Wings of Eagles

by Annabelle Garcia

  “We have to go talk to Sister Jessie and then we will be right back. Don’t go anywhere!” Debby and Karen hurried over to where the lady who had brought me the coat was standing.

  “I’m always glad to see a new face.” I turned to see the woman who made the announcements standing next to me.

  “Oh, hi.” I wasn’t used to people voluntarily coming near me. Most of the time it was quite the opposite.

  “I hope you will be back on Wednesday.” She shook my hand and hurried off to greet other visitors. I stood near the bench for a moment, shifting my weight from one foot to the other before coming to the conclusion that it would be better if I just snuck out without saying anything. I knew they were just wanting to say good bye to be polite.

  “Whoa there! Where are you off to?” My escape was cut short by E-Z.

  “I’ve gotta get going.” I mumbled as I tried to duck around him.

  “No way, soggy. You are coming with me.” He hooked his arm into mine and dragged me along, easily, back through the winding hall to the coffee area.

  “Adira!” I turned quickly in the direction of the voice calling my name. It was the smiling man, the pastor. How did he know my name?

  “Um, hi.”

  “I am so glad you joined us today. Come and join us for lunch.” I looked to E-Z for help.

  “Yeah, Adira. I was just telling pastor about you and he reminded me; today we have special lunch for visitors and new members. Come on, Karen and Debby will be waiting for us. See you inside, Pastor.” E-Z grinned as he led me to the large meeting room.

  Karen and Debby waved us over to a table near the front of the room and I was surrounded immediately by smiling church members; shaking my hand, and hugging me. It was overwhelming and I began to hyperventilate.

  “E-Z, catch her-” The room was spinning, I was swaying and E-Z swung into action. I felt myself falling but before I hit the floor E-Z managed to catch me.

  “Let’s get you over to a chair. Karen, why don’t you and Debby get her some food and something to drink, I’ll fend off everyone.” He carried me over to the closest table and gently lowered me into a chair.

  “Wow E-Z, I guess women really do fall for you easily.” I heard someone say.

  “What can I say, Mike, when you got it, you got it.” The guys were laughing and I was just starting to see clearly again.

  “Who’s the girl?” I looked up to see a statuesque redhead with striking green eyes smiling down at me.

  “Hey, Cat. This is Adira. Adira, this is Catherine but we all call her Cat.” I could see why, her stunning green eyes gave her a very cat like look.

  “Nice to meet you, Adira.” It might have been my imagination, but I was positive I heard her purr. I shook my head, as if it would somehow clear the thoughts.

  “Nice to meet you too, Cat.” I smiled.

  “I’m gonna see what’s taking the girls so long. I’ll be right back.” E-Z took off toward the serving line.

  I smiled at Cat once again. Her eyes narrowed and she leaned close to my face.

  “Let me make something clear to you, Ah-deer-ah.” Her eyes were now icy and her voice sharp. “E-Z is mine, back off and don’t even get any ideas. Karen and Debby are my best friends and the only reason they are being nice is because they feel sorry for you. They don’t have any use for some homeless freak like you. So my suggestion to you is this; just go on and leave before anyone gets back. They won’t miss you anyway.” Her emerald eyes flashed and she grinned a cold calculated smile. Even where everyone was supposed to be accepted I was still a reject.

  “But-”

  “Perhaps I’ve not made myself clear. Leave now.” She hissed at me.

  I grabbed my knapsack and slipped out the side door. I felt a sense of loss as I walked away from the building. It wasn’t just because of the shelter, I’d felt something there I hadn’t felt in a long time. For just a moment I’d felt like I belonged. These people who didn’t know me at all had taken me in as one of their own; and then I met Cat.

  I wasn’t sure why she’d turned on me. I wasn’t after E-Z; I didn’t even know him or Karen and Debby. They had taken me in, sure it was probably out of pity, but they had been kind.

  Fortunately for me, the weather cleared up soon after I left; much like the clouds rolling away and letting the warmth of the sun warm my body, going to that church had let me feel a warmth in my heart until I thought of Debby, Karen, E-Z, and Cat laughing at me, the poor homeless freak. I wasn’t going to let them laugh at me again. I’d go back to the church, but I wouldn’t let them see me again. There were enough people there where I’d get lost in the crowds.

  

  CHAPTER 6

  

  Monday and Tuesday were spent wandering near the church in hopes of seeing cars in the parking lot like I’d seen on Sunday, but there were only a few cars, so I didn’t even go near. I felt disappointment wash over me because I’d have to wait until the weekend to feel the warm feeling again.

  It was Wednesday afternoon and I’d found some change in the street so I wandered into a burger place near the church. There is something to be said for dollar menus.

  “Soggy! What’s up?” It was E-Z from the church.

  “I thought I saw someone I knew, but I was wrong.” I said hurriedly as I turned to make my escape.

  “Adira!” I’d walked right into Debby and Karen. “We were looking for you after church on Sunday, where did you go?” They each held a tray filled with delicious smelling food. My stomach was rumbling.

  “I had to go.” I glanced at the exit trying to figure out how to get out without causing a scene.

  “Why don’t you get your food and come join us!” Debby said excitedly.

  “I was just telling E-Z, I came in because I thought I saw someone I knew, but I was wrong. So I was leaving. But I’ll see you guys around.” I tried once again to leave.

  “Lunch is on me!” Karen set her tray down and linked her arm through mine. “Come on, anything you want.” Once again I found myself being dragged by a virtual stranger and on the receiving end of an act of kindness.

  “You don’t have to do this.” I muttered as we walked to the counter.

  “Oh I know. I wanna do this! That way we can sit down and talk!” I hesitated.

  “I’m not very hungry.” I said weakly and Karen frowned at me.

  “I know you are.” She whispered to me. “Now please, order whatever you like or I will order one of everything.” She crossed her arms and grinned. I wasn’t sure if she was crazy enough to do it so I placed my order and while we waited she began to ask me questions.

  “So did you enjoy our church service?”

  “Yeah, I guess so. I honestly don’t remember a lot of the second part.”

  “Yeah, we saw you were a little bit tired and we decided to let you sleep.” I shuffled my feet and looked anywhere but at Karen. I felt like an oddity.

  “I was just up late the night before.” I wasn’t lying but I also knew I wasn’t fooling anyone. It was obvious I was homeless, I was still wearing the clothes from Sunday. I’d kept them as clean as possible, still three days wear was obvious.

  “Yeah, I’ll bet. Do you mind if I ask you a question?” she seemed as uncomfortable as I felt.

  “Sure.” What could she ask me that would be so bad?

  “When Pastor Sandra said you had been … well, run off from the store and a church, did that really happen? I mean don’t get me wrong, I’m not calling her a liar or anything, it is just beyond me to believe something like that could happen.” Her eyes were wide with expectation and disbelief.

  “It did.” Those two words hung in the air and neither of us knew what to say.

  “Order 3-1-6!” Karen looked at her receipt.

  “That’s us!” We picked up the tray and joined the others already eating.

  “Over here, Soggy! You can sit next to me.” E-Z scooted over toward the wall.

  “E-Z, she has a name!” Debby s
napped at him.

  “I know.” He grimaced. “She doesn’t mind though. Do you, Adira.” I shook my head, not knowing what else to do.

  “Sorry, Adira, but it looks like you will have to sit next to him. You are the only one of us small enough to fit next to him!” He glared at her. Truth was my underfed and naturally petite frame easily fit next to E-Z’s large build. He wasn’t fat by any stretch of the imagination but he did resemble Paul Bunyan.

  “I don’t mind.” I mumbled as I took my spot. I stared at my food as the others watched me for an uncomfortable moment. Finally Karen broke the silence.

  “I’m so excited about the Christmas Party! I can’t believe we finally have enough people to have these great young adults’ events. Kyle was telling us on Sunday we already had 27 people signed up!” Karen was going on and on about the party while I tried to eat like a normal person. My thoughts drifted from the booth where we sat, back to the church auditorium and the warmth I’d felt. Then the memory of Cat’s eyes and condescending look sent a chill through me.

  “So what do you think, Adira?” Karen was looking at me expectantly.

  “About what?” I stared blankly at her. I had no clue what she was talking about.

  “Staying over with me the night before the banquet so we can go together. I think we could have a lot of fun. We can have a slumber party on Friday night after the party too! Debby will be there and I’m also inviting some of the other girls to stay over too.” I didn’t know what to say.

  “I, I can’t go to anything like that. I mean, I don’t think I can make it.” As hungry as I was, I’d lost my appetite. “I should get going.” I stood.

  “Adira, please don’t go.” Karen reached across the table to me.

  “I just have to …” I couldn’t think of a convincing lie. I slumped down into the booth again. “I can’t. I don’t have a way to get to your house and I wouldn’t be able to pay for a ticket to go to this party. Besides, this is all I own. I’m wearing my whole wardrobe right now. I hardly think this is appropriate party attire.” We all sat in silence for a bit.

  “Not a problem!” Karen squealed. “Debby and I can get you something to wear. We have tons of clothes. I have loads of clothes that don’t fit me anymore and I doubt I’ll ever lose enough weight to get into them again. I have three formals and I’m sure Debby has a few too. Don’t you, Debby?” she nodded excitedly.

  “You can come stay with me for a while. I have a spare room at my house where you can crash. Debby comes over all the time and so do most of the youth. My mom and dad don’t mind. They enjoy having a full house over.” Debby looked almost as excited as Karen.

  “Do you mean to tell me you would want someone like me to go to your fancy banquet?” I tried to keep the bitterness out of my voice. The homeless freak was not available for a show.

  “Of course! You’re an amazing person, I mean, so what if you don’t have a home? I have a feeling things are going to change for you very soon.” She grinned at me knowingly. I gave up trying to come up with excuses.

  “Well, if you’re sure you want me there…” I still hesitated.

  “Soggy, you may as well give in, one way or another they’re gonna get their way.” He grinned widely as the girls scowled at him.

  “E-Z, do you always have to be so, UGH!” Debby made a face at him and he laughed.

  “Yep, it’s what I do best.” His eyes danced mischievously.

  “Ignore them, sibling rivalry has reached epic proportions in this family.” She rolled her eyes at both E-Z and Debby.

  “It’s a twin thing.” E-Z snickered.

  “Do you have to tell everyone?” Debby frowned at him. The banter between the two put me at ease. These people weren’t perfect, they were human.

  “Seriously guys, how is she ever gonna want to agree to anything with you acting like crazies!” Karen attempted a maternal scolding.

  “There’s nothing to agree to. She’s gonna go along with things. Right, soggy?” The three stared at me expectantly.

  “Well I guess...” I shrugged. There was no way out.

  “YAY!” Debby clapped excitedly. Obviously the sniping had been forgotten.

  “We have a meeting after church tonight, you can go home with me and I’ll take you to the church.” Karen reached across the table and squeezed my hand.

  “Tonight?” I gasped. “I can’t, I mean I don’t…” I looked down at my clothes.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of that. You will love Bible study.” Karen gushed.

  “Yeah, I’ll introduce you to some more of the young adults. They are gonna love you.” Debby was beside herself with excitement. E-Z was occupied with his food and didn’t have much to say. As long as I could stay out of his girlfriend’s way I would be just fine.

  “Oh tonight will be so much fun!” Debby was squealing.

  I had a feeling, one way or another, this would be a night to remember. There was no escaping the gang now, and I didn’t want to escape. Despite what Catherine had told me, I didn’t feel pity from them, only love.

  

  CHAPTER 7

  

  “See you at service in a while!” Debby was waving excitedly from the window of the moving car as E-Z maneuvered out of the parking lot. I’d had a great time with the group; still I was wary, thinking of the warning Cat had given me.

  “You know, if this had been next week we wouldn’t have met you here?” Karen’s face was filled with wonder.

  “Why?”

  “Well next week we all help at the church’s soup kitchen so we would have been there instead of having our get together at King’s” She chuckled bemused.

  “Really? You help out at a soup kitchen?” I couldn’t imagine this girl around homeless people. I could barely believe she would have anything to do with me.

  “Yeah. God’s timing is amazing isn’t it?” I couldn’t imagine what God had to do with meeting them there other than Him not caring enough about me and letting me end up like this.

  “Yeah, super amazing.” I muttered bitterly; she didn’t notice my tone and chattered away happily.

  “I can’t wait for you to meet my mom and dad. They are gonna love you. I’ve been talking to them about you. I mean obviously I don’t know a whole lot about you, but I did tell them the guys really like you a lot. Debby has been going on and on about you since Sunday.” I didn’t know what to say.

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, E-Z thinks you’re pretty cool too. That’s why he picks on you. If he didn’t like you he would just ignore you.” She glanced sideways at me gauging a reaction.

  “I see.” I stared straight ahead trying not to blush.

  “I wanted to ask you something, if you don’t mind.”

  “Sure go ahead.” They already knew I was a homeless vagrant, what could be worse?

  “Why did you really leave on Sunday?” Somehow she managed to ask the one question that could be worse.

  “I just, I had to leave.” I looked down at my hands.

  “E-Z said he left you at the table with Cat.” I nodded avoiding her gaze. “Did she say something?”

  “It was nothing, really.” I didn’t want to be marked a trouble maker.

  “E-Z feels horrible, like it was his fault you left, mostly because Debby keeps telling him it was.” She sighed heavily.

  “No, it wasn’t his fault at all. I just-” There wasn’t anything I could say that would take the blame off of E-Z without blaming Cat. It was hopeless.

  “Cat has been after E-Z for a long time, even when we were dating.” Her jaw tightened and she gripped the wheel a little tighter than necessary.

  “You and E-Z?” I couldn’t hide my surprise. “Aren’t you older than him?” I clapped my hand over my mouth, shocked by what I said.

  “Yeah, I’m two years older than him and Debby. I guess that makes me three years older than you right?” I nodded and she continued. “See when we were dating it really didn’t make a difference, any
how, Cat and our age difference didn’t cause the relationship to end. God just had different plans for us. Trust me, Cat is not in God’s plans for E-Z either.” She rolled her eyes. “She needs a lot of growing up in the Lord before she is in God’s plans for anyone.”

  “I don’t understand.” I looked at her quizzically.

  “Just saying if you like him…” My eyes grew wide as I understood her meaning.

  “NO!”I shouted much louder than I should have.

  “I’m sorry, Adira. I was just joking.” Her face was bright red and I instantly felt ashamed of myself.

  “Don’t worry about it. I just overreacted. I kind of tend to do that…” I trailed off as I saw the massive house Karen was pulling up to. “Is this where you live?”

  “Yeah. Come on, I want you to meet my parents!” She hurried out of the car and I quickly followed her up a stone stairway to the front door, clutching my knapsack.

  “Are you sure this is okay?” I whispered as we walked into the house.

  “Of course, now come on and quit talking like we just walked into a funeral home!” She giggled.

  “Mom, dad, this is Adira, you remember, from church Sunday? I told you all about her. Adira, this is my mom, Patricia and my dad, Howard.” A beautiful woman in her early fifties smiled warmly as she rose from her seat and reached out to hug me. I stiffened under her touch; I wasn’t used to having people touch me, especially since I knew I was less than appealing to be close to.

  “Nice to meet you, Adira. What a beautiful name. I’ve never heard it before.” I hated my name, it was too weird.

  “Thank you. It is nice to meet you too.” I moved back and looked at the floor to avoid making too much eye contact. Usually there was a look of disgust on the faces opposite me.

  “Adira, Karen hasn’t stopped talking about you since Sunday. You obviously made quite an impression on her.” A distinguished looking gentleman looked over a newspaper to speak. “You are welcome in our home for as long as you need. Karen will show you to your room.”