Allie's Angel

Meet Daniel “So, tell me, Daniel. How is your assignment progressing?” A second angel materialized. “Ah, Michael, ’tis you. Everything’s going well. Quite well, indeed. I’ll meet her tomorrow and lay out the plans.” “She is young. Are you sure she will be up to all this? She is a child after all, and you’re asking her to take on assignments that would challenge an adult.” Daniel nodded. “Yes… you’re right. I will challenge her in ways she’s never known before.” “True. Very true. I’m worried that she can take the pressure. Her life will change radically…. You’ve tried this project before and you remember the terrible consequences—” “I know. I know,” Daniel interrupted, “you never quite let me forget it.” Michael chuckled. “You amaze me. You’re forever the optimist. You believe so strongly in the very people who may wind up disappointing you in the end.” Daniel smiled. “Remaining optimistic is more important than knowing disappointment. But, in Allie’s case, I hope I’m not being too optimistic….” “Ah, well, perhaps you’re right,” Michael replied. “You know that this could be your last Earthly assignment. Those other attempts at rebuilding local churches took years and still weren’t successful. You may simply have chosen the wrong people to help in your quest. So this time Daniel, try harder. Succeed. We’re counting on you.” Daniel nodded, then sighed. “In spite of my optimism, I don’t do well with Earthly subjects. And this is a young lady. You’re right about that. Still, she’s an excellent candidate. Maybe the best one I’ve found. But I may have a hard time explaining just how important our project is. You know how clumsy I can be. I scare people. You’ve seen how it goes.” “Never forget that you’re one of the good guys. And this is splendid training for you. Interacting with an Earthly human is never easy for any of us, Daniel. But I do agree that Alexandra McCall is a good choice. Just go easy. You saw what she wrote just now. She’s disillusioned and disheartened. It sounds like she needs renewed self-confidence. Put on your handsome face and be your charming self. So, what’s your deadline?” Meet Allie Absorbed in her thoughts, she didn’t hear the rustling of a broom behind her. “’Morning,” came a friendly voice. “Uh, hi.” Allie turned quickly…. A tall man busily swept off the small porch. When he glanced up, Allie met the clearest, bluest, most gorgeous eyes she’d ever seen…. Allie knew every single person in town… She didn’t know him. With a big grin, he hoisted the broom in the air, jumped two steps and plopped down beside her. His ball cap flew off and a lock of silver hair fell over his forehead. Allie felt her mouth drop open, but no words came out. Blue eyes and silver hair. Silver? It wasn’t white, exactly. It was shiny, shimmery silver in the bright sun. He didn’t look old. She went to school with kids and this was no kid. In Friendly there were kids, then parents and grandparents. But this guy… this guy had high cheekbones, boyish dimples, chiseled features—and those magical blue eyes that looked full of mischief…. His inviting grin showed an expanse of even white teeth. He was tall and lean with not one ounce of fat on his athletic frame. His muscular arms filled his old blue T-shirt. “Who are you?” she asked. He extended his right hand. “My name’s Daniel. What’s yours?” ….How old was he? Nineteen? Twenty-five? …Suddenly she felt happy, like a puppy with a new playmate. She shook his outstretched hand with newfound confidence. “I’m Allie. And, er, I’m a student at the high school. I’m, uh, in ninth grade.” She her cheeks were hot; she felt foolish and clumsy and totally stupid. He tossed his head back and laughed before fixing a perceptive gaze on her. “Unless you’re on a field trip of one, I don’t think you’re in high school today. I think you’ve skipped school.” She wanted to disappear, but the wooden church steps wouldn’t open up and swallow her any more than the linoleum floor did yesterday. “You’re a lovely young lady skipping school on a picture-perfect day. Why on earth would you come to this dilapidated church?” Such a simple question, yet she had no answer. She met his gaze again. Me? Lovely? “I…it’s complicated. I don’t even know you….You’re asking all these questions—” She rose abruptly. Suddenly she didn’t want this guy around…. She stood over him as he sat on the step. “This church is not dilapidated,” she blurted out. “It’s old and it’s beautiful…. And, today, it helped me think. I don’t care if nobody goes to church here anymore. You’d think somebody could take care of it, though.” “Fair enough,” he said after a moment. “I’m glad you told me how you feel. As it happens, it is my job to care for the church. Actually, it’s my job to care for a lot of things. But after listening to you, I don’t think I’ve done a very good job….You’re not happy with this church; you just told me so.” “Just look at it!” she gestured. “Anybody can see it’s not being taken care of.” She softened, adding, “I didn’t mean any disrespect. I’m s-sorry.” His eyes warmed as a smile played on his lips. “Let’s make a deal, then.” “A deal?” His smile faded as Allie instinctively took a step away. He reached to stop her. “Don’t be afraid. I mean you no harm. No harm whatsoever. But I may need your help. No, I definitely need your help.” Allie stared hard into his eyes. “My help?” “My assigned task is clear. I must renovate the church.” She blinked twice. “Renovate the church! Omigosh! How cool! That’s wonderful!” A sudden excitement bubbled up inside her. Wow. He sounds like he really wants to do something real. His smile returned. “Can I count on you for help?” “Me? Help you? I don’t know anything about building anything….” An angry honk interrupted them. Allie whirled around to see the black and white police car idling on Main Street. Sheriff Anderson leaned out the window and yelled up the grassy hillside. “Come on, young lady. You and I need to talk.” His voice didn’t sound a bit friendly. Uh-oh. Allie felt faint. Her knees wobbled as her earlier bravado took a hike. “It’s nearly eleven o’clock, young lady. Your mama is worried sick about where you are and why you’re not at school. You were wrongly accused of cheating yesterday and I spoke to Mr. Danner about his misguided actions and about Mrs. Timmons’s impulsive behavior. But this—this is completely different. This is against the law. It’s called truancy and you are guilty of it today. So you’re going to visit my jail.” Sheriff Anderson put the car in drive and focused on the road. Allie’s mind raced at warp speed. “Me? Jail? For real?” …. “Sheriff Anderson, do you know the guy I was talking to at the church?” The sheriff made his last turn around the square, pulling up in front of the small police station. He sighed and half-turned around. “What guy? There hasn’t been anybody at that church in the seven years I’ve lived in Smith County. Folks say it’s been empty for over fifty years….” “But who is Daniel? Who was the guy sweeping the porch? Is he some kind of caretaker? He had a broom—” ….Sheriff Anderson grabbed her backpack. “Young lady, I don’t know what you’re getting at. There was nobody with you at the church. And you need to be careful about that. Don’t look so surprised. It looked to me like you’d been up those steps—they’re dangerous. In that condition, the old church is not the safest place to be. There’s no caretaker, certainly not one named Daniel.” The sheriff hoisted the backpack over his shoulder before taking Allie’s elbow. “In fact, I don’t even know anybody named Daniel,” he said, guiding her toward her jail home for the day. No Daniel? How could that be? Allie entered the sheriff’s office, her mind whirring from his explanation. Nobody could miss all six feet-whatever of gorgeous Daniel…. Every female on earth would remember Daniel. No Daniel? No broom? Something was terribly wrong.