“You’re in the house of the lord, you need no protection here.” Kevin said.
“That’s right, you need no protection.” Michael suddenly appeared out of nowhere, Maria was sitting at the dining table and Lisa and Rod were sitting across from her while Kevin was standing at the edge of the table. No one saw Michael walk in and it surprised Rod who jumped up from his seat.
“No, no, Rod it’s OK, he’s a friend.” and Rod sat down. Michael stood off to the side, but it suddenly appeared to be the center of the room due to the well of energy that he brings with him everywhere. The angels sang, the heavens parted and the sun shone around his body as if he were a sail on a boat. His halo was visible, but only those that knew could see it.
“I will take care of the protection, you my friend, have other thing to deal with.” Michael was talking to Rod and motioned with his eyes toward Lisa. He needed to allay her fear and comfort her. Lisa’s nerves were ruined from all the time worrying about her Mother and her Mother was always worrying about her son in the hospital. Michael was there to take the worry away and give confidence that it will all play out in it’s proper way.
“The lord does not wish us to be bogged down with worry, it ages your body and puts shackles on your spirit. Isn’t that right?” Michael looks over toward Kevin and nods, Kevin nods back. “Now,when are these people supposed to be coming?” he directs the question to Rodrigo.
“I don’t know exactly but it will be soon. You don’t care if they know you are here, do you?” Michael was looking straight into Rodrigo’s eyes and could see the previous evening when he came there, he knew that the gang didn’t know he was there, yet.
“We’re going home today.” Michael announced, the information landed on Maria and Lisa like a boulder.
“But.” and that’s all Lisa got out of her mouth.
“The gang knows you are here and we can’t put the church in jeopardy anymore. Thank you, father.”Michael said.
“So, you’re just going to drive out of here.” Rodrigo said
“No, we are going to drive out of here.” Michael said.
“But, remember what happened when we drove over here.” Lisa was referring to the shots that they magically dodged.
“Yes, I remember the ride over, it was quite breezy that day.” Michael completely discounted her concern because nothing actually happened.
“And I want you to have this money, Father.” Lisa was putting wrapped stacks of hundred dollar bills in his hands, while saving some for her brother..
“That’s ill gotten money.” Father replied.
“Then do some good with it, then that will make the money righteous, right?” Lisa said.
“Well, I suppose so.”the Father said
“Well, gather your things.” Michael said
“So, we’re leaving right away?” Maria, an obedient listener, finally speaks up.
“Yes, sister, we’re leaving right away.” Michael said lovingly to the faithful Maria.
“Well, don’t forget this,” Kevin takes a wooden, hand-made rosary from around his neck and gives it to Maria.
“Wow, thank you, Father.” a devout Maria said.
“And you,” Kevin turns toward Michael and grabs his hand, “It has been divine.”
“You are doing a righteous job with your church and he is very proud of you. I think Cynthia wants to see you off, too. Cynthia!.” Kevin calls his right hand nun. She enters the room drying her hands off on a rag.
“Yes, yes, Father.” Cynthia
“Michael is leaving with Maria and Lisa.” Kevin said.
“Oh, well, it was nice having you and your little friend,” Cynthia is referring to Rod, “May God be with you along all your travels.”
“Thank you, you were very gracious welcoming us in like you did.” Maria said.
“OK, we should go now.” Michael said as Lisa got her last bag packed and stood up ready to go.
“I’m ready...and a little scared.” Lisa admits in front of everyone.
“Fear is a good thing, but completely unnecessary right now.” Michael informs the group. Kevin opened up the door and Maria bravely walked out first,Lisa followed because if anything were going to happen to her Mommy, it was going to happen to her, too. And Rod came out after Michael.
The white Mercedes started fine and Michael backed out of the parking spot. Everyone instantaneously felt a sense of calm come over them when they hit the street. Again, Michael and Maria sat up front while Lisa and Rodrigo sat in the back.
“Just who are you?” Rod blurts out involuntarily. Lisa elbows him.
“No, that’s quite alright,” Michael makes eye contact with Lisa through the rear-view mirror and winks. “I’m a family friend. A very close family friend”
“El es nuestro amigo divino.” Maria said that he was a divine friend.
“Mom! That’s enough!” Lisa demands.
“Usted dice demasiado!” Lisa tells her Mom she talks too much.
“Now, now, let’s not argue in front of company.” Michael looks in the rear-view mirror at Lisa who is closed off and sits with her arms folded; he gives her a look acknowledging her frustration and sending her love.
“Yeah, I don’t want to hear a Mother and daughter fight at a time like this, aren’t there bigger fish to fry?” Rodrigo responds not paying any attention to the lukewarm explanation of who Michael was. They came upon low-rider rolling four deep at a stoplight. Rodrigo and Lisa cringed as the gangbangers looked over at them. But they couldn’t see them, somehow, Rodrigo thought it was the reflection off the windows that made them unable to see. Lisa and Maria, who were really oblivious to the situation, knew differently. Suddenly Lisa felt a strong sense of pride wash over her. Pride for knowing Michael, pride for giving the money to the church, pride for having a Mother like she did. And her dear brother.
“I have a surprise for you, Maria” Michael said as he turned a corner going away from their house. “I can’t tell you but you’ll know where we’re going before we get there.” They all sat in silence just absorbing the presence of divinity. Rod sat quietly knowing somewhere inside that he was in the car with someone very special, besides Lisa, whom he honestly had feelings for. That was the only reason he was in the car. They rounded the corner onto the street that the hospital Julian was in.
“Oh, dios mio! Michael, you know just where my heart is.” Maria said.
“I am here to care for your family, it was Lisa’s prayer after all, she called me.” Michael said. “Do you even remember, Lisa?”
“No, I don’t” Lisa admits
“But I pray to you every night.” Maria said.
“But Lisa’s prayer was at the perfect time.” Michael said.
“What’s that?” Maria asked
“That’s all I know, the rest is from him,” Michael points upward. “Apparently, Lisa’s prayer was too honest and desperate to leave unanswered and that’s how I got my assignment.”
“Just who are you?” a confused Rod says.
“I work for the church.” Michael gives an honest answer without divulging anything he did not need to know.
Michael pulled into the hospital parking lot and before getting out of the car he asked Maria for her Rosary.
“Sure.” she takes it from around her neck and hands it to him. He holds it to his chest and bows his head. Suddenly a glowing ring appeared above his head. Maria gasped and Lisa’s eye’s widened. He made the sign of a cross on his chest and his head rose and Michael was smiling. He handed the rosary back to Maria and it was warm, as if someone heated up the whole thing in an oven or microwave. The sun was setting and the sky was a swirl of orange, red and blue like some new ice cream flavor. Rod was outside the car when Michael prayed. And he and Lisa were walking together toward the automatic doors of the hospital. It is usually a walk of sorrow, but tonight it was different. Maria walked with Michael.
“Beautiful sunset isn’t it?” Michael asked.
“Sure it is, what were you doing back in the car before we got out.” Maria asked without hesitation.
“Do you think that just because I’m an angel I don’t pray.” Michael said very matter-of-factly.
“We saw your halo.” Maria said proudly.
“That happens when I connect to the source” Michael said. “You can connect, too, that is what rosaries are for. But I know that you know that. Well, you believed that and now you know it like you know your own name,OK?”
“OK.” Maria said.
“When I was praying I was asking how much I’m allowed to help your son. Whatever happens to your son you must know it’s part of the grand plan. It’s for the better of mankind.” Michael finished and the entered the hospital through automatic glass doors. Michael walked directly to the elevator that they needed to go up to reach the room.He knew what floor and the room number. It was as if he had been there before.
“I’ve been here before, for your son” Michael whispers into Maria’s ear.
They enter Julian’s room and his eyes are closed, a mass of balloons in the corner. People that work at the hospital were buying him balloons and flowers. Tubes were attached to her son like he was some science experiment. Maria put her hand over Julian’s and instantly his eyes opened as if he was waiting for that touch to come back. Michael stood on the opposite side of the hospital bed, he put his hand on his chest and closed his eyes and took deep breaths as if meditating. Lisa was sitting in the corner with Rod.
“Finally, where have you been?” Julian said to Michael like he knew him.
“Julian!” Maria was getting ready to reprimand her son for being rude to someone he doesn’t know.
“No, it’s alright, he’s right, I am a little late.” Michael said.
“But how...” Maria started.
“When children get close they see and talk to angels and God even.” Michael said.
“Close to what?” Maria doesn’t want to know the answer.
“The end.” Michael answers as softly as he can. Maria doesn’t make a sound but tears begin flowing down her cheek like an overfilled glass. Lisa wraps her arms around her Mother from the back and rests her head on her tough Mother. They both are crying but neither make a sound.
“They told me you were coming to show me the way and you gotta get back soon, that’s just what I heard and I think you know who I heard it from.” Julian said.
“What is he talking about” Lisa asked.
“I think right now we should just let love fill our hearts, all of us.” Rod stood up and walked to the hospital bed and reached across and grabbed Michael’s hand creating a circle of love that enveloped Julian.
“Did you help Lisa?” an exhausted Julian asked Michael.
“How did he know?” Lisa said.
“Yes, Julian I have touched them all you can go.” Michael said.
“Mama, hold my hand.” his Mother grasped his hand. “This is forever.”
“Julian, I can’t show you the way, you have to find it on your own.” Michael said. Lisa put her hand on his leg. And the circle of energy they created through hand holding became electric and started glowing
“The...it’s so bright.” Julian said.
“That is your guide, if you move toward it, it will start to pull you. Follow your heart, my son. And he took an enormous breath and slowly exhaled. By the time the wind was out of his lungs, his soul ready for . his journey
“Mama...don’t forget...” and Julian slipped away. He rose above his body as an apparition. Maria was crying then she smiled, Lisa was dumbstruck as was Rod who was now holding Lisa’s hand hard. Michael had a smile on his face that looked like the smile on Buddha’s face. He had the look of joy, empathy and knowledge of all that is and all that ever will be.
No comments:
Post a Comment