My Father's Universe

by Mitch

  Yesuah lowered his head and folded his hands, “Father, up till now, I was lonely here. Thank you for thinking in eternity past for all creatures great and small to keep me company while I’m here.”

  A meadow lark, mockingbird, and a Nightingale perched on a sturdy limb, “We may not be dressed the best, but we’re offering to sing to you, Yesuah, our very best.”

  Other prideful birds forbid them to sing, “Your trills are terrible. We are the best; there’s no other like us.”

  Several frogs crocked, “Don’t be so critical of everyone,” and offered their services, they would fill in the low notes on the scale.

  As everyone started, their voices rattled, grating low guttural notes, sounding like a moose with a toothache. They didn’t care, they knew Yesuah would not mind, his time on Earth would soon be occupied with His father’s work. A gay black crow songster, impressed with his own brilliance and perched high on a tree, said, “Forget it, I’ll sing to Yesuah, I sing better than anyone here. I’m the greatest, my voice has been trained by great masters. If you will, just keep your beaks shut, I’ll sing as soon as it gets light. I must have my beauty sleep.”

  A fine-looking Hyena began making fun, showing no sympathy for the birds. He was laughing so hard he could not stop. A viper by the name of Gaboon came from beneath a rock, “I am the best, and I can charm anyone with my elegant tongue. No one here or in heaven can sing a song as well as I. My sweet voice lauds the greatest to sleep (forever, he said to himself).”

  Another handsome bird cried, “You are all cuckoo, if I had a mind to, I could outsing you all. Wake me up on the hour, I’ll show you singing at its best.”

  Yesuah broke in, “Let them all sing, if they do not mind, I do not mind!” The birds began with a sour note and a high screech, sounding like cartwheels badly in need of grease. Other animals roared and made fun.

  A redheaded woodpecker perched on a tree said, “Permit me to help, I’ll peck a tune on this hollow tree trunk, it shall be my drum.”

  A cricket chirped up, “I will play my fiddle.”

  His cousin gibbered, “I’m a violinist, let’s tune up.”

  An owl hooted, “I’m not very gifted, if you do not mind, I’ll just hoot!”

  A yellow sparrow tweeted, “I’m only teeny weeny, I’m not afraid to sing the melody if one of you sings the lyrics. So, what’s the big deal, it will help chase boredom away.”

  A whip-poor-will flew to a treetop, wheezing like a base oboe with a warped reed, and screeched, “When I whip up a song to sing, my ears thinks my throat is cut, but I’ll give it my very best.”

  A red breast Robin warbled, “I know it’s not too early for me to sing. Once I get warmed up, look out, I can awaken the dead.”

  A hummingbird hummed, “I’ll start you off with the first note, like this, H’ummm.”

  They all started on the first note; flat was not a good word to describe the sound. A chorus of chuckles echoed around, no one took a bow. The hummingbird flapped his wings and turned his back to them, “Let’s start over please, H’ummm.” As the hummingbird turned, it raised its wings like a symphony conductor raises the baton and held its bill high in the air. The chorus and orchestral accompaniment waiting for the cue, their eyes glued to its long slender bill.

  The forlorn orchestra’s first note harmonized perfectly. Then the little band and choir began in perfect pitch. On the first note, the lady mockingbird walked to the front, no fancy dress, opened her beak wide and sang on her cue. From the first notes, everyone knew she was the greatest magnum with the sweetest arias voice of any there. The meadow lark and nightingale lifted their notes high in the air. The deep voice of the whip-poor-will was the right tone for the baritone. Mister Frog’s bass hit every low note on the scale.

  The wind quieted to a soft breeze to listen to a new sound never heard anywhere! Water in the brook stopped its flow, not missing a single note! Trees all around fell silent to listen, bending boughs low as if for a coronation. Angels above filled the sky with joyous ovations and opened heaven’s pearly gates letting the sound of praises float right in. A lion far away withheld his kingly roar. A great bear listened with care, held up its paw, silence fell everywhere. A wolf stopped its bay, the moon yawned and seemed to say, “I’ll hold off awakening the dawn before it starts a new day.”

  From their little throats, such floods of sweet soft music flowed. When the performance and melodious singing ended, Yesuah, smiling, praised, “Your voices are the loveliest anywhere. I would like an encore please.” The crow butted in; all it could do was give a harsh squawking caw. The hyena laughed at the crow, his laughter turned to eerie wild howls with bouncing echoes. The viper opened its mouth, not a sound came forth above a hiss. The beautiful melodies of the prideful birds twittered madly as if something was about to steal their young out of the nest. For calling all of God’s creatures ‘cuckoo,’ all the handsome bird could do was, “Cuckoo! Cuckoo!”

  A monarch butterfly, on the first note, awakened out of a deep sleep and danced the waltz in mid-air, “I’m not much on words, but I thought it was simply the best. You guys should not condemn anyone trying to do their best!”

  Angel of Light

  Careah and Kedar were having a blast flying low and fast, using their neon lights for navigating their path. Suddenly, for some unknown reason, it got cool, too cool, and both stopped in midair. In front of them, a gruesome gesticulating figure appeared. It was standing just inside of their glowing fluorescent light beams, waving its arms. Its face was in darkness. Careah and Kedar were about to start around when it began to beat with the palm of its hands together. His voice cold and flat, he bellowed, “Hold it!” His voice echoed, sending soundwaves rippling out into eternity then ricocheting off the dead star of doom.

  Looking around with a cocky grin, staring magisterially at them, he flared, “Where do you two think you are going?” His head, now visible, supported a crown of many colors. His features alien, chin pulled back and his forehead furrowed, with the number 666 in the center. The bridge of his nose is narrow in the middle and broader at the end. His bright red eyes are hidden under heavy, flaming red brows that are permanently frowning from concentrating, wholly making people miserable.

  Careah thought she saw madness behind his beady eyes along with a glow of intelligence. Against their flashing lights was what they thought to be an unpleasant, irascible individual who was boasting he was the Angel of Light. He kept his eyes nearly closed, that anyone would see only two slits. At the outer corner of his eyes was a burst of small wrinkles from laughing at humans for being stupid. His lower lip was full with a chin strongly molded into a princely face. His somewhat strong features gave his face a look of gravity or maybe a seriousness of solemnity. Anyone not knowing him would put him in his thirties; he was really older, much older than anyone could guess.

  He’s from eternity past, his memory stretches back eons, long before the Earth was created. He knew every detail, how to do his dirty work. His cavernous voice changed to a lowness of a musical pitch but on the tangential side. A mere hint of irony, a slight pursing of his lips, helps you know what he wants or really means. When he praises looking into your eyes, it’s clear he pretends to be your friend, secretly tries to steal your identity, even wants or demands, at times, to follow and worship him. Beneath the babble talk, there’s a nagging anxiety, why is he here? He is a first-class manipulator. Unflappable, not crazy, but more bloodthirsty than ever. He has taken millions upon millions of humans, destroying whole nations. He has never been convicted of embezzling souls.

  Careah and Kedar had their bows out and arrows in place. Kedar got his attention. “We are not troublemakers, so leave us alone.”

  Careah was the brave one this time. “There’s no need for you to know where we’re going, so why don’t you go back to wherever you came from?”

  He turned his head so quickly his crown flew off, causing his fiery red hair to partially cover his flushed face. He boasted enthusiasti
cally, “Careah, I must say I admire your courage, I can use you in my Kingdom.”

  She snapped, “I…go with you, forget it. Only my friends may call me Careah. And it doesn’t take courage to tell a coward where to go!”

  He blustered, “Who made you a critic? Furthermore, don’t be so critical of strangers you meet! You may be talking to an Angel unawares.”

  Kedar cringed, thinking to himself, “Better strengthen defenses.”

  Careah came back at him, “It doesn’t take long to develop one’s critical abilities talking to something like you.”

  Kedar gulped and whispered, “Let’s get out of here.”

  They didn’t know this Angel of Light had learned a lot of new tricks since he was cast out of heaven. But since Yesuah was close by, the tide had turned. He had to be on guard for the Son of God’s Almighty power. Standing with his hands folded as though in prayer, he asked politely, “Where are you two going?” They ignored his question. He looked down at them, his features creased with a cold look of contempt. His face clouded bloody red, he retorted, “When I speak, I want answers,” he scolded!

  Finally, Careah smiled, “We’re going to a birthday party and I’m sure you will not be welcome.”

  “Whose birthday is it?” he demanded.

  She snapped, “A VIP, that’s who!”

  His face became patches of emaciated burning white. His flesh turned chalky-gray, eyelids nearly hiding deeply shadowed hollow red eyes which burned with hate. The grin on his face was certainly meant to be friendly but was now frozen with hate. “You have dared to defy me, sister!”

  Careah blurted out, “First of all, I’m not your sister, and secondly, we don’t have to talk to you.”

  The Angel of Light cursed inwardly as he barked out his defiance toward her. “Trust me, you will thank me someday for telling me where he is.”

  She glowered at him. “Yeah, sure,” her smile a rigid mask, “I never trust anyone who asks me to trust them!” He was now wearing his jacket of contempt for them. Staring at them with cold red eyes, dripping hypo from the sides of his mouth, he brought his hands together, as if in prayer, saying, “I want to find Yesuah, my long-lost brother.”

  Kedar about cracked up. “That’s a stand-up lie, He is the only Son God has, you idiot!”

  “I was only joking, friend,” he lied.

  “Sure, you were joking, you would poison and kill your own mother as a joke if you had one. One thing for sure, I’m not your friend.”

  “Silence,” he roared. “I think you have said enough.” The creature turned wolfish, sharpened teeth glistened in the aura that was building around him. He puffed up and intoned, “I’m your lord!” His voice fell to a whisper. “Let’s just say that, where I come from, I’m the son of the morning and lord of all in my kingdom. You may call me handsome if you prefer.”

  They cross-examined, “Where is your kingdom?”

  He smirked at their request. “Beyond the heavens, I’m another lord who needs your loyalty and service.”

  Careah had a hard time keeping a straight face. “If you are a jinn, you should know where whoever you seek is?”

  Kedar’s face flushed and he whispered, “What’s a jinn?”

  She informed him, “A supernatural being that can take human form and influence human affairs and thinks he knows everything.”

  Satan began boiling, giving her a burning look. Careah smelled something burning or what he was wearing had been in a fire. Her eyes focused on his face, it was burned, as if exposed to the sun to long. His true colors began to show. He tried with little success hiding his being a tyrant. Then he began to strut on the balls of his feet. His body inclined slightly forward, his rasping voice swollen with his own superiority, his brain was stuffed with a collection of the most astounding obscenities. “You will tell me or I’ll ~`#%^*.”

  “Or you’ll what?” snapped Careah! “It seems, jock-o, as if you have been seduced by your own desires.” She winked in the direction of heaven saying, “That is our destination.” For a few moments, time seemed to stand motionless.

  With piercing glances, the angelic being stepped forward, waxing eloquence about his experiences as a super being from another sphere, exaggerating his own importance for mankind. “I have ESP, do you know what ESP, is?”

  Careah snapped, “Sure, it’s an Evil Satanic Person.”

  His distemper erupted and his next words polluted the environment of the universe with effusion of lies yet unheard of. Kedar remarked, “Should we applaud while you stand ankle deep in hog slime that you’re spreading?”

  He crashed his right fist into his left palm with a smashing blow but quickly recovered his emotions. You could cut the stale air with a knife. Kedar informed the angelic being, “We are here to see Yesuah, the Son of God.”

  “Where is he,” he demanded?

  “We do not know where he is either, and why do you want to know?” replied Kedar.

  Lying through his teeth, he replied, “I want to worship him.”

  “No more questions until we know who you are,” assured Kedar.

  He strutted forward a few steps bragging, “My name is Lucifer the Great.”

  Kedar shook off a vague discomfort and the allusion for a moment that impelled him to ask, “Not the Lucifer?”

  “The one and only,” he said smiling with a touch of boasting in his voice.

  Kedar’s head started buzzing something fearful as his mouth went dry. His eyes confirmed it, but his mind was having a hard time believing. He realized what was standing before him wasn’t a trick of the sunlight or his imagination. Careah reasoned, “If this is Lucifer, he comes from the abyss. He is a monumental egomaniac. His confederates are demons sitting on the dextral side of his throne playing the songs of the living dead over and over. Their tentacles are full of suckers, latching onto any poor sole, pulling them into their lair.”

  She closed her eyes, not wanting to see him or look deep into his red pools of madness. For an unknown reason, she opened them and gazed at him. The white around her blue eyes were nearly red with intensity. The stare was absolutely haunting. If looks could kill, he would be back in the hereafter where he belonged. The mottled camouflage of his umbels began to expand. Letting out a hearty laugh, “I must warn you two, I’m very persuasive.”

  Kedar came back at him. “You evidently have no conception of how persuasive my wife is. There’s no way we will tell you, even if we did know, you would rot in, you know where, before we told.”

  Careah tapped Kedar’s shoulder and both took off. “A bit spooky don’t you think so?”

  A shiver of fear ran through him, “Spooky! It’s worse than having a ghost trying to catch you.”

  She analyzed, “Those penetrating eyes had madness behind them long before time began. I have to keep blinking because my eyes still burn from looking into his shrewd burning eyes. I swear there was flames in his piercing eyes.”

  The road they were following descended into a gray shallow valley. Despite a bunch of puffy clouds hiding the moon, warm muggy air brought a heavy fog hanging low to the ground. The heavy mist displayed a shadow of a weary donkey pulling a heavy cart, its two wheels were as tall as the man walking beside it. A small house with a glazed roof of tile glittered in the moonlight. A farmer and his wife, standing in the doorway, watched the peddler and his clanking cart slowly going out of sight, making an idyllic picture.

  There was not so much as a breath of air stirring. They flew over landscape of rocks and small craters left by animals digging for food. In the hot night air, for some unknown reason, it turned cool, too cool. In the depth of each pothole, the fog settled like thick sour milk, making walking very dangerous at night. Over the horizon to the west, the sky was still full of shadows. Eastward the dawn’s light was hours away. The uncertain half-light from the moon made everything strange and new to them because they had never traveled this way before.

  They pass by a leprosy colony. People with leprosy were moving about at
night, avoiding daylight and eyes of those who were passing by. It began to grow colder, the fog lifted slowly and the hoar frost spread silently over the wet grass. Kedar called for Careah’s attention, it would soon be dawn, they would have to find a place to stay for the day. They found a vacant house, it seemed whoever lived there left in quite a rush. The furniture was of a poor family and covered with dust. Had it been occupied, the house would be clean and neat. They moved in, took the spread off of the bed, and both said, “Sweet dreams.”

  Careah fell asleep before another word was spoken. Kedar thought he heard a heavy voice rasping, “Have a nice day, for tomorrow, who knows what will be.” Then a grating laugh, “Ha, ha, ha,” like a mad person makes. Chills crawled over him.

  He looked at his sweet wife, she was sound asleep. It was dawn as he drifted off to sleep and mumbled, “I wonder why Lucifer wanted to know where Yesuah was?” He dreamed he was courting Careah as a young girl. She was the most beautiful, adorable, gorgeous girl in their hamlet. How he had thought of kidnapping her because her dad would not let her marry him. They eloped prior one year to the day Yesuah was born. It was on their first anniversary that Kedar heard an angel announce Yesuah was born in Bethlehem.