Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2001 21:37:53 -0400 From: Tom Cup Subject: Angel - Chapter 5 G/M Y/A Angel by Tom Cup Copyright 2001 by the Paratwa Partnership, A Colorado Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, except in the case of reviews, without written permission from the Paratwa Partnership, Inc, 354 Plateau Drive, Florissant, CO 80816 This is a fictional story involving youth/youth and adult/youth sexual relationships. If this type of material offends you, please do not read any further. This material is intended for mature adult audiences. Names, characters, locations and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. To support these and other stories by Tom Cup, visit: http://TomCup.isCool.net or http://www.anysexuality.com Author's note: I would like to thank all the members of the Tom Cup Gallery for their support of these writings. You truly do keep these stories going As many of you know, we have been changing servers. That process is now complete. The web site has a new look and we are truly thankful. Please visit the members area for Chapters 1-3 of "A Place Called Home"; Chapter 7 of "Angel" and Chapter 18 of "Calvin". I will be adding new chapters to the Kevin and Tommy storylines as well as adding two new story, "Stephen Miller's Journal" and "In Memory of Steve" for your enjoyment. Once again, thank you for your support and as always your e-mail is much appreciated. ************************************************************************ Angel By Tom Cup Chapter 5 Darcy sat silently as Brother Lucas began his attempt at calming the boy. "The hope that the Father and I have for you could not have escaped you Darcy," Brother Lucas began, "You are bright and articulate; a strong leader. You must focus on your calling; your mission." "My calling?" "Yes." "But I'm so confused Brother. I don't know what my calling is." Brother Lucas laughed and then narrowed his eyes on the boy. "Tell me Darcy, if you could do anything for God what would it be?" "I don't know," Darcy answered. "What do you think is the most important aspect of the Scriptures?" "The Law," Darcy answered without hesitation. "Not Grace?" The Brother feigned disbelief. "No. I think, as the Scriptures say, `Without the Law there can be no grace.'" "Many would disagree with your interpretation." "That's what's bothering me. If the Law is not maintained, don't we end up in chaos? I mean, if grace is all that matters, then can't we do whatever we want." "Go on." "Well, if there is only grace then what happens to sin?" "Is that really what's bothering you? Do you really care about the law, grace or sin? Darcy, be true to yourself. What do you really care about?" Darcy hesitated but then looked into the Brother's eyes. A light went on in a room that had been hidden in his heart. He loved and understood the Scriptures but there was a greater love. In all his studies of the history that surrounded the Scriptures, and other religious text, Darcy loved and was fascinated most by the men that kept them under their care. He wanted to be one of them. "The Church," Darcy whispered. "Yes," Brother Lucas stated his voice flat and emotionless, "This at last is the truth. But more precisely Darcy, you love the power the Church wields. You would be one of those that keeps the world in order." "Is that wrong? Shouldn't I love God above all things?" "Perhaps, God has placed this desire in your heart. Ministry in the Church is a calling. Those that lead the Church are called to a special ministry. I can not tell you what that calling, or it's burdens, entail." "What is your calling Brother?" Brother Lucas laughed, "Don't you know Darcy? I am called to find, and nurture, those that might one day serve the Church." "Am I one." "Oh, yes! I believe you are." ***** Father Kennedy woke suddenly from the dream. He was sitting up, panting, and scanning the small room trying to remember where he was. Gradually, his mind cleared. He slowly slid out of bed, put on his slippers, opened the door to head for the kitchen for a much needed glass of water. He was startled by Angel's presence standing outside of his door. "Angel? My, I must say, you gave me a start." "There's something I want to show you." "Now? Angel, it's..." the priest glanced at his watch, "it's 3:30 in the morning." "Now." Within 45 minutes, the priest found himself driving away from the ranch with Angel seated beside him. ***** Margaret sat stoically in the light rain. The park was empty, of course, and she was unsure as to why she had come to her bench so early. She knew that the children would not be there. The usual sounds of activity that she loved; that made her feel at home and alive would not be there. There was nothing but quiet about her as the car slowed and stopped. She could make out the figure of a man and a boy moving toward her. She had seen the boy before. Not to long ago, yes, Angel he was called. "An Angel by my side, by my side, by my side," she thought she heard herself say. She thought to get up to greet the boy but did not move. She thought to ask who the man, no he wore a collar, the priest was with him but said nothing. How strange and otherworldly they seemed. "Ma'am?" she heard the priest say, "Are you all right? Is there something we can do for you? or someone we can call?" He looked concerned. The boy sat beside her, not saying a word, holding her hand. She could feel the warmth of his hand spreading through her palm and into her being as a reassuring wave. She sighed. "We need to get her help Angel." "It's on the way." "What? I mean..." "Trust me Father." "I do but..." "No, Father, you don't." "Angel... Angel, we cannot turn this into a debate. We must help this woman. Surely it is why you brought me here." "There are as many kinds of help as there are paths to the truth." "Angel! Look at her! There is something wrong! We must get help!" "What do you see when you look at her, Father?" Father Kennedy turned on the boy ready to lash out. He wanted to teach the boy not to be so cold to other's suffering but the tears streaming from the boy's face broke him. His voice sounded so cold and calculated but his twisted features did not lie. The boy was in pain. Pain of such immediately gripped the priest's heart. Pain so great that it put the priest's show of concern to shame. "What do you see?" Angel asked again. The priest forced his eyes away from Angel and towards the woman, "She is catatonic at best. We need to get her to a hospital." "Look again James." The playground was full of children. Laughter was the perfume in the air. The sun's warmth hugged each child in love. It was fun watching Jimmy little Betsy on the swings. "Not to high," Margaret warned her husband. "Of course not dear," he smiled. " `gain, `gain," demanded Betsy from the swing, "'igher, `igher!" Mag, as her husband love to call her, smiled sheepishly at her beloved. She would surprise him with the news later that evening. She was expecting again. Perhaps, if God willed, it would be a boy. He would love the child no matter what, of course, but she knew her husband wanted a boy: A boy to name after himself. So there was great joy in the house that evening. Jimmy tossed and swung little Betsy about singing, "We're going to have a baby; we're going to have a baby!" Mag's eyes were radiant and her smile pure love. Betsy's laughter was the song of angels. It was at that moment, at the height of their joy that Jimmy asked, "Who wants ice cream?" It was an innocent question. A question that was meant to extend the joy of the celebration he felt in his heart. He and Betsy left for the ice cream parlor to retrieve the family's favorite flavors. They would never return; killed by a head on collision with a drunken driver. "What are they doing?" Darcy asked the Brother as they peered toward the three figures in the park from the seats of the darkened car. They had seen Father Kennedy and Angel heading to the car from the window of the dining hall and, heading toward the parking lot themselves, had encountered a rather confused Father Cornelius. "Brother Lucas. Darcy? What are you doing up at this hour?" "I'm sorry Father," Brother Lucas explained, "But I'm afraid we have a problem. Father Kennedy has Angel and is even now leaving with him in his car." "What!" "We must act quickly Father. Perhaps you should notify the authorities while we try to follow them. We will contact you as soon as we ascertain where he is taking the boy." It sounded reasonable to Cornelius at the time but as he sat in his study realizing that he now did not know the whereabouts of two boys, a sense of dread overcame him. ***** "Who is she?" Father Kennedy whispered. "You already know the answer to that James." "Angel." "Is it really so hard to believe? You have wondered for years about those you called parents. They were so unlike you. They loved you and nurtured you, yes. But the family resemblance was never there. Yes, James, you knew. A part of you has always known. I tell you that seated before you is the woman that gave you birth." "I... I...We must get her help!" "There is a phone in the corner of the park," Angel replied his eyes fixed on the two figures in the car across the street, "Do what you must." Father Kennedy quickly scanned the park and found the familiar silhouette of the phone box. He hurried toward it as his heart beat frantically in his chest. He tried to replay the scenes in his mind; tried to understand the meaning of the night's events. Surely, he was now duty bound to report what he experienced to Paul but he wasn't sure he could articulate what he experienced. In his heart, he knew there was something very special about the child he named Angel. The Church needed to examine this child. He was sure of this even as the concrete rushed up to meet him. ***** "Stay here," Angel whispered to Margaret as he stood and walked toward the car. Brother Lucas turned to Darcy. "Wait here," he instructed. He stepped out of the car and watched the boy approach. "You're out rather late Angel," Brother Lucas smiled. "I am ready." The Brother laughed, "Ready for what?" "To be tested," Angel answered flatly. "I don't know what you're talking about." "Yes, you do," Angel replied looking through the window into Darcy's eyes, "Do what you must." ***** Father Cornelius' eyes moved from one piece of ICU equipment to the next hoping for some sign that the elder priest would awaken. Worry and exhaustion were clearly written on the man's face. He had failed at his first assignment as a priest. Though he could not be personally held responsible for Father Kennedy's heart attack, he was responsible for the disappearance of two boys under his care. Blaming Brother Lucas for losing track of the boys during the confusion that must have followed finding Angel with the unconscious priest would be inexcusable. The Brother felt terrible, of course, but explained that at some point after the rescue crews arrived, and after he finished explaining all he knew of the night's events and the priest's condition, he realized that the boys were missing. It had been three days and no sign of the missing boys. The police believed it was a case of two wayward boys finally getting a chance to escape the confines of the group and so classified them as runaways. Father Cornelius knew that meant the case was assigned a low priority status. All he could do was hope and pray that the boys turned up safe and that the priest's condition improved. He sat wearily amidst the beeps of the monitors and hissing of the ventilator trying to understand his own feelings. He was concerned for Darcy, of course, but he ached terribly when he thought of the missing Angel. Why he left him that night he could not understand. He could still feel the warm softness of the boy he had fallen asleep with that night. He long to feel the boy's body once again next to his own. He was certain that Father Kennedy held the key to Angel's disappearance. Cornelius knew that he did not trust the man who had shown little concern for anything except Angel. "Why were you so interested in him? Why couldn't you just have stayed at the mission and left us alone?" "Excuse me, Father," the voice startled Cornelius from his thoughts, "You have a telephone call. A Bishop Albright." To support these and other stories by Tom Cup, visit: http://tomcup.isCool.net or http://www.anysexuality.com Send comments to: tom_cup@hotmail.com