well she confided, I just dealt with a very unpleasant customer and I found a way to get back at them without getting myself into trouble.”
She now had the attention of Ari and Ethel.
“I crammed all of her things into the smallest bag I could find. You should have seen her trying to hold the bag, her purse and the other bags she had as she walked away.”
All three looked at each other then burst out laughing.
“I will have to remember that one,” said Ari. “I could have already used it today.”
“Me too,” agreed Ethel.
Lola sat down next to Ari. “How are you holding up with working two jobs? I just don’t know how you are doing it.”
“Well I guess when you have to, you make it work,” offered Ari as she took a bite of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Ethel looked her up and down. “You are as thin as a rail. If you aren’t careful, you are going to blow away with the next breeze. Just why are you working so hard?”
Ari took a deep breath. “I want to be a geriatric nurse. School is expensive and scholarships right now are far and few between. I need the money.”
“So, you are working full time at an assisted living facility and part-time here,” stated Lola.
“Yes.”
“If you don’t mind my asking, when was the last time you had a day off?”
Ari sat back for moment thinking. “I’m not sure, I think it was three weeks ago tomorrow, maybe four. It doesn’t really matter anyway.”
“Heaven to Betsy Ross, girl, that is not living, that’s putting yourself into an early grave,” Ethel pointed out. She sat up. “You need to find a better way to make more money or find some better jobs.”
“That’s easier said than done,” Ari explained. “In order to qualify for any grants or decent student loans, my dad has to be out of work for at least a year, because and let me quote, ‘he used to make too much money’. That is what the school’s financial aid lady told me when I met with her.”
Lola shook her head. “It was so much easier twenty years ago when I was in college.”
Ethel chimed in. “I have to agree. All these businesses keep pushing college degrees’ on people, but I don’t think they fully get how hard it is to pay for college anymore. The tuition these days is outrageous, then add to that the price of the text books.” She rolled her eyes. “The price they charge for those books is a scam all on its own. I won’t tell you what it has cost my son to go to college his first year. It will just give you all a bad case of indigestion.”
“I can’t argue with that,” said Ari as she took the last bite of her sandwich.”My friend Rose said her books cost over $500.00’s last semester alone.” She looked at her watch. She only had five more minutes left of her lunch break. She quickly drank the rest of her water and put her lunch bag into her locker.
“Well ladies, it’s back to the old grind mill.” She smiled at her coworkers. “Only three and a half hours to go. I won’t forget your small bag revenge Lola.” she said as she slowly walked out of the break room.
“I don’t know how she does it,” said Lola shaking her head. “After she leaves here, she will be going to her other job, to fill in for someone who wanted the day after Thanksgiving off. I guess holiday pay is making it worth her while.”
“That girl needs more than holiday pay, she needs a miracle,” stated Ethel.
Chapter 2
“Trevor,” called Jace as he walked into the pristine garage, never had he seen a garage that was so perfectly kept and lit. The floor was spotless and all of the tools were hanging on a pegboard and organized into categories then sized largest to smallest. The tools too were polished and spotless. “Where are you?” He looked around the large room, then at the three vintage cars that were perfectly lined up. The first was a red 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS Z28, next to it sat a pale yellow 1958 Corvette Convertible and on the other end was a blue 1967 Mustang.
Jace could hear movement so he bent down onto his hands and knees and looked under the cars. Trevor was lying on his back on a creeper under the Mustang working on it.
“Hey, didn’t you hear me? I have been calling you,” asked Jace.
“Yah I heard you, I just wanted to get this nut tightened before I answered,” responded Trevor. He pushed the ground with his foot and the creeper rolled out from under the Mustang. Sitting up he looked at his friend.
“I don’t know why you take the time to do that manually when there are easier ways.”
“I like working with my hands, you know that. Unlike you who likes to take the easy way out in doing things.”
Jace rolled his eyes at his friend.
“What do you need?” asked Trevor.
“You are wanted upstairs,” said Jace.
“Another assignment?” Trevor asked raking his fingers through his shoulder length blond hair.
“Yes, it’s Christmas, so the rush is on. You know how it is during the holidays.”
“I sure do,” Trevor smiled showing his white teeth. He stood up and brushed his hands over his jeans and straightened his black t-shirt. “How do I look?”
Jace rolled his eyes. “Like it matters.”
Both laughed.
The two walked out of the garage closing the door behind them. Both were as opposite in looks as you could get. Jace had dark tan skin, dark hair and hazel eyes. Trevor on the other hand, had blond hair and bright blue eyes. The only thing they had in common was their height of six feet two inches.
“So Ely wants to see me?” Trevor asked as they walked up the large granite staircase to a two story, red brick, colonial house that had four large white pillars out front. They opened the simple white door and entered.
“He said he has a tough case, and thinks you can do the job,” answered Jace.
Inside, the interior was ornately decorated with large paintings of various landscapes on the walls. Several leather couches with matching chairs were arranged in groups, while various cherry wood desks were placed around the large open room. Jace and Trevor walked over and sat down at the largest desk that sat alongside the back wall. Next to it was a fireplace with a small fire burning in it.
“Maybe Ely doesn’t have a job for you, maybe you are in trouble,” Jace teased as he playfully punched him in the arm. Jace and Trevor had been friends for a very long time and enjoyed joking around with each other.
“Or maybe the job is to straighten you out, that would be the toughest case I could ever have,” Trevor shot back jabbing him in the ribs.
“If you two gentlemen are finished, we have some business to discuss.” Ely always liked to make a surprise entrance. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, with a starched white shirt, and a black bowtie. His white hair was pulled back into a ponytail that hung down his back.
“I have a tough case,” he informed Trevor. “Alistair and Franklin were unable to complete the job. Both said she is stubborn and determined to do things her way. Let me show you.” He pressed a small button inside of the desk drawer and a large glass screen appeared on the top of desk, then a 3-D image began to appear. A young girl with brown hair was sitting with an elderly woman reading to her. The scene was very serene.
“This doesn’t seem too bad,” commented Trevor as he watched the young woman.
Ely looked at him with one eyebrow raised. Trevor sat back in his chair and didn’t say another word. One thing he learned after working with Ely for many decades was to let him finish what he had to say before commenting.
The image flashed forward and the same brown haired girl was working at a department store. Her hair was still pulled back, but different strands of it were falling out of the barrette that held it. She was very busy helping customers with their purchases. One more image flashed forward of same girl, this time she was lying in her bed where she had fallen asleep in her work clothes.
Ely looked at Trevor and Jace. “Do you see what I see?”
The two younger men looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. “No, she just looks like she had a tough day and fell asleep on her bed.”
Ely smiled at them knowingly. “I thought you would say that.” He pressed another button. Again more images of the girl appeared, showing her working at the department store, then helping various older people. A few of the images showed her cooking dinner, cleaning house and taking care of some younger children. “Tell me what you see Trevor?”
“I see a young mother who has a lot of responsibility.” He was still confused as to what Ely wanted him to see.
“This young woman is not the mother of the children you see. She is their sister and she is only eighteen,” replied Ely.
“She’s only eighteen?” He could have sworn she was much older.
“Yes. Are you starting to see what I am getting at?”
“I think so. She needs a break or something. Her shoulders are heavy with a lot of responsibility.”
“You are getting much closer.”
“Could I have a hint?” asked Trevor.
Jace intervened. “I think Ely is trying to tell you that the young girl is working too hard–”
“That’s obvious,” interrupted Trevor. “What I don’t understand is what I’m supposed to do. A lot of the Earthbounds are overworked during this time of the year. Many work hard during the holidays to earn extra money to buy gifts for others. This has been going on for a very long time, but it only lasts about a month or two.”
Ely and Jace looked at each other. “Trevor,” Ely spoke up. “She has been working like this for the last six months, without a break. She thinks because she only worked one of her jobs on one day a few weeks ago, that she had a break.”
“Ouch, that long huh?”
“Did you see her smile or laugh in any of the images?”
“No, actually I didn’t,” Trevor admitted. He looked back at the screen and gained a whole new opinion of the young woman.
“Well, that is your job.”
Trevor’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “To make her laugh and smile? Really? That should be easy.”
Ely looked at him, his face was somber. “Not when you have forgotten how to live your life. I don’t mean just getting out of bed, eating, working, and sleeping, but enjoy living your life. There is a difference.”
Trevor sat back in the chair, his hand curled under his chin. “I didn’t think of that,” he stated as he analyzed the images again. “Forgetting to enjoy living her life, she is much to young not to be doing this.”
“Before you go, I would advise that you talk with Alistair and Franklin first. Ask them what they have learned and what they have tried.” Ely stood up, both hands on the desk. “Just don’t forget the rules about contact and becoming personally involved with your assignment.”
“I have been doing this for nearly a century; I haven’t become personally involved yet. I know where to draw the line.” He winked at Ely.
Ely stared at him and didn’t blink. “Just remember the rules.”
Chapter 3
Ari walked through the doors of Lake View Assisted Living where she had been working for the past seven months. She enjoyed working with elderly people, which helped her make the decision of choosing the area of geriatrics in her nursing career. She did various jobs around the facility, from minor cleaning to helping the elderly with projects, games and personal things like writing letters for them. Her favorite part of her job was visiting with the many residents who lived there. Some were living at the facility because they could no longer take care of themselves at home and were having too many accidents and injuring themselves. Other residents chose to live there because of the help they received and they liked the company and activities Lake View provided for them. This job was her “peaceful” job.
She walked into the employee room to check the daily schedule to see what assignments she had for the day. “Hmmm, not too bad,” she whispered. She had some cleaning to do, but afterwards she was to help with some of the activities.
Walking down the hallway she noticed one of the doors to an apartment was open. She carefully stuck her head in. “Anyone here?”
A light cheerful voice called out to her. “Yes, please come in.”
Ari stepped into the one room studio apartment. The room had been beautifully decorated with greens, browns and light yellows. Several pictures had been hung on the wall and the single bed had a few stuffed animals resting on it. Sitting in a small reclining chair was an older woman. She was petite; her grey hair was cut into a bob and she was beautifully dressed.
“Hi I’m Ari, it is nice to meet you,” she greeted the new resident with her hand held out.
“I’m Louise, but my family calls me Mimi, so you may as well too.” She reached up and took Ari’s hand and gently squeezed it.
“Well Mimi, it’s nice to meet you. I’m here to help you with anything you need,” stated Ari.
“Well thank you doll, I might take you up on that sometime.”
“We hope you enjoy living here. Many of our residents have been with us for several years and they all have good things to say about living here. There are many fun and different activities to do every day. In fact, I believe we have a concert in the eating area this Friday night. A local family is going to come and play their instruments for us. They are very talented with their violins, flutes and obo’s.” Ari handed her a schedule for the month. “This is a calendar of all of the activities we have for December.”
Mimi took the paper from Ari’s hand. “My husband Nolan would have loved listening to the concert. He always enjoyed music.”
Ari noticed the portrait of a young man on the wall behind Mimi’s recliner. “Is this a portrait of your husband?”
Smiling Mimi looked at the portrait, “Yes, he was a handsome devil. He is about seventeen in that portrait. That was a few years before I met him.”
Ari decided she had some spare time, so she sat down in the chair next to Mimi. “How did you meet him, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I never mind talking about Nolan. Telling people about him keeps his memories warm in my heart.” She relaxed back into her chair. “It was during World War II that I met him at a USO dance. He approached me and asked me if I would like to dance with him. Well I saw how the other girls were looking at him, and I wasn’t about to allow them a chance to dance with him, he was the best looking guy there. I took his hand and then as he led me out onto the dance floor, I warned him that I couldn’t dance.” She rolled her eyes and smiled at the memory. “He was very gracious as he guided me around the dance floor. I kept stepping on his feet and missing the steps he was trying to help me with, but he kept smiling at me. After the song was over, he escorted me back to my seat. Then that rascal leaned down and whispered into my ear, ‘You’re right, you can’t dance’.”
Ari gasped. “He didn’t! How embarrassing that must have been.”
“Yes he did, and yes it was embarrassing,” she laughed. “But it didn’t matter; we fell in love with each other that night.”
Ari was thinking how romantic Mimi’s story was, love at first sight. She had heard stories like this, but figured falling in love with someone the first time you meet them was very rare. “How long were the two of you married before he passed on?” She had learned that most of the widowed residents liked talking about their spouses and that certain questions were okay to ask.
“Sixty-seven years, three months, two weeks and four days. They were the happiest times of my life.”
“I’m sure he is watching over you from Heaven.”
“Oh I know he is.” She smiled.
“Do you have children?”
“Oh yes, two, a boy and a girl. They are twins. Both of them have three children each. How I do love my grandchildren.”
“I bet they love you just as much.”
“Having grandchildren is such a joy. I get to spoil them, then send them right back home.” She had a wicked little smile on her face.
Ari laughed. Her own grandparents did the same thing with her and her brothers and sister. Ari looked at her watch. “Well I have a list of things I still need to do, but I would love to come and visit with you again sometime if you would like?”
“I’ll be here and my door will always be open to you Ari.”
“Thanks Mimi.” She got up and patted the smaller woman on the shoulder. Stopping at the door she turned and waved to her. She smiled as she walked down the hall. There was something special about Mimi and she couldn’t quite put her finger on it…
Several hours later, Ari finished with the cleaning assignments on her list. The cleaning wasn’t too bad, but she enjoyed helping the residents with their activities more. She spent an hour helping with the daily afternoon Bingo game. Many of the residents looked forward to playing Bingo. Some were very competitive while playing the game and others used the time to socialize with their friends. When she was finished with the Bingo games, she made her way down another hall and through some bigger doors, into the critical care section of the assisted living facility. The patients here required twenty-four hour care. Most were bed ridden from different illnesses and many suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. It pained her to see the patients and their small frail bodies, that weren’t able to do much for themselves if anything at all.
One particular patient was an eighty year old woman named Leona. She suffered from Alzheimer’s disease which set on early in her life. When Ari began working at Lake View, Leona was still coherent and they would have some wonderful talks. But the last two months she had declined quickly and was bed ridden. She never had children of her own and her husband passed on when she was only fifty-five. She never remarried. The only family she had was a grand nephew who lived in New York. He rarely made it out to South Ogden, Utah where Lake View Assisted Living was located. Although, he did see that she was sent a fresh bouquet of flowers every week. Every bouquet was different and there was always a letter from him attached to the vase.
Ari quietly walked into Leona’s room and sat down on a chair that was next to the sleeping elderly woman. “Okay Leona, where did we leave off last time?” She took a large book off of the night table next to the bed and opened it. “If I remember right, Scarlet had just made herself a dress out of the curtains in the window and was going to go and see Rhett Butler.”
When Leona talked, she had mentioned how much she liked the book Gone With The Wind, by Margaret Mitchell. It saddened Ari when she learned that Leona would be spending the remainder of her days in bed. She decided that she would take time during each of her shifts to read a chapter or two of the book to Leona. She had heard once that Alzheimer’s patients may not seem coherent, but could still hear what was going on around them. The room was quiet as Ari leaned back into the chair and read to Leona.
***
Trevor quietly sat back and listened to Ari while she read the story to the elderly woman. He had a small notebook on his lap and wrote while he listened. “Caring, patient and generous,” he said as he wrote down the words.
***
After working at Lake View in the earlier half of the day, Ari went straight to Garland’s department store. She only had a four hour shift tonight, which as bad as she needed the money, she was grateful for. Her feet and back were aching tonight. She put her purse into her locker and then pulled her sweater on. She had been chilled for most of the day, so the warmth of the sweater was welcomed. On her way out of the employee break room she reached into her pocket for a tissue. Instead of a tissue, she pulled out a piece of paper, but it wasn’t a typical piece of paper. This one had been folded into a three inch angel.
With her lips pressed tight she looked at the angel curiously wondering how it got into her pocket. She turned it over and on the back was the word, Caring. She looked around the empty room then back at her locker. Her eyebrows drawn together she tucked the angel back into her pocket and walked out onto the sales floor.
Chapter 4
Ten o’clock at night the public bus was almost empty as Ari stepped off of it and the doors closed behind her. The cool night air whipped around her face, so she pulled her jacket up around her neck. It had snowed earlier that day, so with each step she took the snow crunched under her feet. She was grateful the bus stop was only three blocks from her house as she made her way down the snow covered sidewalk. Turning the corner she saw her house. The porch light was on and the inflatable Santa Clause in the front yard was full and lit up. Other houses on her street hand colorful lights framing their roofs, windows, and shrubs which colorfully lit the street.
She stepped up onto the porch and stomped the snow off of her shoes and walked into the house. Inside everything was quiet and only a few lights were on. No doubt her brothers and sister were already in bed since it was a school night. She hung her coat up in the closet as her mom walked into the family room. Her mom was already dressed for bed and had her lavender bathrobe wrapped around her. She was a small woman with shoulder length brown hair and light blue eyes.
“Oh good you’re home,” said her mom, Alice, as she came up and gave her a hug. “You left so early this morning; I didn’t have a chance to talk to you.”
Ari hugged her back. “Yeah, I had to be to Lake View by eight, so I left at seven. You were in the shower. Did you get my note?”
“Yes, thank you.” Alice followed her into the kitchen. “I have some leftover lasagna in the fridge. All you have to do is heat it in the microwave.”
She smiled. “That sounds really good right now, I’m starving.” Ari pulled the plate out of the fridge and put it into the microwave. She filled a glass with some water and set in onto the counter. The microwave beeped and she pulled the dish out and set it onto the counter as well, then sat down. Her mom sat next to her.
“Ari, I don’t know how you are doing it, working two jobs. I am worried about you, you look so tired.” She brushed a stray hair away from her daughter’s face.
“It’s not forever mom, I’ll be fine.” She filled her mouth with a bite of the lasagna. She hadn’t eaten anything since lunch so it tasted like heaven.
“You are too young to be working so hard. You need to take some time and do something fun.” Ari started to interrupt her but her mom put her hand up. “No, I mean it. Yes our money is tight, but we aren’t desperate. Your dad and I appreciate all that you are doing to help, but you need to live a little too.”
“I will mom, but it’s just going to take time. Besides, I almost have enough money saved to pay for at least two semesters,” she quickly intervened.
Alice shook her head. “You have always been so stubborn. Just promise me, that you will take a day off in the next two weeks and do something fun with your friends, and allow yourself to relax. You both deserve and need it.”
Ari breathed out a long sigh. “I will try mom, but with it being the holidays, I can get more hours at Garland’s. After December, everything will slow way down and my hours will go down too. This is a chance for me to make more money for school–”
“You are a stubborn young lady,” Alice murmured. “Life isn’t just about money, it’s about living it.”
“I know, just give me some time. Okay?” She leaned towards her mom. “After the holidays, I will take some time off, I promise.”
Alice just shook her head, knowing that Ari was going to do things her way, as she always did. She decided to change the subject. “Hey, before I forget, dad has another interview with the financial company tomorrow, so cross your fingers that they will offer him the job.”
“Mom, I don’t think they have been uncrossed since he got the first interview,” she laughed.
Alice smiled. “Same here.” She held up her hands showing her crossed fingers.
The two of them laughed.
Ari finished her dinner and put her plate into the dishwasher then went upstairs to her room. She slowly removed her sweater and set it on her bed. Stopping, she picked it back up and reached into the pocket and felt the paper angel. Pulling it out she turned it around and studied it. The detail in the folds amazed her. The message on the back confused her. She wondered who put the angel in her pocket and why. She set it down onto her night table next to her clock radio and finished getting ready for bed.
She pulled the barrette out of her hair and let it fall over her shoulders, then massaged her scalp. It felt good to let her hair hang down after having it pulled back all day. She pulled her comforter and blankets back on her bed and slid under them. Reaching up she went to turn the light off, when the angel caught her eye. Picking it up, she looked at it one more time.
“Caring, why would anyone write caring on the back of a paper angel,” she said aloud. It seemed so odd. Setting it back down, she turned her light off and quickly fell asleep.
Chapter 5
Trevor sat in the Mustang Convertible reading the notes he had written in his notebook, when Jace sauntered into the garage. “How is your assignment going?”
“Ely was right, this one is stubborn,” he said exasperated. “I have tried sending her free movie tickets, had others offer their help to her and even compelled another saleslady to take an extra shift at the department store so that she would have to do something else besides work.”
“But it didn’t work I take it,” said Jace. He opened the car door and sat down on the seat next to Trevor.
“No, in fact it only made things worse. Another employee asked her if she would work their shift the same night as the one I stopped her from working, and it is a longer shift. I didn’t see it coming until it was too late, so I couldn’t intervene.”
“We tried to tell you it wasn’t going to be easy,” Jace added, even though he already knew that Trevor was aware of this.
“I know,” he sighed. He had been helping people for nearly a century and thought this particular case was going to be easy, since he had dealt with tough cases before. He sat quietly tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, then his expression changed and he began to smile. “I know what I need to do.”
“What?” Jace asked. Trevor went from looking as if one of his cars had fallen to the earth, to one of complete joy.
“I’ll let you know later.” He jumped out of the car, then disappeared.
“I hope for your sake, it works,” he called after Trevor.
***
Ari sat quietly in Leona’s room. She just finished reading her another chapter from Gone With The Wind. Setting the book down onto the night table she reached over and smoothed Leona’s silver bangs down onto her forehead. Leona began to stir and Ari quickly pulled her hand away.
“Is that you Ari?” Leona quietly asked.
Ari was shocked. Leona hadn’t said much and moved very little in the last several weeks.
The older woman blinked her eyes several times trying to focus them. “I do enjoy your readings. I want you to know that,” she yawned. Her pale brown eyes looked almost grey in the dim light of the room. She looked around and began to frown, her forehead creased even more as she tried to focus on one particular area. “Who did you bring with you?”
Ari turned around. There wasn’t anyone else in the room but herself. “Leona, I’m the only one here.”
“No, there is a young man standing next to you. He has the bluest eyes I have ever seen and his hair is blond. He is looking right at you. He seems so familiar to me. Have I met him before?”
Goose bumps erupted on Ari’s arms. She had been told that when a person is close to death, some will talk about seeing loved ones who had passed on. “Honest Leona, there isn’t anyone else in the room but you and I.”
“No dear he is shaking his head and smiling at you.” She yawned again. “Oh I know who he is…” she started to doze off and quit talking.
Ari gently shook her arm. “Who do you think it is?” she urged.
Leona lay still in her bed, breathing quietly. Ari was about to give up when Leona began to whisper. “He’s your guardian angel. I think he is trying to tell you something.”
“I don’t hear anybody–”
“No child…try to listen with your heart and not your ears…” She closed her eyes and fell back to sleep.
As Ari stood in the quiet room her eyes were wide as she cautiously looked around. A guardian angel, is there really such a thing?
Trevor quietly stood next to Ari. He was just a surprised as she was that the older woman could see him. He had helped others pass when their spirit separated from their body. Many had seen him before the separation took place, but it was rare for others to see him if he wasn’t helping them. He curiously looked at the fragile body lying in the bed. She was so still and calm. Next to her stood another figure, a woman, she looked at him and smiled. Her golden hair spilled in curls around her shoulders.
“Hi Clare, it has been a long time.” She preferred to wear lacy white dresses that hung to her ankles, unlike Trevor, Jace and many others who preferred to wear jeans and t-shirts. Clare was one of the oldest angels he had ever met.
“Yes Trevor it has. Who is the young woman?” she asked in a soft voice.
“Her name is Ari, she is my current assignment,” he answered.
“She isn’t going to pass is she?”
“No, I have to help her learn to find herself and be happy while she is living her life.”
“Oh a tough case, I had one of those once. It took me nearly five earth years to accomplish the task.”
Trevor put his hands into his pants pocket and looked back at Ari. “I don’t have that long to work with this one. Ely wants me to help her before the New Year.”
“Why? I find that odd.” Clare too was looking at the young girl before her, studying her.
“I don’t know why– and I have learned to not question him.”
Clare smiled at him knowingly. “May I make a suggestion?”
“Yes, I would appreciate any suggestions you could give me.”
“Some Earthbounds need to find themselves inside before the outside can be worked on.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean?” He looked at her both blond brows were drawn together.
“Dreams, Trevor, help her in her dreams. I do this when Earthbounds have lost a loved one. They can’t let go because they miss them so much. I allow their loved one to visit them in their dreams. It is very comforting for them and helps them to move forward.”
“I never thought about that,” he said quietly. “Thank you Clare.”
She smiled at him.
He looked back at Leona’s frail body. “How much longer before you can help her pass over?”
“Not long, she still has a few more things to do before she can leave her earthly bonds.”
“I understand, but it’s still hard to watch them go through this.”
“Why Trevor, are you feeling emotions? I didn’t think it was possible for us to do this.”
Trevor recovered himself. “No,” he said quickly. “I just sometimes try to imagine what they are going through. It helps me to do my job better.”
“Oh, I understand. Maybe I will try to do this too.” Clare moved over by Leona and looked down at her and gently moved her hand about two inches over Leona’s arm in a patting motion. Leona immediately began to relax and breathe easier.
“You always did have a special way with your Earthbounds. Maybe one day you could teach me how you do this…”
Clare smiled and nodded.
Ari’s pager began to quietly beep in her pocket. She leaned down to Leona and quietly whispered, “Sleep well Leona, it was wonderful talking with you today.” She straightened the blankets over Leona’s small frail body, then quietly left the room.
Clare watched the young woman with interest. “She does have a good heart doesn’t she?”
“I am beginning to see much about her that wasn’t in her profile, and her compassion is one of them.” He nodded to Clare and followed Ari out the door.
Ari strode quickly to the front desk. Behind it sat an older woman with short curly hair that had been dyed an unnatural shade of black. She looked up at Ari, her lips pressed together. She was tapping a pen on the desk in front of her. “I have a problem, and not sure what to do about it.”
“What it is, maybe I could help you?” Ari offered. She was a bit apprehensive about talking to Pat. Sometimes Pat could be snippy and you never knew what could set her temper off.
Pat looked at her. “I had arranged for a young man to come and play Christmas music on the piano during lunch today, but he just called and said he has the flu. I know he can’t help it, but it doesn’t help me either.” She started flipping through a notebook in front of her. “I just don’t know anybody I could call and have them here in less than an hour.”
Ari bit her lip and was quiet for just a moment. “You said it was just during lunch today?”
“Yes. Why, do you know of someone you could call?” Pat’s face lit up with hope.
“I can play the piano. I’m not the best, but if you are desperate, I would be willing to help.”
Pat swiftly ran around the desk and hugged Ari tightly. “You are the sweetest young lady I know. Thank you so much!”
Ari was taken aback by this reaction. This was a side to Pat she didn’t know existed. The smile on Pat’s face made Ari feel good about her decision. It wasn’t very often that she or anyone else could make Pat smile. She had heard once from one of the nurses that Pat had had a hard life and that her husband died at an early age. If playing the piano at lunch would help Pat with her dilemma, then it would be worth every minute. “I have a few more things on my list to finish first, then I will make my way down to the cafeteria.”
“Oh don’t worry about the rest of your list. I will see if Ann will finish it for you. It’s the least I could do since you will be helping me out of a pinch.” Pat stopped suddenly and looked Ari up and down. “Hmmm, we need to fix you up a bit though. Let’s start by removing your work smock.”
She reached up and helped Ari pull her arms out of the sleeves. Underneath, she was wearing a dark green long sleeves t-shirt and jeans. “Well that’s a bit better. Now your hair–” Without asking she reached behind her and pulled the barrette out of Ari’s hair, then spread strands of it down and around her shoulders with her fingers. “It’s not the best, but it will do.”
Ari stood there feeling humiliated at what Pat had just done. She knew that her hair needed more effort than she gave it, but to have her pull it out of its barrette like that felt very awkward. Her face was burning with embarrassment. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be in the cafeteria in about thirty minutes.” She quickly walked away from the desk then down the hall and turned the corner. She leaned up against the wall and shook her head in disbelief.
“Hi Ari,” said a sweet little voice.
Ari jumped and her heart began to beat harder. She thought she was alone in the hallway. “Oh hi Mimi,” she said awkwardly. Now she wasn’t sure if she was more embarrassed about Pat’s quick make-over or Mimi catching her in the middle of her humiliation.
Slowly walking towards her with her fancy purple walker was Louise or Mimi, as she was instructed to call her. “I just saw what Pat did. She meant well I’m sure, but sometimes that woman has no class if you ask me.” Mimi stopped in front of her and gently pulled Ari’s chin up so she could look at her.
Ari broke out into a little smile. “You aren’t kidding about that,” she smirked. “I really do try to give her the benefit of the doubt but sometimes she makes it very difficult.”
“I want you to come with me to my room, I have something for you.” Mimi began to walk to her door then stopped and looked back. “Well hurry, we don’t have all day.”
Shrugging her shoulders, she followed Mimi into her room.
Chapter 6
Mimi made her way to her closet and pulled out a beautiful red sweater. It had a scoop neckline then gathered under the bust with a ribbon and tied in the middle. The sleeves were form fitting until they reach the wrists where they slightly fanned out. “I want you to have this.” She put it up to Ari’s shoulders. “I bet it will fit you perfectly.”
Ari shook her head. “Mimi, I can’t accept this, it is much too nice.”
“Nonsense, I won’t wear it; it’s too small and trendy for me. The style is for a much younger girl like you. Besides if you don’t, it will continue to sit in my closet, when it should be worn and shown off. Now,” she directed. “Go into my bathroom and try it on.”
Once again Ari began to protest but Mimi gently pushed her towards the bathroom. A few minutes later, Ari shyly opened the door and stepped out. “What do you think?” she asked as she turned around.
“I think it was made just for you.” Mimi smiled. She then thoughtfully looked at Ari. “Something is missing though–”
“What?” asked Ari as she began to scan the floor for whatever it may be.
“Well, would you be willing to humor an old lady?”
The pleading look on Mimi’s face made her immediately say, “Yes.”
“Back in my day, I owned and operated my own beauty salon. I had quite the clientele too, I even had a few movie stars for clients,” she said proudly. “Would you let me have the honor of styling your hair? I have truly missed doing this.”
Ari looked at her watch. “I have to be in the cafeteria in twenty five minutes…”
“It won’t take me that long, not when I already have a beautiful model to begin with.”
Ari snorted slightly at Mimi calling her a beautiful model. She never was the striking beauty that caught the boys’ attention in high school.
Mimi had her sit in one of her chairs while she plugged in her curling iron. While the iron heated, she applied a small amount of makeup onto Ari’s eyes and brushed on a bit of blush to pinken her cheeks. “Even in my younger days, I never could have gotten away with as little makeup as I have put on you and looked so nice. You are a natural beauty, never forget that.”
Ari sat quietly while Mimi brushed and styled her hair. She wasn’t allowed to look in the mirror until she was finished. Mimi curled small strands of her hair then backcombed parts of it on the crown of her head. Then she applied hair spray to her hair to set the style. “Okay now, slightly open your mouth.” Mimi slid some lipstick over her lips. “Now purse them together and slightly rub them back and forth. Perfect. Now you may look in the mirror.”
Ari stood up and apprehensively turned around to look in the mirror. What she saw surprised her. She recognized herself, but she didn’t in a way either. Her hair had been slightly styled into long big curls that rested on her shoulders. Mimi had also taken her long bangs and loosely pulled them back and pinned them into place with her barrette. What surprised her most was how blue her eyes looked with just a little bit of eye shadow and mascara accenting them.
“Wow,” she whispered in awe. “Mimi, you are a miracle worker.”
Mimi laughed at being called a miracle worker. “No, I just enhanced what was already there. Now we need to get you down to the cafeteria.”
Mimi began to walk towards the door when Ari realized that she didn’t have her walker. “Mimi, don’t you need your walker?”
“Oh heavens yes.” She slowed her pace and walked at a snail's pace back over to the purple walker. “It’s a good thing you reminded me, I wouldn’t want to lose my balance and fall.”
Ari thought it was odd, Mimi was walking just fine a second ago, then all of a sudden her pace slowed down dramatically. “Why don’t I walk down with you?” she offered.
“No, I need to powder my nose first, so I will meet you there. Now hurry, you don’t want to be late.” Mimi shooed her hand towards the door with a small flick of her wrist.
Smiling Ari quickly strode over to Mimi and hugged her. “Thank you. I love my hair and the new sweater.”
“My pleasure dear, now get going or you will be late.”
***
Ari sat down at the piano as the residents slowly filtered in to the dining hall and sat at their tables. She was nervous; it had been a long time since she had played the piano for an audience. Her parents had put her into piano lessons when she was seven, because she showed an interest in the piano they had in their living room. For the next six years Ari took lessons and played for various guests her parents would have in their home and sometimes at church. The last few months she hadn’t played the piano at all. She just didn’t have enough time. Nervously, she took several breathes and moved her fingers up and down to warm them up. She would be playing all of the songs from memory.
The last resident was seated and she began to play In The Bleak Midwinter. The cafeteria quickly quieted down as the music filled the air. Next she played Silent Night, then Jingle Bells, which had many of the residents singing along with her. She played What Child Is This and Mary’s Lullaby, then ended with her favorite Christmas song of all, Oh Holy Night. When she finished pressing the last key, the room was so quiet; she thought that maybe everyone had left while she was playing. Shyly she turned to look at her audience and they erupted into a loud applause. She smiled and stood up bowing slightly in thanks for their appreciation.
The large room turned into a low murmur of voices and movement as everyone began to exit the cafeteria. Pat quickly rushed up to her. “Ari, I had no idea how talented you are!” she cooed. “Maybe I could talk you into playing for us some other time?”
Smiling Ari looked at her. “Pat, I would love too. Thanks.”
“Come and talk to me later and we will see what the schedule is like.” Pat began to walk away then stopped. She looked at Ari and smiled. “Thank you for helping me today, I really appreciate it.” A long moment of silence followed then Pat cleared her voice. “Oh look, Mr. Black is stuck.” She rushed over to help an elderly man get his walker around one of the dining room chairs, then lead him down the hallway.
Ari sat back down on the bench and looked at the keys on the piano and brushed her fingers over them. She felt, well… happy inside. She waved to several of the residents as they exited the room. When was the last time she had felt this way she wondered. The room quieted down and she was alone.
Was it the Christmas music or playing it on the piano that made her feel so peaceful she wondered? Turning, her hand knocked something off of the bench. Reaching down she picked up a small piece of paper that was… folded into an angel. Looking at it she turned it over. This one had Beautiful written on its back.
Curiously she looked around the large room, hoping that maybe she would see who left it there. Then the thought came to her, when would someone have set it next to her? Surely she would have seen them…”
***
Trevor was taken aback as he listened to Ari play the piano. Her profile had listed “Plays the piano” under “Hobbies” of all things, but in his opinion it had been a gross error. Playing the piano should have been listed under “Talents”. What else had been mismarked in her profile he wondered?
He watched her as she examined the paper angel and the way she looked around the room in wonder looking for the person responsible for putting it there. Her eyes looked especially beautiful today and it was no wonder he thought, she was happy inside for the time, in a long time. She needed more of this he smiled thoughtfully.
He began to write more notes in his book. Closing it he watched Ari as she sat quietly brushing her fingers on the piano keys. She quietly hummed a small tune, and then began to play it softly on the piano. He was mesmerized by her hand movements as they bounced up and down over the black and white keys. He stayed and listened to her until she finished. Pulling the cover over the piano keys, she stood up and looked around, then she left the cafeteria. He liked how her hair swung back and forth as she walked away.
Chapter 7
Ari put on her coat and scarf as she prepared to leave Lake View. She was heading for the mall to work a shorter shift at Garland’s tonight. She was grateful for the shorter shift, but all she really wanted to do was go home and snuggle up and watch something dumb on the television or read a good book. She laughed at the latter, since she knew she didn’t have the time to get involved in a good book right now. At least she had the excuse of reading one to Leona.
Sighing, she briskly walked out to her car. Her mom had let her borrow the car today since she would be home taking care of Kaiya, her little sister. Kaiya had been up all night with the stomach flu, which meant her mom had been up all night too. She called the dental office she worked for and told them she wouldn’t be able to come in. This made the car available for Ari to use that day, which was a nice break from riding the bus.