Surviving Bessie

5. Heaven

“Well? How do I look?” Ash stands before the free-standing mirror in the small cottage Fiona Dodd lives in. Fiona, Bessie’s deceased aunt, inherited the dwelling from her mother Millie and father Will after they decided to try their hand at another lifetime. A big orange cat lounges on the sofa, stretching out one paw at a time, pulling at bits of fur between her claws. Snoozing beside her is a golden retriever, a ratty mouse toy nearby.

Fizz, as she is often known, resembles her sister, Bessie’s mother Heather, only in a brassy, over-the-top way. “You look like you’re going to court for the crime of the century. Loosen up a bit, girl.”

Ash’s tight curls are yanked back into a knot. Her face is makeup free. Her feet display ballet flats. “I don’t get it. What did we do wrong? We’ve been behaving like little angels! We just want to reincarnate as soon as possible and get on with our next lives.”

“When have you ever not worn your girly shoes?” Fizz shakes her head. “Here.” She chuckles as she hands Ash her sparkly, lime platforms. “Or you’ll be punished for a crime of fashion. Get it? Crime of fashion?”

“Got it, bossy boots.” Ash takes the pins out of her hair and shakes her head vigorously. “And you’re right. I don’t think I can even talk without my mascara. Innocent or guilty.”

talkFizz presses down the silky material on her own polka-dot dress. “We’d better get going. Don’t want to tick off Miss Prissy Pot.”

“Angel Prissy Pot,” Ash corrects her with a snicker. “Let’s get this over with.”

Moments later, they stroll uphill along the country road outside the cottage. Peach the cat and Mouser the dog sit, watching them go from the doorway. Miguelito meets them at the top of the hill and together they make their way to Angel Court.

“Ready?” Ash gives him a small kiss. “Whatever they do to us, we will always stay true to each other.”

“I am yours forever,” Miguelito responds with a kiss of his own. “They can’t stop us no matter what they do.”

Inside, the courtroom is surprisingly empty. The spectator benches are bare. Judge Angel Rachel is not even in her black robe; rather, she sports her regular tailored business suit. Her trusty sidekick, Angel Boyd, as usual, is close by her side.

“This can’t be good,” Ash whispers to Miguelito. “Not good at all.”

“Follow me,” the judge instructs the two young people. To Fiona she says, “You wait out here.”

Fizz reluctantly finds a seat.

They take a quick walk down a darkened hallway before Angel Boyd opens a heavy door, with a formal, “After you.” Angel Rachel enters, followed by Miguelito and Ash.

The room is luxurious with dark woods and rich burgundy fabrics. On a bench perches a short, tubby angel with long brown hair bushing out from the sides of his bald head. Black-rimmed glasses perch on his nubby nose.

“Angel Rocco, what are you doing here?” Ash jumps back in fear, remembering that fateful day at the Seventh Seal Flight Academy. She and Bessie had to attach fake wings and fly like mad bees high in the sky while they vainly pushed buttons attached to their harnesses to control their flight. All the codes were backwards, like red for go, green for stop. And then there was the s******c yellow one: the panic button. They zoomed around in the sky, up, down, and sideways, witlessly punching buttons to no avail while Angels Mel, Rocco, and Rachel roared with laughter below.

youThe judge grins at Ash and her companion who are squeezing each other’s hands for support. “So, you want to speed up your reincarnation process? Angel Rocco is here to help.” She walks over to her cohort to share some private words before she heads to the door. “I repeat, are you two ready to proceed with the next step of your goal to reincarnate?”

They stare at her in sheer panic. Miguelito has evidently heard the tale of Angel Rocco.

“Humph,” she remarks to her fellow angel. “Teenagers.”

“Pay attention. Rocco is speaking,” the dwarf-like angel barks.

Ash and Miguelito stand stiffly in the private chambers, staring at him wide-eyed.

“And Rocco don’t like to be ignored.”

“Sorry about that.” Miguelito finds his voice. “We’re listening.”

The angel’s grin is more of a grimace. “So, before you take on living new lives and making all kinds of new mistakes, which you both will, you gotta revisit some of your past ones. Your old scenes of crimes. Got it?”

The teenagers gawk at him. “Got it,” Ash finally says. “I think.”

“Okay,” the angel continues. “So, me and Angel Rachel, we have decided which ones we think you oughta relive.”

“I just have a question about—”

With a shock, Ash realizes their feet have lifted off the floor; she and Miguelito are air-borne! Glancing up, she sees there is no ceiling anymore, only blue sky. Looking downward, Ash sees Angels Rachel and Rocco snickering in the doorway.

“Toodle-oo,” Angel Rachel trills. “Happy trails!” She waves at the two teens flying upwards. “Have a nice trip!” Giggling, she and her cohort disappear from sight.

Ash and Miguelito hold hands as long as they can, calling each other’s names in vain before they are pulled apart by forces they cannot control. They vanish from sight in separate directions.