The Commendation

Unexpectedly Angie got a T-Mail* from God. It read, "No Class today, Angie. You're needed in the field. Punch 6742 in the transporter. Thanks. G."

Angie did this and immediately found herself in a luxurious living room. There was a young girl, teenager, sitting on a couch and a rough looking man in an armchair facing her not far away. He was speaking gruffly to the girl. Spotting Angie, he stopped in mid-syllable and exclaimed, "Oh ho, what have we got here? Another kid!" He turned to the girl on the couch. "Your sister?"

Cindy Ross, in jeans, and red blouse, looked confused. "I don't see nobody," she said.

"Come in Sis," said the man. "I didn't know about you. That's OK. There's always room for one more."

Angie ignored the remark. "What evil prompted you to wrap tapes on Cindy's wrists?" she demanded. "Take them off!" The man laughed. "Commandments out of the mouth of babes? How old are you, kid, six eight? Sit there with your sister!" He pointed to the couch.

"I'm a guardian angel, Mr. Gordon," she said. Don't let my appearance mislead you. I've come to prevent the evil you have in that satchel and in your mind." She pointed to the backpack at the feet of the man. He stiffened., "What do you know about that bag?"

He glared at Angie. The two made a striking contrast, he, bald, stocky, unkempt, dirty dark clothing; she, tiny, blond, white dress that fairly glistened. The man's lips formed to utter an obscenity but his throat tightened and he was unable to utter a sound.

"Mr. Gordon, you were sentenced to prison by Judge Roberts for bank robbery some years ago," said Angie. You escaped and put together that devilish thing intending to set it off tonight when the judge and wife came home. You didn't know Cindy, their daughter, would be here. That complicated things but didn't change your plans. You couldn't know that the contraption in the bag would misfire and engulf you when it went off as well as those you had intended to be its victims."

Befuddled, the man froze statue-like scowling at the tiny figure. A sullen silence ensued that stopped accounting for the passage of time. The mantel clock chimed the nine o'clock hour, then the half hour. Gradually, his face softened, eyes glazed, then began welling with tears. He rose from his seat, walked to where Cindy was sitting and unwound the tape from her wrists. He sank to the floor and began crying. "What a fool I've been," he sobbed. "What a mess I have made of my life! What can I do to make amends?"

"I can help you, said Cindy softly." She went to him and put her hand on his shoulder. You'll go back to finish your sentence. You'll change and seek a new path through life, one that will give you much satisfaction. Your road will be hard. You will have to endure many hardships, but I will be with you, watching, and helping."

"Thank you, " he said. "Cindy is fortunate to have you as her guardian angel."

"No," responded Angie. "Cindy already has an angel. You never had one because you repeatedly rejected them. From this moment, I will be your guardian angel."

From a great distance came a commendation that only one person heard.. "Well done, Angie!"

*T-Mail; coined here for the first time. T-Mail is Thought-Mail.