Unexpected Angel

by Patrick McGhee

  People went to rooms with windows and looked out. Trees were swaying in the nearby city park. Flashes of lightning illuminated the darkened sky as bright as a baseball stadium on a summer night. Peals of thunder boomed and cracked through the air. Then came the rain–torrents of it. Gutters and downspouts failed. Sheets of water shot from the roofs of nearby buildings. Foaming liquid jumped out of existing drainage ditches and carved new ones in soft earth. Puddles become ponds and overflowed into basements and underground garages. Storm drains grew slow, then backed up--overwhelmed by the deluge.

  Workers canceled their plans to go out for lunch, even though it was too late to order in. Besides, it wouldn’t be fair to Freddie, the delivery boy from the deli up the street. Sure, he came out in bad weather, but no one was going to ask him to brave this episode. They would make use of the vending machines in the employee kitchen.

  The rain did let up at times, but it always started up again. Wally clicked the desktop weather icon on his computer screen. A red crawler with white lettering screamed for attention, “A flash flood watch has been issued for the southern counties of West Virginia. Be alert for quickly rising waters, especially in low-lying areas along streams. Cities in the watch area include Brockton and Poplar Hill.”

  At the end of the workday, it was still raining, though not as heavily as it had been. Norman fished an old umbrella from the recess between the side of his desk and the wall. He laughed as he opened it. The cloth had torn loose from the frame in two places. It was ripped and frayed. “No use trying to stay dry with this thing. We will just have to make a run for it across the parking lot.”

  Wally chuckled and looked directly at Norman. “Will you still love me when my hair is a mess and I am all wet?”

  Norman gave him a sassy look. “Of course I will. Don’t you remember when I wanted us to make love in the shower? Whew. That turns me on just thinking about it.”

  Wally giggled.

  As they crossed the parking lot, Wally’s hair did become a mess. His jacket and shirt got soaked. The bottoms of his trousers seemed to attract the water from puddles and swished around his legs.

  Norman uttered a whimsical complaint, “Oh my God! I’ve got water between my toes. It’s like I am wearing flip-flops. These shoes are new!”

  Once they were in the car, Norman started the engine. Before he put it in gear, he turned to Wally, “Heavenly days, you’re a mess. But, I might add, a beautiful, sexy mess. Here let me kiss you.”

  Their lips met. Norman’s tongue went exploring. Wally’s mind blew fuses. Norman held on. He breathed heavily. His tongue lingered. His hands went roaming. His appetite for Wally could not be satisfied. Then he pulled back and looked intently into Wally’s eyes reading all the tons of loving thoughts that shone there. He grabbed Wally and kissed him again, a repeat performance. Then, he stopped.

  “My God, Norman! You outdid yourself with that kiss. The energy . . . It’s like you’re getting ready to leave on a trip to Outer Mongolia or something.”

  Norman let out a low chuckle. “Naw. It’s like I really love you, man. And sometimes I have to show you. Never pass up a chance to let someone know how much you love them. You never know what will happen in life.”

  The trip to Poplar Hill was not pleasant. The windshield wipers had to be on high speed. Even then, it was difficult to see. Potholes looked like innocent puddles. There were ponds anywhere the pavement had a little dip. A few drainage ditches had overflowed and run across the road. Norman reduced speed to avoid hydroplaning. Yet, with the inconvenience and discomfort of driving in heavy rain, the commute was uneventful until they were just a few miles from Poplar Hill, at a point where the road was only fifty feet or so above the river. Here, the bank sloped steeply down to the water. The road had a wide shoulder with a flat grassy area next to it. Guardrails had never been installed.

  The rain had slowed somewhat. Wally was peering through the windshield trying to see if the river was near flood stage. The water was high but not near the top of the bank. He noticed a woman, up ahead, standing beside the road. She was waving her arms wildly, looking first at the oncoming traffic, then at something in the river. Her dress was torn and stained with blood.

  “Hey Norman,” yelled Wally. “Let’s see what’s wrong with that lady up there. It looks like there’s been an accident.”

  Norman guided the car onto the shoulder and came to a stop. As he and Wally got out, the lady ran up to them, screaming. “We skidded off the road and went over the bank. My little girl! She’s still in the back of the truck. There’s a flash flood coming down Bent Creek. When it hits the river the water’s going to rise. She’ll drown. Help us! Oh, help us! Please! Save my little Sadie!”

  Norman and Wally looked toward the river. A small pickup truck was at the foot of the bank, lodged in some dense bushes whose tops were barely visible above the water. The front of the truck was submerged. The truck’s rear wheels were raised several feet off the surface of the steep bank. A little girl, about five years old, was in the back of the pickup, holding tightly to the tailgate. The water had risen enough that someone would have to wade almost knee deep to rescue the child. Now and then, a current near the bank would cause the back of the truck to move up a few inches, then drop down quickly. Whenever that happened, the little girl would let out a wild scream.

  “Oh, save my darling little Sadie!” screamed the lady. “She can’t swim.”

  Norman was first down the bank. His shoes were already wet. He didn’t remove them. He rolled up the legs of his slacks and stepped gingerly into the water behind the truck. The bank was very steep at this point, but the ground seemed solid enough under his feet. He approached the stranded girl. When he was close enough to the truck to attempt a rescue, he decided to speak to her and try to calm her fears. “Hey, little girl. Your name is Sadie, isn’t it?”

  Sadie managed a smile and shook her head yes.

  “Well, I’m Norman, and I’m going to try to help you get out of the truck.”

  Norman felt the current near the bank getting stronger. All at once, it jolted the truck. The rear bumper raised nearly half a foot higher. Sadie screamed and started crying. Norman tried lifting his arms up to get Sadie, but he was not able to reach far enough to lift her over the tailgate. One foot slipped in the mud. He regained his balance. He turned his head slightly and shouted to Wally, “Stand at the edge of the water. As soon as I have the girl in my arms, I’ll turn and give her to you. Don’t come out in the water. It’s too treacherous. The ground under the water is getting very slippery.”

  Steadying himself, Norman raised his arms again and stretched his body as much as he could. He called to the child. “Climb over the tailgate, Sadie. I’ll get you down from the truck. Then, I’ll take you over the water and set you on the bank.”

  The child did not hesitate. Norman was her only chance. She climbed over the gate and into his arms.

  Wally yelled, “Hurry, Norman. The water’s rising fast. It’s already lapping at my shoes.”

  Fear surged through Norman’s body. Would they ever make it? He couldn’t let Sadie see how afraid he was. “Hold tight to Uncle Norman, honey. I am getting ready to hand you over to Cousin Wally.”

  Norman made a slow turn. He was facing Wally. He wondered if he should try to take a step up the bank. No, he thought, I’ll slip if I do that. His strong arms held tight to the little girl. He stretched them toward Wally. “Here, Wally, take her!”

  Wally took one step forward. That was enough to get Sadie into his arms. She clung to him and began to sob. “Now, now, child. You’re safe. I am going to set you on the bank, so I can help Norman.”

  Norman tried to climb out of the water. His foot slipped again. This time, he lost his balance. He fell. His head was still above the surface. He grabbed one of the rear wheels of the pickup, hoping he could pull himself back to his feet. The truck careened and made a sickening sound. “My God,” yelled Norman. “What is this, the Titanic or something?” The
rear of the truck swung around, then dipped sharply, turning almost on its side. The bumper snagged the rolled-up leg of Norman’s pants. He couldn’t get loose. He began to scream. The raging current swept Norman and the truck into midstream. Norman was still screaming when the truck flipped over and took him underwater. Though he struggled and pulled with all his strength, he was not able to free himself. The truck came back to the surface about fifty yards downstream. Wally did not see Norman. The truck disappeared again.

  Tears filled Wally’s eyes. He yelled, “Norman, don’t leave me. Oh, God! Please don’t let him drown.”

  Wally started to step into the water. Sadie screamed. Her mother yelled. “No! You’ll drown. You can’t help him.”

  The little girl made her way up the bank and held tightly to her mother’s dress. She screamed and sobbed. “Where’s the nice man, Mommy?” Her mother could not answer.

  Wally slipped and fell several times before he reached the top of the bank. Perhaps he would be able to get a better view of the river and be on the lookout for Norman.

  A deputy sheriff stopped by in his cruiser. He questioned them about the incident. He got Wally’s telephone number and asked about Norman’s next of kin, just in case.

  “I don’t know anything about his family,” said Wally. “He doesn’t talk about them. It’s like he doesn’t even have a family.”

  The deputy looked at Wally. “We have a group of emergency service personnel, in helicopters, who are rescuing folks trapped by the high waters. They will help your friend if they see him. But, the current is too strong to take a boat out there now. We have to wait until the water goes down. I am going to give the lady and her daughter a ride into town. Will you be able to drive yourself?”

  “Let me check to see if Norman left the keys in the car. I’m almost sure he did.”

  Wally found the keys still in the ignition. He put them in his pocket and walked back to the deputy. “I am going to stay here a while. I know my friend will come back. I just know he will.”

  “OK,” said the deputy. “If you need us, dial 911 on your cell phone, and we’ll send somebody back out here.”

  The deputy drove off with the woman and the little girl in his car. Wally sat in the grass at the top of the riverbank. There, he sat and sat, for nearly three hours.

  Surely Norman would pop up out of the river, spewing water from his mouth. Perhaps he’d pull a small fish out of his shirt and laugh heartily as he crawled up the bank and flopped down beside Wally. He would say, “Here I am, old boy. You knew I would be back, didn’t you?”

  It didn’t happen.

  Wally imagined that he heard a motor boat chugging up river. It must be Norman. He’ll have them bring him almost to shore. He’ll scamper up the bank with that great Normanesque smile on his face. He will kiss me and say, “Oh, it’s so good to be back in your arms. I am so glad this is over with.”

  It didn’t happen.

  Wally conjured up a scenario where an army helicopter would fly overheard and lower Norman on a rope. Norman would hold the rope with one hand and salute Wally with the other. “Here I am sir, come to save the day. I love you.” As he neared the ground, Norman would let go of the rope and cling to Wally, telling him how glad he was to see him again. They would embrace each other and kiss.

  It didn’t happen.

  It was getting dark. There was no sign of Norman. Wally went over to the car. He would go home. Norman would be back in the morning, wouldn’t he? As Wally opened the door on the driver’s side, he noticed that Norman’s sports jacket had been placed neatly on the back seat. Norman never did like to drive with a coat or jacket.

  Wally reached over the seat and lifted the jacket with one hand. With the other hand he touched the material, moving his fingers softly across it, just as he would do with Norman himself when they were cuddling. He sniffed out Norman’s cologne and fancied the incredible man standing next to him. He put the jacket on himself and slipped into the driver’s seat. As he sat there slowly moving his hands around the steering wheel, he imagined his beloved Norman gripping the same wheel earlier in the day. Norman would find his way home. They would be happy again. Wally was certain. He started the engine and drove off.

  Chapter 38

  Something odd caught Wally’s eye as he pulled the car into the parking lot at the apartment complex. He noticed a soft amber glow coming from his bedroom window. I must have left the TV on, he thought, as he shut the car door and started down the walk. There was so much jabbering and carrying on, this morning, over what the folks at the office might say about us. My whole world is different. It’s like Norman just waltzed in, blew all my routines to bits, and turned my life upside down. Ah, but isn’t it fun?

  Before he reached the entrance to the building, Wally looked again at the window with the amber glow. He conjectured that it wasn’t exactly like the glow from a TV. He wondered if it shouldn’t be more of a bluish white with reds and greens mixed in? Then he surmised that the light should be pulsating because of the constantly changing scenes on the screen. Well, I guess I will find out when I get up there.

  Wally was alone on the elevator. It was here that the shock began to wear off and the loss began to set in. What if he doesn’t come back? he thought. What if they find his body downstream and I have to go to the morgue? What if they can’t find his family and I have to make the arrangements. Part of me died with Tony. Will the rest of me die with Norman? Wally’s cheeks were wet when the elevator door opened on the third floor. No one was in the corridor. He was thankful for that.

  Wally entered his apartment and closed the door behind him, He walked across the living room and into the short hallway leading to the bedrooms and bath. Sure enough, the glow was still there. Shouldn’t there be sound, if I left the TV on? This place is so quiet I can hear the clock tick. No, wait. There’s a soft humming sound like something electrical. I wonder what it is.

  Wally’s heart began to race. OK, what is going on here? I hope I don’t get mugged when I walk through that door. There is something strange . . .

  The words got caught in his throat as he entered the room and saw the source of the amber glow. He was face to face with Norman, a semi-transparent radiant Norman, dressed in a shimmering amber-colored robe. Norman was standing on the bed. Not a single indentation, or even a wrinkle, was visible on the spread. Norman stretched out his arms and spoke.

  “Don’t be afraid, Wally. I couldn’t just run off and leave you. I convinced them to let me come back and say goodbye.”

  “Them?” said Wally. He quivered. His chin trembled. “Leaving me? What are you talking about?”

  Norman spoke softly, “The folks up yonder. You know, like Heaven.”

  Wally’s voice went up in pitch. “You mean, you’re dead? You’re a ghost?”

  “No. I’m not a ghost. I’m a deputy angel.” Norman seemed proud of this revelation.

  “A what?” asked Wally.

  “A deputy angel. I am not a real angel all the time. Just when they have a job for me to do. I’m also what you might call an angel in training.

  Wally stood in wonderment. He couldn’t talk. He couldn’t cry. He couldn’t even think of another question.

  Norman went on, “They won’t find my body. You see, I’ve been a deputy angel ever since we started working together, and even before that.”

  “Yeah, but you were real. I touched you. You touched me. We . . .”

  “That’s the problem,” interrupted Norman. “They sent me here to do a couple of jobs, and I fell in love with you. They reprimanded me, and I tried so hard to control myself. But I did the big no-no.”

  “What’s that?” quizzed Wally. He was beginning to be more at ease.

  “I made out with you. I made love to you. That’s so . . . so not angelic. They said I had malfunctioned, and they would do a recall on me just as soon as I finished the other job.”

  “What other job?”

  “That little girl in the truck.. She’s going t
o become a scientist. She’ll work with some doctors to discover the cure for Alzheimer’s disease.” Norman bristled, content with a job well done.

  “Well,” asked Wally. “Why didn’t God just prevent the accident or stop the flood?”

  “Oh, he could have done it that way. Easily. However, he wanted the little girl to have a personal encounter that would leave her open to God’s spirit working in her heart. Never doubt God. He knows what he’s doing, even if it does seem kind of round-about or strange.”

  “Was I one of your jobs?” asked Wally.

  “Yes, God knew how devastated you would be when Tony got killed, so he sent me here a few years early to become your friend and learn all about you.”

  “But you seemed so real and I could feel you when we hugged and kissed and . . . “

  ”Listen,” said Norman. “ Heaven wrote the book on virtual reality. They pull it off so well that earth people don’t notice any difference at all. And, the more we get involved with you all, the more we feel it too. That was another problem.”

  Wally giggled.

  “That’s good, Wallykins. You’re turning back into the man I want to remember for eternity. You were supposed to be just another job for me, but I got kind of . . . you know, like involved. Man, you are fantastic. I will never be the same again.”

  “I’m kind of overwhelmed, too. I always thought you were out of this world, but I didn’t know you really were,” said Wally.

  Norman chuckled. “Do you remember the day I blew a kiss to you? Well, here’s another.” Norman puckered his lips and blew the kiss across his hand.

  What Wally felt when the kiss landed upon his cheek was the sensation of Norman’s lips on his skin. “Man alive! That virtual stuff is incredible.”

  “Come over here, “ said Norman. “Let me show you something else. They’ll probably yank me right out of here after this next move.”

  Wally moved toward Norman.

  “Now, don’t touch me,” admonished Norman. “Your hand will go right through me. I am not real flesh. More like a hologram.”