by Gay N. Lewis
Maria nodded. “Carlos and I help him tonight. We keep food going up stairs and elevator.”
“At party times, I wish we had a dumbwaiter.”
Sarah furrowed her brow. A dumbwaiter? Wonder who she meant? Maria and Carlos exuded intelligence, so she didn’t refer to them. So why would Beth employ a senseless server? Didn’t she want someone who knew what to do and how to attend to others? Hmmm. Up in The Heavenlies, residents knew her as a sweet little ding-a-ling who goofed often, but no one called her dumb. Surely Beth wouldn’t call another human being mean names. That would be impolite.
“No need for food elevator. Carlos and I use stairs or people elevator. Good exercise.”
A food elevator? That must be the dumbwaiter Beth referred to. Peculiar language these humans spoke. They certainly invented some strange terminology.
“I hope the elevator works properly again. I wonder why it suddenly decided to operate on its own?”
“Gremlin go for ride. Carlos get it fixed.”
Sarah wrinkled her nose. Why did Maria think gremlins? Couldn’t she say sweet angel instead? Well, she did say hungry angel once.
Beth hugged Maria. “I don’t know what I’d do without you and Carlos.”
“You marry, we move to another place.”
Beth gave her an eye roll. “No way. Whatever changes occur in my life include you and Carlos. We are family.”
By late afternoon, Sarah’s hunger grew by leaps and bounds. With no breakfast and no lunch, her tummy felt glued to her backbone. Too much activity in Beth’s household prevented a taste of the fine goodies Maria made below in that busy kitchen. Maybe a quick jaunt to a local burger joint would refuel her energies.
She donned jeans and a black turtleneck sweater, threw a jacket over the ensemble, and flew to a nearby fast-food place. Her appearance presented no problem once she hid in the space behind the trash dumpster. Looking to heaven, she mouthed the words, Just call me the Clark Kent of the dumpsters. Phone booths don’t exist down here anymore.
As she walked toward the front of the huge metal container, a man jumped back. “Hello. You scared me.”
“Sorry. I do that sometimes.” She pointed to her sneakers. “These shoes don’t make much noise.” The thin man looked slightly worn-down. “Why are you here at the garbage bin?”
“Probably the same as you—looking for something to eat in the trash.”
Sarah knew her eyes widened when she realized the man looked for sustenance. “I’m not scavenging food. I just took a shortcut to get here, and I have money. Would you care to go inside and eat with me? I’ve been a little lonely today, and I’d welcome your company. It’d be my treat.”
The man paused and appeared to think about the offer. “I don’t accept charity.”
“I’m not offering charity. I’m proposing that you come inside and enjoy a hamburger as my guest. I don’t want to eat alone, and I need someone to talk to. I’ve had a sad day. You’d be doing me a favor.”
After rubbing his jaw a few times, the man nodded.
When they arrived at the counter, Sarah glanced up at the man. “Order anything you want.” She then gave her attention to the lady at the computer. “I’ll have a cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate malt.”
The man nodded. “I’ll have the same.”
After Sarah paid the attendant, she led the man to a table.
“My name is Sarah.”
“Glad to meet you. I’m Stanley. You don’t look as though you’ve had a sad day.”
“Appearances can fool a person. Don’t you agree?”
Stanley nodded.
“I was feeling sorry for myself earlier today because I had no friends on Earth to talk to, and then the Lord brought me to you.” She smiled. “I’m blessed.”
“Why don’t you have friends? You seem the approachable sort.”
“I recently arrived here and don’t know many people. My household is in another location.”
“I’m a stranger to these parts too.” He shrugged. “I’m working my way north. I’ve been promised a job in the Sooner State, but I’ve got to get there to take it. Kind of ironic—the Dust Bowl blew my great-grandparents out of Oklahoma and into California, and now I’m going back to live and work.”
“I’ve never been to Oklahoma, but I’ve seen it from above.”
“You do a lot of airplane travel?”
“Yes, I fly often. Do you?”
“Nah.” Stanley nodded and gestured with his hand. “That old green jalopy out there is my ride. I’ve got another hard day’s worth of highway to get me to Moose City, or in my case, a night of driving. I’m heading that way because I hear the number of jobs there is going through the roof.”
“Moose City? Is that the place where the deer and the buffalo roam?”
Stanley frowned. “You mean like in the song, ‘Home on the Range’?”
Sarah nodded. “I like that melody, but I’ve never seen the animals wander around down here in a town. I’ve seen deer in the countryside but never moose or elk.”
Stanley scratched his head. “No, I doubt you’ll find any large animals roaming in free range where I’m going. Maybe there were elk or moose in the area once, and that’s how the city got its name. Don’t know about that. The area sits above the Anadarko Basin.”
“Seems a long way to travel just to wash your hands in a sink.”
“Huh?” Stanley’s eyebrows jolted up.
“There’s washbasins and sinks in just about every city.” Sarah nodded toward the restrooms. “This eatery has them back there.”
Stanley chewed his lower lip and appeared he wanted to laugh. “The Anadarko Basin is the geological name given to the region, and it’s famous for natural gas reserves. Lots of development in oil drilling up that way, and I’ll be working in field services.”
“Oh. I don’t know much about that.”
“Yeah, I figured as much. What do you do?”
“Like you, I go where there is work. So far, my Superiors have sent me only to Houston. I help people find a mate.”
“So you work for one of those internet dating services?”
“Well, in a sense you could say that. My employer is the Master of the universe.”
Stanley frowned and appeared ready to ask another question when a server delivered the food.
“Do you mind if I say grace?”
“Please do.” Stanley bowed his head and waited.
“Lord, thank You for bringing Stanley to my table today, and please help him find his way. Bless this food. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Each of them bit into a burger and remained quiet while they savored their food.
“This is good. My little bit of cash goes to buy gas, and I was really hungry. Today was the second time in my life I’d hunted for food in the trash. I found breakfast in a garbage bin yesterday and haven’t eaten since. I hope never to need to go through a dumpster again, but when a person doesn’t have money, he does what is necessary.”
“I know what you mean. I’ve caused a few calamities in my endeavors to satisfy my hunger. I once slipped into a kitchen and scarfed a bite of lamb chop. I scared the poor waiter to death when he realized someone or something had eaten part of the food he was about to serve. He feared trouble from his boss. And then later, in my effort to avoid the temptation of cake, I caused the same guy to fall face-down in that same sweet, vanilla, three-layer concoction.”
Stanley laughed. “Sounds like you are an accident waiting to happen.”
“Yes, I sort of have that reputation. It’s one of the reasons I grow sad from time to time. When you find Oklahoma, do you have a place to stay?”
“I’ll sleep in my car until I get my first paycheck. My boss said he’ll advance me a week’s salary. That will be ample for food and enough to go toward a deposit on an apartment. After I get my pay, I’m hoping I can find one in short order.”
“God will direct you. I’ll pray for you.”
“I appreciate
that. When I finish this meal, I’m back on the road. I should be in Moose City by early morning.”
“May I buy a sack of food for you to take along? I know you’ll be hungry before morning.”
“Oh, no, ma’am, I can’t let you do that, but I appreciate this feast.”
“Listen, Stanley, other people have helped me with food. Sometimes they knew about it, and sometimes they didn’t. Please don’t deny me the opportunity to send a meal with you. I know what it’s like to be hungry.”
Stanley stared at her for a few minutes and then nodded.
Sarah trotted to the counter and stared up at the menu. Hmmm…what to order that wouldn’t grow too soggy?
“Please give me a double order of chicken nuggets, a salad, a large container of soup, and please put in extra crackers along with those little tubs of peanut butter. Oh! And I’ll need two bottles of water and plastic utensils with plenty of napkins for this to-go order.”
When she rejoined Stanley, she sat down to finish a few fries.
“If you will give me your address, I can send you money to reimburse you for this food.”
Sarah grinned. “It would cost you too much to send me a letter. I live too far away.” She patted Stanley’s hand. “You did me a favor by sitting here and visiting with me. I usually eat alone.”
The server brought the large sack of food to Sarah. She in turn handed it to Stanley.
He scooted out of the booth. “I enjoyed our visit, and maybe soon you’ll have lots of friends here in Houston.”
Sarah stood and gave him a hug. “God go with you, Stanley.”
“Can I give you a ride on my way out?”
“No, thank you. I have some things to do close by.”
Stanley stared at her a few minutes. “You are an amazing person, Sarah. I’ll never forget you.”
“Nor I you, Stanley.”
Sarah stood at the window and watched Stanley get into his car. He turned and waved to her as he drove away.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
With a joyful heart, Sarah returned to Beth’s home and plopped down on the roof. The respite with Stanley provided welcome relief to her earlier mood. Now to check on how the party for Bryan progressed. Hmmm, everything down there looked ready for guests.
When the sky grew dark and the stars twinkled above, Carlos turned on all the miniature lights on the house and yard below. Each tiny one sparkled. Great night for a party.
As the evening wore on, the temperature dropped, and Sarah wrapped her favorite cloak about her. If needed, she could touch her wrist and adjust her body temperature. The food below smelled wonderful, and the platters on the table looked scrumptious. No hunger yet after that large lunch, but if her appetite returned, she might sneak down for a bite. In a crowd of people, surely no one would notice a missing shrimp or two, or would they?
Cars began to arrive. The valet Beth hired for the occasion relieved the revelers of their need to park. That Beth thought of everything.
A valet gave his hand to a tall female. The woman, dressed in a beautiful long, black, strapless gown, exited the car. Sarah peered closer. My stars! Tall Gwen, Shorty Sheila’s friend. Obviously the lady knew how to dress. Sparkly earrings almost brushed her shoulders, and with no other jewelry, the earrings drew one’s attention to Gwen’s lovely face. Good job, Gwen. Sarah silently applauded.
Beth opened the door with Bryan at her side and greeted Gwen. And take a gander at Beth. Dressed in a red velvet gown, that lady would cause a few hearts to flutter. Wonder if the diamonds and rubies at her throat and ears could be real? Rather than use super-vision, Sarah picked up binoculars for a closer look. Yep, real all right. And certain enough, Bryan looked super-handsome in a classy tux. This guy knew good clothes when he saw them on a hanger. Sarah shrugged. One thing for sure, these two made an attractive couple as they greeted guests.
She again focused on the visitors.
Oh, good. Beth’s son just pulled up. Sarah stared at the tall, handsome young man. Dressed in shorts and tank top, the dude would dazzle a room, but in a tuxedo? My, oh, my. Females, prepare for a treat.
Glad the dude respected his mother and came at her invitation. One of the Ten Commandments in God’s Holy Word told humans to honor their father and mother, and if they did, they would have long life on this planet. Beth wanted his advice about Bryan, and Gary evidently judged character well. Wonder what he might think of Bryan?
Uh-oh. Shorty Sheila arrived wearing a red dress covered in sequins. Oh, yeah, that’s the garb she described to Bryan back in his office. How could she walk in that short, tight skirt? And those six-inch heels? Hmmm, cute shoes, but with that outfit? Too over the top to be in good taste or classy—and Sheila knew fashion, so this outfit didn’t fit the mold. Wonder who or what she could be after? Beth’s money, probably.
Well, this added an extra dimension to the evening. Better go inside for a closer look. She miniaturized into the corner.
“Beth, I want you to meet the star seller in my firm. This woman sells more homes than all of us put together. Sheila Simpson, this is Beth Marsh.”
“I’ve heard a lot of good things about you, Mrs. Marsh. It’s super-nice of you to allow us to have our Christmas party here. Your house is lovely.”
“Thank you, Sheila, and this is my son, Gary.” Gary, a head and shoulders taller than Beth, stood to the side and just behind his mother. Beth propelled him forward.
His eyes roamed over Sheila. “Happy to meet you. Nice outfit.”
“Thanks.” She offered her hand, and he politely shook it. “I’m pleased to meet you too.” She cocked her head. “Do you really like my dress?”
“What man wouldn’t?”
Sheila giggled. “I shopped all over Houston for it.”
Beth’s eyes narrowed slightly as she observed the conversation between her son and the latest guest, but the smile she gave showed warmth. “Gary, more guests are arriving. Would you take Sheila to the ballroom and play host up there for me?”
“Be happy to, Mom. Right this way, Sheila.” He extended his arm, and Sheila took it.
“Harrumph.” Sarah allowed her disgust to escape in a soft whisper and followed the duo into the elevator. One good thing from Beth’s expression—it appeared she saw through this female. Men, on the other hand? Well, they generally didn’t. A voluptuous woman captured a man’s yearning more often than not.
“Your entire home is gorgeous, dressed in this holiday grandeur.”
“Thanks, and yes, Mom does a great job with the decorations. She loves Christmas.”
“You must get lost in this huge house. I’ve never ridden in an elevator built inside a home before.”
“Dad had it installed to save steps. I guess he was afraid some guests might not want to climb three flights of stairs to the ballroom.”
“I wouldn’t want to attempt it in this dress.” She hiked her leg as if about to take a step up. “My goodness, when I raise my leg, the dress shows more of my thigh.”
“Gorgeous legs should be shown.”
“Why, thank you, sir. I may be short, but my legs are long.” Sheila batted her eyes up at Gary.
Sarah made a retching sound.
“What was that?” The wicked seductress looked about the small cubicle.
“Don’t know. Just the elevator, I guess. Mom said there had been some trouble with it, but Carlos had it fixed.”
Sheila grabbed Gary’s arm and scooted closer to him. “Ooh. Getting stuck in an elevator scares me.”
“No worries. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
When the doors opened, Sarah followed the couple into the ballroom as Sheila continued to cling to Gary.
“Are you hungry?” Gary led Sheila to a table. “Lots of good-looking food here.”
Sheila picked up a clear glass plate and handed it to Gary and then selected one for herself. “I love caviar, don’t you?”
“Not really, but there’s plenty of it here.” He moved down the table and selected
roast beef and cheese biscuits. “This is more my style.”
Shrimp, caviar, and crackers went onto Sheila’s plate. “Would you like to sit at that little table over there by the tree?” She indicated the spot with her head.
More people entered, but Sheila managed to keep Gary at her side.
Sarah fumed. So much for helping Beth with host duties up here, bub. Why didn’t he see through that scheming female? The woman sat there with her dress hiked way too high. Hmmm. Each table sported a white cloth and linen napkins. Maybe she could cover Sheila’s legs.
She zipped to their table and gently placed a napkin over Sheila’s lap.
“How did that get there? I already had one.” Sheila picked up the napkin to expose her thighs again.
“Maybe it fell from the table.” Gary’s eyes traveled Sheila’s limbs.
“I suppose so.” She uncrossed her legs and then crossed them again.
Sarah gritted her teeth. That woman performed that little act on purpose. Gary can’t keep his eyes off her.
With a rumble of thunder, she heard Mother Goodness. “Sarah, please step outside and join me for a chat.”
“Oh, my stars! What have I done this time?” Sarah muttered, but in the noisy room, no one heard her. Misting through the roof, she joined her mentor on the uppermost gable.
“Am I in trouble?”
“No, child. Why do you always think that?”
“Force of habit, I guess. I know I should never assume I’m in trouble with any of you, but it’s constantly on my mind.”
“I understand your insecurities. We all have them. From time to time, each of us needs correction and guidance. You aren’t in trouble. The Commander sent me here to give you a reminder. You did not come to Earth to help Gary. You are here to assist Beth.”
Sarah cleared her throat. “But that woman has ugly intentions.”
“Yes, she does, but her plans for Gary aren’t your concern at the moment. Perhaps the Commander will assign the young man to you later, but right now, he must make a few choices without your interference.”
“She wants to seduce Gary. I was only trying to prevent it.”