Forgiving Bessie

6. Heaven

“Listen up, sleepy head!” The no-nonsense voice of the petite Angel Rachel carries across the early morning air, where Jason is shivering at 3:30 a.m. He stands on the edge of the Sacred Pond in the forest, having been abruptly awakened in his dorm room by the angel on duty. Angel Rachel is wearing black robes in her official capacity as Judge of Angel Court. Beside her, the bailiff, Angel Boyd, imposing in stature, his black skin gleaming, clutches a clipboard.

Jason looks worried, and for good reason. Not so long ago, he and his friend Cora had been caught traveling into dimensions far and wide under the f*******n depths of the same Sacred Pond he is currently standing alongside.

“How much trouble am I in?” he mumbles. “Is this my punishment? I’m a little confused as to why I’m here.”

“Time is of the essence. No chit-chat,” Angel Rachel barks. “Pay attention. Am I making myself clear?”

“Crystal.” Jason’s voice trembles a little. “Your … Your Honor,” he quickly adds.

“Good. Then let’s proceed. Jason, you have been chosen for a highly sensitive mission of the gravest importance.”

“A … a mission?” he manages to spit out. “M-me?” His pale eyes widen. “After what Cora and I—”

“Despite,” the formidable judge enunciates, pausing for effect, “you having disrespected and flaunted one of the strictest laws in all of Heaven, you have been chosen for this critical mission for the very fact that you have proven yourself to be foolhardy, reckless … brave, and resourceful.”

Despite“In order to save others,” her colleague, Angel Boyd, points out. “Namely, to save Cora’s mother, Jessa Mae, from her d**g addiction.”

“So, after much consultation, the Angel Court has decided you are the right choice for this mission.”

Jason looks totally mystified. What are these angels jabbering on about? A mission? Reckless? Brave? Me?

What are these angels jabbering on about? A mission? Reckless? Brave? Me?“For this task you are about to undertake, you’ll be going on another ride on the Holy Rollercoaster under the Sacred Pond. This time,”—Angel Rachel leans forward, almost toppling over in her effort to make her point—“with a celestial guardian by your side, and under their direct control.”

. “And … and,” Jason sputters. “Who then will be this guide?”

A glittery puff announces the arrival of a celestial being. “Thought you’d never ask,” a short, tubby angel resembling a garden gnome, cackles. Unruly brown hair juts out from the sides of his bald head. Black-rimmed glasses perch on his nubby nose. Over his shoulder, he holds a large navy garment bag with a label that reads “Bodysuits Boutique”.

“Angel Rocco, what are you doing here?” Jason blurts, jumping back in fear. He’s well aware of Ash’s stories of how he’d tormented her and Bessie at the Seventh Seal Flight Academy with great glee.

you “I’m here, bucko, to escort you on your mission.” The raucous chuckle rings out again. “Ain’t that so, Angel Rachel?”

The judge nods in agreement. Jason clutches his hands together, a lump rising in his throat.

“It is indeed so.” Pulling aside her robe, Angel Rachel extracts an imposing key from a hidden inner pocket. Walking over to a mound on the ground that looks like an innocent pile of moss, she leans down to pull aside the greenery and inserts the key into the flat side of a rock. “On with your mission.” She treats them to one of those tight smiles of hers.

Angel Rocco takes Jason roughly by the elbow. Side by side, the unlikely pair walks towards the edge of the Sacred Pool.

Once there, Angel Rachel shouts, “Proceed!”

Jason looks sideways at his companion, shaking in his boots. With trembling fingers, he takes Angel Rocco’s hand. They lean forward further and further … until they lift off the grass, float through the air, and disappear into the watery depths below.

Under the surface, they are immediately in a tunnel of swirling white light. Just like the times Jason and Cora had entered the f*******n pool before, he sees inside the tunnel a magnificent rollercoaster. The snake-like track undulates and shimmers in pure, colorless light, swirling and dipping in infinite motion. One lone car comes to a stop in front of them and he and Angel Rocco climb aboard. The feeling of intense energy whirls around them, yet they feel calm and serene.

The car whips around curve after curve until, without warning, it comes to a silent stop. Everything is quiet. The rollercoaster track vanishes, except for their car. He and Angel Rocco climb out of their seats to stand perfectly still on cold earth. When Jason turns around, the car itself has disappeared, as if it had never existed. Where they are, only Heaven knows.