The Angel Himself
Friday, May 12, 2006
Collette knew that some good came from baby showers. The baby did get clothes and toys and things, despite the fact that the baby would remember none of it. And at the shower for little Juniper Pinwheel that Thursday night, they did pray for her a while too, the newest arrival in the Spinnings family. She was passed around for the ladies to hold. One lady gave her two little silver bracelets and a great blue storm blew the trees and willows outside the picture window in the Nickels’ living room. Cups and saucers were laid out for cappuccino and there were slices of chocolate chip cheesecake. (There was something so ironically lady-ish and funny about women always eating cheesecake at showers. Cheeseball, as Carrie would say.) Mom chatted with Beersheba Marine about RV-ing and about an interview with an 80 year-old man who was the messenger boy for Corrie TenBoom and her sister in Holland, delivering notes past the eyes of the Nazis. Eighteen people in his family were killed as a result of his involvement in shuttling Jews to safety in the country. And while he only aided the Jews because he was a rebellious teenager at the time and his father said he couldn’t help, and because Corrie gave him cookies, he did realize that the Nazis treated the Jews cruelly. He knew it was wrong.
But despite all that… Collette couldn’t help but generally dislike showers of any kind. They were stuffy, giggly, oooh-aaaah-y, and just… silly. Good and kind for people to give. It was a fine thing to do for Aubree, whose family was in Pennsylvania and Jupiter, Florida. It was just one of those things…
As it appeared to have happened, through spoken accounts, Carrie stood shoulder to shoulder with the archangel that Thursday night. Although this angel had black hair and peculiarly blue eyes. The top man from the T-Bone patrol, the initiator of the “smile if you’re wearing underwear” balloon message, the wearer of black top-hats, and the drama leader of Boy Scout Troop 975. As George the Red had been the golden pinnacle of all former choir years, Ernest January was the great ruby rock in the crown of Troop 975.
Meanwhile, Friday at work, Collette locked the church doors after the piano tuner had finished his work in the sanctuary. Before leaving, however, she chose the best seat for viewing storms out the window, and for contemplating every Sunday morning. As she worked in the nursery that week, she decided to begin reserving it the Sunday after.
“The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin
As the big freighters go it was bigger than most
With a crew and the Captain well seasoned.
“Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ships bell rang
Could it be the North Wind they’d been feeling.