All About Angels

Introduction

IntroductionJefferson Eaves’ otherworldly rustic kitchen looked exactly as it might have in the 1800s when he was boy at his mother’s knee. Wooden cabinetry above and below was stained a pretty teal color, hanging copper kettles gleamed from above, and the black cast iron ones filled the room with the imaginary aroma of some delicious winter stew. A huge white stone fireplace already festooned with pine boughs and candles, Jefferson felt, would help conjure a yuletide feel as he brought together a band of heavenly hosts to help make the current season special.

“Welcome all.” The one thing out of place was a large standing chalkboard, which would have been more apropos of a schoolroom than a nineteenth century kitchen. Jefferson, playing teacher, in a way, stood beside it, at one end of the huge farmhouse table right in the center of the room. Every inch of long handcrafted wooden benches down either side was occupied, as they had been and were once more in Heaven each time the entire Eaves family gathered for a holiday meal. Twenty-three angels in all had convened, the students. “Please settle in,” and Jefferson, who had studied the individual pasts, first meetings, courtships, happy times and sad ones, the histories of all the couples these angels would tend to, wasn’t just instructing, he was leading the mission.

The blackboard had names written upon it—Otto and Artemis, Archie and Justice, Kit and Dillon, Gideon and Rudy, Finneus and Russel, Tom Alan and Milo, Kensuke and Jesse, Abby and AJ, among several more, including two that always brought a smile—Goose and Patrick. Each pair made a header, and below the names, lengthy notes and ideas about how and why to visit them filled the entire space, white against dark gray in impeccable penmanship. “I call this meeting to order.”

“So very official sounding, my Jefferson.” Naturally, Jefferson’s adoring husband, Daniel, was standing at his side. “I’m quite impressed.” He straightened the collar on Jefferson’s button-down shirt and untwisted one side of his suspenders.

“Thank you.” The briefest kiss encompassed and displayed more than two hundred years of adoration and appreciation, and the gathered angels took note. Some smiled. Others mimicked the smooch with lovers of their own, and several, so new to it all, in awe of the moment, didn’t know quite what to do. Most of the angels present had lived more recently than those in charge, one as recently as mere days prior, as opposed to two centuries.

“Meetings similar to this one are happening far and wide,” Jefferson continued. “More of us than ever before are being sent forth to span the universe in order to aid in happiness and healing after such a tough year for many. I am honored and humbled to have been offered the chance to lead this small faction of such.”

“Though our closest associates on Earth, Goose and Patrick, had imagined me to be the politician,” Daniel said, nuzzling into Jefferson from behind, “is my Jefferson not the very definition of what a true leader should be, a being able to summon the strength, courage, heart, and character to inspire, comfort, protect, and empower others?”

“Here, here!” An appreciative voice was joined by others in cheers of solidarity and praise.

“Even after more than a year as marrieds, or is it a hundred years, dearest Daniel, you still love me, then?” Jefferson asked in a whisper.

“More than any word has been invented to describe, my husband, at Christmas time or in any other season,” Daniel pledged.

“Then perhaps you can show instead of tell, once we are alone.”

“I so look forward to that.”

“In the meantime…” Jefferson felt the heat of lustful anticipation and a slight bit of embarrassment that came along, due to the fact so many were about to witness it. “As all of you know,” he resumed, “the other realm has faced great adversity of late in numerous and various forms. Things will start looking up, but many of our precious beings are tired, hurting, or frightened. Directly or indirectly, they have been touched by physical illness over these months or by something akin, just through deep empathy, perhaps, that has attacked the body, the soul, the heart, the mind. Many of them are angels on Earth—care workers, care givers, medical professionals, teachers, cleaners, delivery people, store employees, firemen, protectors, public servants, food preparers, animal devotees, parents, supporters of others, people with good hearts who want to do good and be kind. The list goes on, really. All of them are angels to at least one other person, a lover, a child, a pet, a neighbor, a stranger, a friend, a being in need.

“Angels lifting angels,” Jefferson said, “a couple of you from this assemblage will have a hand in two artists’ work, as they pay tribute to those who have guided and guarded them already. My hope is we can touch every living soul this Christmas, to bring the peace, love, and joy carols have been written and sung to denote.”

“Sadly,” Daniel said, “we know not everyone will be open to or able to receive our gift, but we shall try and hope. We shall do our best and work even harder to carry, lift, and enlighten those beings.”

“Some of your loved ones will sense your presence about,” Jefferson explained for the uninitiated among the group. “Some will actually be able to see and interact with you, like our Goose and our Patrick do. Though it is sometimes difficult to witness or understand, with feelings we can only experience while there, it is also true that some may not know of your closeness, even as they hopefully receive the gift you offer. You will see, however, the result, and though we do not do this for our own pleasure, some will certainly be gained from it. Though I might have gone overboard with my notes,” Jefferson motioned toward his chalkboard, “the information here will come in handy, perhaps more for myself, since you are already familiar with the lives of those you’ll be sent out to touch. Still, feel free to jot down a line or two as a refresher.”

He paused while many scribbled on plain old paper with pens. Heaven could be high-tech when necessary, but handwriting was still considered a beautiful thing.

“Now then…” Jefferson reached for the comfort and familiarity, the gentleness and love of Daniel’s touch, once all the Heavenly associates and apprentices seemed ready. “Before we depart to begin Operation Angels on Earth, might I suggest a tune appropriate to the season ahead?”

If ever a Heavenly choir was assembled, this was it, and so they sang, “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Beautiful harmonies filled the space, and the happiness, hope, and wonder of the season could be felt throughout.

“Let us recall this feeling,” Jefferson said, as the others still sang softly around him, “as now we go forth to spread comfort and joy, peace and good will to women and men this Christmas, good will to all.”

Another Man’s JunkFeaturing Archie and Justice from Guilt and Innocence, Junk and Mickey from One Man’s Junk, and Frank and Liam from Two Hearts.