by J Moon
“Nothing,” Nia responded, as she placed a hand on Zora’s shoulder, forming a circle amongst herself and Langston.
As Dr. Miracle continued working, Nia turned to the others. “Listen, we have to do whatever to get Gabriel healed. He’s an angel so I’m sure he can do whatever to help doctor quack over there somehow, but first he needs help.”
Langston was unsure. “Yes, but he expects Gabe to cure him of his disease.”
“Well….” Nia started with a frown. “I guess we gotta have faith.” The words came out so casually out of her mouth that Nia hadn’t noticed, just how her time with the archangel was truly changing her.
Dr. Miracle patted the balm on Gabriel's wounds. There was a burning sensation right at the spot where his wing was ripped out that made the archangel cry out in agonizing pain.
His groan was as loud and ferocious as a battle cry, the sound made Zora jump back. As he winced in agonizing pain, the archangel flipped over on his back, and in a flash he was off the couch. He turned over and got down on both knees as he coughed and heaved. It was a terrible cough that caused Nia to cover her mouth, and made Zora snatch up Dr. Miracle.
“What did you do to him?” Zora shouted as she jacked the doctor up, anger gave her the strength to push him against the wall. Dr. Miracle was aghast with his arms flailing about. “What’s happening?” Zora barked.
“I don’t know. The balm should work,” He offered.
Gabe kept coughing until one lone bee came buzzing out, dripping with his silver essence. It zipped right out of his mouth and buzzed right over to the nightstand by the window.
He coughed again and out came two more.
The archangel could feel life coming back to him so he coughed and heaved more. At first they trickled out in swarming clumps. Incessant buzzing filled the apartment as bees teemed in the archangel’s chest, again he continued coughing and heaving. Soon a buzzing swarm of bees came flying out of the archangel’s mouth.
“Open the window and let them out!” Nia ordered to Langston.
Langston did as told, and ran over to the window leading to the fire escape. In a brilliant formation, the bees flew out in a massive swarm, and once they were out into the night sky, the swarm illuminated the moonless night like fireworks.
Majestic colors of gold and silver dazzled right outside the apartment and hung in the night’s sky to behold by all of Harlem.
An older woman hanging clothes on her fire escape heard the buzzing, turned her head upwards, and her jaw dropped open as she stared in awe.
Down below on the street, a Latino man who was chasing two kids with handfuls of candy, stopped and peered up. More and more windows opened as others looked into the night sky. Then like rose petals the dazzling lights from the bees faded out, and they fell one by one to the street below.
Back inside Gabe jumped back on his feet, “Well do Jesus I sure feel a lot better.” He said with a clap of his hands.
Zora raised her hands to the ceiling, “Thank God.”
Nia wasted no time wrapping her arms around the archangel. “Oh my god I was so worried.”
Gabe squeezed her back. He buried his nose in her hair and for once he noticed how good she smelt. “I told you before…” he started before he caught her gaze and lingered. “Have a little faith,” he said with his voice dropping an octave and becoming sultry.
Josephine came walking in the open door. “Hey loves. What did I miss?”
“Nothing short of a miracle,” Dr. Miracle stated. “I cured the archangel of his ailment, and now it’s time I receive payment for a job well done.”
Gabe grabbed the doctor by the hand and pulled him into a tight bear hug. “I don’t think there is any amount of money I could give you to thank you enough for what you’ve done for me doc.”
Dr. Miracle looked very smugly at the archangel, “You’re right. That’s why I want you to bless me.”
Gabe smiled at him and gave him a pat on the back. “Consider yourself blessed then.” Casually he walked past the doctor. “So now back to retrieving this staff,” Gabe started as he tilted his head slightly, pondering to himself.
“That’s it?” Dr. Miracle asked.
Gabe looked back, “Yup.”
Dr. Miracle touched himself. “I don’t feel blessed.” Then he peered down at his hands. “And I don’t look it either. Are you scoundrels trying to cheat me? I spent a lot of money on those ingredients.”
“Hey calm down doc,” Gabe said in a warm tone with his hand on Dr. Miracle’s shoulder. “Nobody is trying to cheat you. The best thing for your blessing is this right here,” he said as he pointed to the doctor’s heart. “Your faith. If you don’t have any faith, then surely your blessing is as good as a dead. We thank you for your services. Now it’s time you be on your way.” The archangel ended his statement with a nod of his head, which was code that it was time for the doctor to leave.
Dr. Miracle looked at the archangel for a very long time. Then he grabbed his hat, packed up his bag and went on his way.
Gabe looked over at Josephine who was beaming. “Tell me you got some good news Jose.”
“I do,” she said as beamed brighter than the sun. “I have a way in for us. I booked the gig. I’m going to be dancing tonight, and honey chile I can’t wait, we got this fabulous negro band that’s going to play. Lead by a nice fellow named Duke Ellington.”
Gabriel and Nia both smiled at each other.
“Sounds like a party to me!” Gabe retorted.
Gabe produced his smartwatch. “We need to be there before nine so I reckon we get ready now.” He activated it and a red beam illuminated as he swept the arc of the beam around.
Nia was excited to go but then she realized, “Wait I don’t have nothing to wear.”
“I got a nice dress that would be perfect for you?” Zora spoke up.
“And by the time I’m done styling your hair all of those rich white men will be hollering watch out here comes the classy and sassy Ms. Carter.”
Langston nodded his head, “I don’t have to come do I? I hate that establishment. They have no problem using black talent but we can’t walk in the front door.”
Zora folded her arms, “No one is making you come Langston, but based on what the archangel told me. If that demon gets his hands on the staff then we going to have a bigger problem on our hands than negroes missing from the street or being welcomed in through the front door.”
Langston thought for a moment then said, “I’ll guess that won’t sit well with me either.” He looked down and then swallowed his pride. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
“Alright!” Josephine said as she smacked his arm. “This is my chance guys. Finally, I’m going to make a splash over here. Watch out New York because Josephine is back and she plans on taking over.” She said as she looked out to the stars. “I can see it now; it’s going to be fantastic.” Then suddenly her hips got to moving as if she heard music. “Dance with me,” she said as she grabbed Nia.
“Come on, and dance with me,” She repeated as she pulled Nia to the middle of the living room. Together the two of them danced, with the arms flailing and hips gyrating.
“Alright let’s get this party started.” Langston said before he dashed over to the record player. Immediately he knew which record to play.
He blew the smoke off Muskrat ramble by Louis Armstrong’s hot five. Then he placed the record on the player, set the dial, cranked the lever and glorious jazz filled the apartment.
Inwardly Gabe wanted to moan but all he could do is smile as he watched them all so joyous. It was moments like this that made him appreciate being on this earth.
Langston went over to Zora, “May I have this dance?”
Zora rolled her eyes, and then a smile crept into her face as she leapt from the wall
In between a fit of laughter, Josephine grabbed both of Nia’s cheeks a planted a kiss squarely on her lips. The action caught her so off guard she didn’t know whether to be upset o
r shocked. “She kissed me!” Nia squealed as she clutched her chest.
“Because I love you honey.” Josephine said as she wrapped her arms around her. “And don’t you worry I’m gone fix you up mighty fine for tonight.” Josephine sprinted over to the door to grab her bags, “Now come on let’s get moving!”
Gabe wrapped his arms around Langston, “Right let’s shake a leg everybody. We have a party to crash.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Hurry it up now will ya!” Gabe shouted around the corner as he tied his bowtie.
The archangel looked over at himself in the mirror. He always admired himself in a sharp blazer or in a stunning tuxedo, and for some reason or another, he thought bow ties were cool. These were the small details he liked about being on Earth and walking amongst the people. “Mighty dapper if I say so myself,” he said out loud, grinning. Gabe leaned around the corner, “I am about to hop in The Ark any minute now.”
“Just hold on!” Zora shouted around the corner.
Grabe snorted. “Josephine left thirty minutes ago. I thought you all would be ready by now.”
From the corner of his eyes, the archangel spotted Langston creeping on his shoulder. He looked him up and down and gave the poet a thumbs up. “You look clean as a whistle.”
Langston was dressed down to the nines in a silk tie, good shirt, crisp slacks, slightly tight jacket that had been well made and tailored for his size, all paired with freshly shined oxford loafers. He was what the locals would call, sharp as a tack.
“Thanks. Are the girls ready?”
“No. This is why I don’t involve mortals in my missions.” Then he turned to the corner. “I’m about to go hop in The Ark.”
“Pipe down why don’t cha,” Zora snarled as she rounded the corner, with Nia behind.
Zora fiddled at Nia’s dress. “Come on archangel. What do you think about your friend now?”
Gabe glanced over his shoulder and there she was. Nia appeared from around the corner, and it took the archangel several seconds to take her in, brown arms, a beautiful painted face with honey brown eyes, glossy lips, a sparkling silver dress, with matching gloves, chic head piece, and a bell of shimmering raven hair down to her shoulders.
Everyone else looked at her, and gasped at her beauty. Soon after the initial gasp came silence. She twirled for her audience, and there was a moment the archangel’s heart sank.
The remarkable girl was gorgeous, and she was going to make the archangel’s battle to hold onto his grace a tough one.
Gabe’s eyes widened, “Ms. Carter aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.”
Nia blushed. “Oh this is just something slight,” she said sarcastically.
After glancing over the archangel she fiddled with his tie. She’d done this a million times for her dad, especially after she became the woman of the house.
Following her mom’s death, Pops had started to let himself go without her mom setting out his clothes every night before work, and looking him over every time he walked out of the door.
Gabe shooed her away as she tried to adjust his tie. “Stop it, I like my bowtie messy.”
“You don’t have to do all of that. I’m trying to help you out.”
“Don’t,” He insisted with a stern face. “That’s my swagger.”
She looked at the archangel and almost spat on herself in laughter. “Please don’t say that. You sound mad corny.”
“Far from it. I’m cool,” The archangel said confidently. “I’ve had drinks in Vegas with Sinatra. Walked the streets of Hollywood with James Dean. Stood side by side in protest with Sidney Poitier. I’ve even kicked it backstage with Puff Daddy.”
Nia’s eyes lit up. “Was Biggie there?”
“Yup. Lil Kim and the whole family too. Unfortunately, Madison Square Garden was getting attacked by Gwalademons.”
“Wait this happened in the nineties. I never heard about that.”
“And you never will The Virtues take care of that. Public spectacles like that throw off the whole faith experience.” Gabe said then he paused. The archangel looked at himself again in the mirror.
“Vanity is a sin. You know that right?”
Gabe nodded along, “Yeah… yeah so are we ready?”
“I’ve been ready for the last twenty minutes,” Langston said with a nauseated glare.
“You know I have to take my time to get dressed, but we’re ready now Gabe.”
Gabriel looked over to Zora. “ And Ms. Hurston you always manage to clean up quite nicely.”
She wore an elegant cream colored gown that was adorned with floral designs embedded around the waist and shoulder, with a snazzy hat that matched. Finished by a statement making pearl necklace, and vibrant red lip.
Zora cackled. “Why thank you my dear angel.” She pointed to her purse. “I remembered what happened last time, so I brought my pistol with me just in case.”
“ And on that note, I’ll we are finally ready.” Nia retorted.
Zora grabbed her fur trimmed coat and looked over her shoulder, “Let’s go.”
Soon after, they all piled into The Ark and motored over to the Cotton Club. Nia rode shotgun while Langston, and Zora crammed into the back. Traffic was moving slowly as all the people of Harlem began to head out for the night. Around twenty minutes later, Gabe pulled The Ark right outside the main entrance of the Cotton Club, just off of Main Avenue. As she stepped out, Nia straightened her dress, checked her hair, wiped the dust off her heels, and walked under a tent to the entrance. They walked to the door, and was stopped by a very tall square shaped looking man. He reminded Nia of Frankenstein with his broad stiff shoulders.
“No Coloreds,” He said with an attitude.
Zora walked in front of the group. “Excuse me, but we’re friends of Ms. Baker, one of the main performers for the night.”
“Well, you should know better then. This is a white only entrance. If you are part of entertainment or help, then you have to go around back.”
Zora folded her arms. “Well excuse me then.”
“Around back?” Nia piped up.
Frankenstein lifted his chain. “Yes around back. What don’t you understand?”
Gabe rubbed Nia’s shoulder, “It’s alright we’ll go around back.” He pulled Nia away from the door “Thanks buddy!”
Nia felt anger begin to build inside. Her acid tongue begged to be set free. “I don’t know how you guys make it around here. I cannot with these racist assholes.”
“Cheer up, Ms. Carter. I’m sure somewhere he is probably a good man… he just doesn’t know any better. He’s doing what he’s been told. Racism is a double-edged sword that doesn’t just affect the oppressed but the oppressor as well.”
“Well tell that to all of my ancestors then.”
Gabriel rubbed Nia’s shoulder. “There, there pay it no mind. Come along let’s find another way in.”
“Psst.”
Gabe turned his head, “Who’s there?”
A younger gentleman, a few years younger than Langston, peered from around the corner. He was tall, meek-looking and rather thin. “Are you, Gabe?”
Gabe raised an eyebrow. “Yes. Who’s asking?”
“Josephine sent me to come get you. Follow me,” He said as he crept around back.
Gabe turned to the others, “Come along then.”
Zora shot a suspicious stare at Nia, almost asking who the hell is this. Nia hadn’t a clue. This whole journey she had been going with the flow so with a shrug she followed, as well as Zora and Langston.
Together they all followed the rather strange boy who walked with a limp around the corner and to the back entrance.
Gabe examined the boy closely from behind. Over the many years he had become a good judge of people, especially of men and their souls.
While the others behind were a bit suspicious, he sensed a goodness in the boy, that made him at ease. Not only did he sensed a good heart within the boy, he sensed a pure soul, one that was like go
ld in comparison to many of the other men he came across in the city, and for that archangel felt a tinge of worry for him. For he knew more than the limp, that the forces of evil would do their best to make his life hell, to tarnish that gold, and taint that pure soul.
The strange young boy with big lips turned to Gabe, “My name is Rahlo.”
Gabe shook Rahlo’s hand. Then introduced himself and the others by pointing, “Nice to meet you Rahlo. I’m Gabe, this is Nia, and behind me are my friends Zora and Langston.”
“Oh I sho’ know who Mr. Langston is. Everybody knows about the party book. All the way down to Mississippi.”
Langston smiled to himself. “Thank you Rahlo. I appreciate that.”
Nia turned to Langston, “Party book? What the hell is the party book?”
Langston smiled reluctantly then leaned in her ear. “My new book the Weary Blues. I recently found out that many people quote lines at rent parties from my book, so much so that they’ve begun to call it the party book.” Langston smiled. “Thanks for the love brother.”
“No problem boss man. Follow me I’m going to take you around back, through the side entrance and backstage to Ms. Zora. She has a nice table for you guys.”
“Aye that’s more like it,” Nia smiled as she linked arms with Gabriel.
Gabe looked over and flashed her another of his dazzling smiles, “Shall we.”
“We shall,” Nia responded with her hazel eyes now burning with a spark of animation.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Rahlo led them through a plainly marked back door entrance. Together in a tight line they maneuvered their way through a very loud kitchen all full of black workers. Rahlo couldn’t help himself but to sneak glances of Shanice along the way. He grinned like a schoolboy from ear to ear.
Intoxicating smells of delicious fried chicken, Cajun gumbo, and other southern delicacies permeated the pathway from the back down and beyond.
Though they were only passing through a brief moment, the smell alone was strong enough to make all of their stomachs lurch, even the archangel.