The Bessie Series - Books 1-3

8. Heaven

On a spectacular cliff far above a canyon on a late afternoon, Bessie and Ash tiptoe up behind a plump, seated female. Her glittery silver aura identifies her as an angel. She sits cross-legged on the grass, strumming a flower-painted guitar on her lap. As they get closer, they can see the daisies on her flowing dress, ropes of multicolored beads around her neck, and various blossoms braided into her waist-length hair.

“Love her outfit,” Ash says. “Next to miniskirts, I adore the flower child look.”

“Maybe she invented it.” Bessie giggles.

A nearby sleeping St. Bernard yawns. He stretches out his paws and resettles his head on them, while his angelic companion attempts the classic hippie anthem about going to San Francisco and wearing flowers in one"s hair. The problem is that Angel Rainbow Sunshine couldn’t hit a note in tune if her wings depended on it.

Ash snickers. Bessie puts a finger to her pal’s lips to shush her. They continue on tiptoe until they reach a small stone pedestal about thirty feet away from the wannabe musician. On it, a modest telescope stands, surrounded by silver rope. Hanging from it are various hand-made signs: “Sacred Telescope”; “Restricted Area”; “For Angels Only”; “By Order of the Angel Court”; and, not to forget the girls’ particular favorite, “Surveillance 24/7”.

Deftly, the girls slide under the rope to climb up onto the pedestal. Ash stands on guard while Bessie removes the lens cap, allowing it to dangle from its chain. She leans forward to peer in. Milky swirls fill the lens and then clear.

Bessie sees an aerial view of Ravenspond, Ontario. The lens zooms into a suburban street, closer and closer, until she can see a modest bungalow; a navy-blue Dodge is parked in the driveway. A girl’s bike lies in the front yard, with multicolored streamers sprouting from the handlebars. Pansies, marigolds, and rose bushes dot the flowerbeds.

Bessie sees an aerial view of Ravenspond, Ontario. The lens zooms into a suburban street, closer and closer, until she can see a modest bungalow; a navy-blue Dodge is parked in the driveway. A girl’s bike lies in the front yard, with multicolored streamers sprouting from the handlebars. Pansies, marigolds, and rose bushes dot the flowerbeds.Next, the lens zooms into the interior of the house, refocusing to reveal Bessie’s sister Leila lounging on her bedspread. It appears she is totally absorbed by an Arabelle Smythe novel, A Mind for Mischief. Her window is wide open, allowing the slight breeze to enter and stir the sheer curtains on this warm night. Somehow, she manages to nibble on a Choc-O-Nut bar while she reads, tearing back the paper in tiny pieces.

Next, the lens zooms into the interior of the house, refocusing to reveal Bessie’s sister Leila lounging on her bedspread. It appears she is totally absorbed by an Arabelle Smythe novel, . Her window is wide open, allowing the slight breeze to enter and stir the sheer curtains on this warm night. Somehow, she manages to nibble on a Choc-O-Nut bar while she reads, tearing back the paper in tiny pieces.Without warning, her hand stops in mid-air. Quietly, she sets the candy bar on the bedspread. Her eyes lift from the page. Her neck elongates as if she senses she is being watched. Sitting up, she looks around her darkened room. At the end of her bed, the dog Mouser lifts his head, sniffing before he resettles.

Without warning, her hand stops in mid-air. Quietly, she sets the candy bar on the bedspread. Her eyes lift from the page. Her neck elongates as if she senses she is being watched. Sitting up, she looks around her darkened room. At the end of her bed, the dog Mouser lifts his head, sniffing before he resettles.Slowly closing her novel with a bookmark, Leila climbs out of bed to walk to the open window and crouch on her knees. Her solemn gaze turns skyward as she stares directly into Bessie’s eyes.

Slowly closing her novel with a bookmark, Leila climbs out of bed to walk to the open window and crouch on her knees. Her solemn gaze turns skyward as she stares directly into Bessie’s eyes.

In Heaven, Bessie jumps back from the Sacred Telescope, her eyes widening in shock. What just happened? Could it be? Her expression turns to one of dreamy delight. Could her dear sister in her bedroom at home, actually sense she was watching her all the way from Heaven? Missing her? Longing for her? Is it possible? Or did she imagine it?

No, the truth is clear. She can feel it. Leila had definitely turned to gaze up at her sister into the night at the same time Bessie was staring at her through the lens. She knew I was there. Somehow, Leila knew.

She knew I was there. All her life, Bessie had known that they shared a very special connection: a bond that defied logic, as well as the differences in their ages and personalities. And now, here she is in Heaven, and the bond between them is still alive. Bessie’s features beam with hope as she jumps down from the pedestal to allow Ash her turn.