The Angel Series Collection - Books 1-3

Thunderstruck

Straight up six o’clock, I was on Ms. Noel’s front porch, knocking. Finding her house wasn’t hard, the fourth house next to the vacant house on the left. The house was small and appeared to need some repair. White paint chipped, and the porch sagged a touch. Black shutters that could use a coat of paint like the rest of the house. Judging by the home’s condition, I’d bet she’d lived here a good many years.

As I waited for her to answer the door, I questioned why she bothered calling her cousin, Frank? It wouldn’t help the fact that I didn’t have transportation.

All of a sudden, the screen squeaked, and there stood Ms. Noel, smiling. “Ah, you’re on time!” Her bright voice was as pleasant as I remembered from earlier today. She stepped outside onto the porch, shutting the door behind her. “Follow me, babee.” She waddled down the steps, waving for me to follow.

I followed her as she led me toward the back of the house. A faint breeze brushed my heated face as the cicadas amidst the pine trees buzzed in harmony. Oddly enough, I enjoyed their hum. Every evening about this time, the bugs would break out into a chorus.

We entered through the side gate, making our way to the back of the house. I noticed a patch of tilted soil that looked like the makings of a garden. I also spotted an old tin-shed in the far back of the yard. A sudden thought gave me chills. An old shed, no neighbors, and a stranger made me think of Hansel and Gretel. Shoving the ridiculous paranoia in my back pocket, I slapped a smile on my face as I combed the yard for an escape just in case.

She pulled a key from her apron pocket and unlocked the shed. The door squeaked open as I stood back. I hated dark, creepy places where bugs lurked. Ms. Noel disappeared inside the shed while I waited outside, peeking through the dimness at a faint shadow of junk collecting cobwebs. Only seconds later, I heard a click, and light showered the inside, revealing what I’d suspected a lotta beat-up junk, like an old refrigerator with its door half off its hinges, a moth-eaten mattress, gardening tools, and other stuff that were in desperate need of hauling off.

With my feet planted to the grass, I waited outside. The shed was already leaning like the Tower of Pisa. The slightest breeze could cause it to collapse. I held my breath, fretting over Ms. Noel. Geez! Why did she have to go in there? I tapped my foot, chewing my nails, waiting for her return.

Moments later, Ms. Noel emerged from the shed, rolling a bike. I gaped in surprise. She stopped in front of me, grinning. “This is yours. It just needs a little cleaning and a tire fixed.” She handed the bike to me. “When you leave here, go ta the gas station at the corner. My brother, Claude, will patch up the flat tire and check the other one too. It’ll be as good as new then,” she promised, wiping her hands on her apron.

“You’re giving me this bike?”

“It ain’t doin’ me no good rustin’ away in that old shed. I used ta ride it until I broke my hip. It’s been sittin’ collectin’ dirt since.” She waved at the bike. “Go on! Take it. You wouldn’t want ta miss your first day of work, would you?”

I stood there with a blank face, stumped over what to say. “Uh, thanks!”

“Don’t mention it, chile. I made you a couple of sandwiches for dinner and tomorrow too. Let me get those for you.”

“Ms. Noel, you’re too kind,” I smiled, pleasantly surprised. This stranger didn’t know me from Adam, and yet, she was more than generous. Not even my mother would’ve been this kind.

“It’s no problem. C’mon.” Ms. Noel waddled off to the gate. I trailed behind her with the bike. Ms. Noel disappeared into the house as I waited by the bike.

Moments later, I heard the plank board squeaking, and Ms. Noel reappearing at the door with a brown sack in her hand and a mason jar full of ice cubes and sweet tea. She opened the screen with a broad smile. “Here you go.” I met her at the top of the steps as she handed me a brown sack and a mason jar with a lid screwed onto it. “When you get off tomorrow, come by, and I’ll have a bowl of gumbo and cornbread fixed for you.”

“You don’t have to do this.” I placed the sack and jar in the bike’s basket.

“Stop your worry! I got you, babee.”

“Thank you,” I replied.

“If you lookin’ for a place to settle, the house next door is for rent. It’s a cute little place. From what I hear, the landlord ain’t askin’ much.”

“I’ll tell Mom. I’m sure she’ll be interested,” I paused. “Thanks for everything,” I genuinely smiled. For the first time since we’d arrived, I felt a slight spark of happiness.

“Don’t mention it, but you best git on down ta da station, so Claude can fix that tire,” she urged. Ms. Noel reminded me of what a grandmother would be like. I never had much experience with family. Apart from my mom and dad, that was all the family I knew. Sara and Dad were orphans. And now that Dad was dead, it was just Sara and me.

* * *

Precisely as Ms. Noel had promised, Claude fixed the bike. He checked the breaks, oiled, and tightened the chain, getting it in top shape. After he had finished, he let me take the bike to the back and hose it off.

The bike had some mileage. The red paint had faded, and rust had taken its place, but I didn’t care. To me, it was a priceless treasure. Now I had transportation and a job.

The first day on the job wasn’t so bad. I had to get up before daybreak. Heck, I was up before the roosters. Five in the morning was ridiculous, but I was happy to have a job. I went in early to sort out my newspapers. Everything seemed to fall in place. The route was in the downtown area, a perfect location for me. I’d get my route done and have plenty of time to make it to school on time. For now, it was convenient, and the cash would keep me afloat until the next move. For all I knew, Sara could decide to leave tomorrow.

Then I thought about the vacant house next to Ms. Noel. It sounded great, but we couldn’t afford it. We were rubbing pennies together after Sara blew our money on that stupid fortuneteller. We were barely getting by paying for the cheap hotel. I suspected by the end of the week we’d be living in the streets.

After I’d finished my last paper, I was excited to relax and goof off the rest of the day. Then my stomach started to protest. I’d eaten the extra sandwich last night that Ms. Noel had made for today. Texas had its signature hamburgers, but this sandwich beat the burgers hands-down. Crusty French bread, crispy shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, Creole mayonnaise paired with sausage. The sandwiches were so tasty that I couldn’t stop eating them until I’d finished the last bite, leaving me lunch-less today.

With the wind running through my hair as I glided down the steep hill, I tossed the idea back and forth whether I should visit Sara at the diner. I decided to go for it. She’d promised to feed me if I stopped by. It was about one in the afternoon. I figured folks would be clearing out, and I wouldn’t be imposing too much. My mouth began watering thinking about an ice-cold chocolate shake and crispy fries, the universal food for champions, in my opinion. I put the pedal to the metal, and off I went, soaring. A catchy tune was running through my head. Mindlessly, I hummed to it. One of Charlie Puth’s songs, The Way I am. The crisp air felt invigorating, a nice change from the heat. I closed my eyes, letting the cool breeze rest across my flushed face.

The Way I am.Then something alerted me. My eyes flew open, and panic slammed into first gear. A black Corvette and I were about to collide in less than half a second. I suddenly recalled the film Men in Black and the splattered bug across the windshield. With no time to veer, I shut my eyes tight. I began confessing the hundred and one sins I’d committed in the last week as I embraced my imminent death.

Men in BlackHolding my breath, clenching my teeth, I braced myself, but nothing happened. I opened one eye. Nothing! The black car had vanished. Then I opened the other eye, staring at an empty road in front of me. Hastily, I twisted in my seat as my eyes latched onto the license plate. How the heck did the car miss me? I stared in shock.

Nothing!Unmindful of where I was going, my bike’s tire slammed into the curb, sending both the bike and me sailing. With a hard thud, I landed on my derriere. “Ow!” I winced from the sudden impact.

Thunderstruck, I rose on my elbows, spotting the expensive car speeding off into the glorious sunset. Soon it’d disappeared. Only the sound of its gears shifting echoed in my ears.

After the sound had vanished, I collapsed on my back, feeling the pain shooting down my spine. Then my eyes landed on my bike…