Free Fiction

Free Fiction

Copyright © 2016 by Linda Jordan

Published by Metamorphosis Press

Stuck

by

Linda Jordan

Bettye stood on the cloud looking down at the earth below. Wisps of cool white twining between her toes. The cloud drifted and the wind blew her short blond hair, ruffling it.

She searched for two people. Two unlikely people who were perfect soulmates.

One more couple to bring together and then she could cease being an Amore and rise to the next level. Probably.

She’d been an Amore for what seemed like an eternity. Other Amore had come into being, passed through and gone on to the next stage. What that was she didn’t know, but Bettye wanted to find out.

She didn’t know exactly what would cause that to happen for her and she was stuck like this until it happened. Whatever it was.

Her cloud drifted above the country, past cow pastures and berry fields. Over rivers, oceans and cities. Bettye could smell sea salt, cow dung and car exhaust. She could feel the brisk air on her tiny wings, would that they were larger.

She hunted for the match that would make her.

A love that would last.

Over the ages, she’d brought together millions of couples. Some had been easy, others more challenging. The best matches, the strongest ones, were those that the humans wouldn’t have thought of themselves.

People who would never have met, never thought to have fallen in love with each other.

She manipulated the circumstances to make sparks fly.

As the cloud passed over a city, she felt a familiar tug.

‘Go lower,’ she thought at the cloud.

It lowered itself until she could make out darkened houses and streets. Until leafless trees, with lights draped through them, began to scratch the bottoms of her feet.

Careful!’

The cloud drifted upwards a bit.

There were lights everywhere. And yard decorations. Deer and reindeer. Snowmen.

Snow drifted around her and she caught cold, icy crystals on one hand, feeling the ice melt from the heat of her.

Christmas. It was Christmas time. Even better. Lonely humans were even more susceptible to falling in love at this time of year.

The tug grew stronger and she directed the cloud inside a brightly lit building. A shopping center. Inside the building a woman sat on a bench, watching the world go by.

She smiled at children, looking as if she were someone’s grandmother. Which, as Bettye discovered when she moved inside the woman’s head, Rosa was. She’d been married, her husband died quite young, and she’d raised their three children alone. Then put them through college, while working as a teacher. Now, long retired, she was spending time with her grandchildren and their children.

Two of her granddaughters were shopping with their children. Rosa felt tired, so she had sat on a bench near the play area. One granddaughter, Cheryl, was wrangling all the kids. Meryl, her twin, was buying Christmas gifts at a nearby store.

The noise was almost deafening. Sound bounced off the stone floor and walls, echoing. There were probably thirty kids running around, climbing on the giant blue horses, orange cubes, red space ships and purple dinosaurs. Giggling and screaming.

Parents sat on benches nearby and mostly looked at their cell phones, ignoring the kids.

Rosa smiled. She loved the sounds of kids playing. Even after all this time.

Bettye felt the tug again and left the old woman’s head. There, coming out of a store was the man. He’d just bought a gift for his neighbors. He was one of those people who bought what they needed and left the store as soon as possible.

He was already walking past the play area, intent on getting to his car.

How could she make him stop?

He had to stop.

Bettye slipped the bag containing a box of chocolates out of his hand. Then made it bounce twice and slide across the floor to stop directly in front of Rosa.

The man, Jerome, stopped. He stared, shocked, as his body betrayed him.

Bettye slipped into his head and helped him move forward, stooping to pick up the bag. She added a bit of dizziness and he swayed, having grabbed the bag handle.

Rosa stood and grabbed his upper arms, helping steady him.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“I think so. Tried to stand up too quickly,” Jerome said. “Maybe I’d better sit down.”

“There’s plenty of space,” Rosa said, patting the bench.

Jerome sat down beside her.

Bettye smiled. It was going well, but the next few minutes were crucial.

“I’m not in the habit of dropping things,” he said.

“Accidents happen. Maybe you were in too much of a hurry.”

“I guess I was. I’ve never liked shopping malls, but that chocolate store makes such good chocolates.”

He unzipped his coat, revealing a badly wrinkled flannel shirt. The pants were just as wrinkled. Bettye could tell they were clean, which meant he washed and dried the laundry but hadn’t put it away. He didn’t care about his appearance.

Well, that better change.

Rosa said, “I’m not fond of them either. I’m here with my granddaughters and their kids. They have so much fun playing, it’s just contagious.”

She pointed to the purple dinosaur whose long neck was a slide and the three year old girl, dressed in red with a purple tutu, screeching with laughter while sliding down it.

Jerome smiled. “I never see my grandkids, or great grandkids. They live on the other side of the country. It must be nice to have your family so near.”

“It’s a gift I cherish,” said Rosa.

Jerome frowned, “Speaking of gifts, I’ll bet these chocolates are crushed after all that.” He opened the bag and pulled out the box. It was badly dented from all the bouncing.

“Oh, that’s too bad,” said Rosa.

“Well, guess I’ll just have to get another one. And eat this one,” he smiled, unwrapping the plastic and opening the box. “There’s a silver lining. Would you like some?”

“Don’t mind if I do,” said Rosa. She took one and bit into it. “Orange filling. Thank you.”

Mm, coconut. That’s a fine breakfast,” he said, laughing.

Rosa joined him.

“This is your breakfast?” Rosa asked.

“I forget to eat these days,” he said. “And cooking for one is no fun. I used to love to cook when my wife was still alive.”

“How long has she been gone?” asked Rosa.

“Ten, twelve years.”

“My Ernest died seven years ago. It’s still hard living alone. But I have an apartment now, not a house to take care of. That makes it much easier.”

“I’m still living in our old house. The renter downstairs does all the yard work though. Don’t know what I’ll do when he finishes college and moves out.”

“So, you don’t have any family out here?” Rosa asked.

“Not any more. Both boys moved back east to go to college and they got jobs and stayed. I go out and visit in the summer, so it’s not like I never see them.”

“Do you have friends in this area.”

“I still have a few who live here.”

“Well,” Rosa said, “if you’re interested in reading, I have several friends who get together once a month for a bookclub. We meet at the bookstore over on First Street. They have a nice coffeeshop.”

“I haven’t read a book in years,” Jerome said. “And it would do me good. What sort of books do you read?”

“All sorts. This month we’re reading a classic, “A Study in Scarlet” by Arthur Conan Doyle.”

“Sherlock Holmes. Haven’t read those since high school. When do you meet?”

“Monday night. 7 p.m.”

“I think I can come. That would be fun.”

Meryl came and plopped down beside Rosa, carrying bulging plastic bags.

“I’m pooped,” she said. “I did some extraordinary power shopping.”

“Did you get everything?” asked Rosa.

“Every single thing.”

Jerome put the lid on the chocolates and slipped the box back into his bag, then stood.

“Are you going?” asked Rosa.

“I need to get a move on. Have to go back and buy more chocolates.”

“Well, it was nice meeting you.”

“Maybe I’ll see you next Monday,” he said.

“It would be lovely if you could come,” Rosa said.

Jerome headed back towards the chocolatier’s store.

“You know him?” asked Meryl.

“We just met. Nice man. I told him about my bookclub.”

“Grandma you and your social circle. You do get around.”

“I’m not dead yet,” Rosa laughed.

Bettye signaled the cloud to rise again. That went well. Now all he had to do was show up. Should she follow him home or trust that he’d do the right thing?

Bettye decided on trust. So she floated up on her cloud.

What would happen when she was no longer an Amore? She’d seen so many other types of angels. Would she become one of them? Helping the dead find their way in the afterlife? Orchestrating the actions of nations in an attempt to help humanity avoid total destruction. Something really important.

In no time at all it was Monday evening.

Bettye found Rosa at the bookstore cafe. She was with a group of women and men, seven people. There was a rousing discussion of Sherlock Holmes and why the character had endured and been reinvented so often. Rosa joined in, but she looked vaguely sad to Bettye.

Jerome was nowhere to be seen.

She searched for him and found him in a hospital emergency room. He was sitting on a bed, a nurse and doctor putting a splint on his arm. His face all scratched up. Bettye entered his mind. His whole body hurt, wrenched by a fall down his front steps. They’d given him a pill for the pain, but it wasn’t working yet.

That explained why he’d missed the book club meeting. She’d have to find a way for them to meet again.

Bettye gave a deep, soul draining sigh. Humans were so troublesome.

She caused a thought to filter through Jerome’s mind. If only he’d thought to get that nice woman’s name and phone number.

That should be enough of a nudge for now.

Bettye waited until a week after his fall before she gave him the idea that he needed to spend time at the mall and over at the bookstore, hoping to run into her again. She watched as he roused himself, showering and shaving, which was difficult with his broken arm. Spending time choosing just the right pair of pants and shirt, to impress her. Just in case it was the day her saw her.

After three days of his going out and not finding her, Bettye decided to take action again.

On the fourth day, Bettye went to Rosa’s house.

She sat at her kitchen table, reading the paper and sipping hot coffee. Bettye could taste the bitterness of the liquid.

Rosa felt down and blue. Ever since the book club meeting. She’d been so hoping that nice man would come and then felt so disappointed when he didn’t.

It was still two weeks until Christmas, but it was so dark and dreary out. She didn’t feel very Christmasy.

Then it came to her. She should drive to the mall and go buy herself a box of those wonderful chocolates. Get herself a little gift, a pick-me-up.

Rosa drove around and around the parking lot. Along with the rest of the world. It was packed. Everyone was out shopping today. Then she realized it was Saturday. Finally, she parked at the far edge of the lot and walked, using her sturdy closed umbrella as a cane. Hoping that cars would see her bright red coat.

One of them almost didn’t. She rapped on the hood with her umbrella and the harried man looked shocked.

She finally made it inside the mall, in one piece. Then sat down on the bench by the play area, just to catch her breath.

Rosa felt overheated and unbuttoned her coat, trying to cool off.

“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” said a man, who plunked down beside her, his white plastic bag rattling.

It was him.

“Well hello,” she said.

“I’m glad to see you,” he said. “By the way, my name’s Jerome Matthews. I forgot to get your name last time we met.”

“I’m Rosa Taylor. Oh my,” she said, “how did you do that?” She pointed to his arm.

“Foolishly,” he said. “I was walking down my front steps, putting my house keys away when I slipped and fell. Wasn’t paying attention to the steps. I was excited, on my way to the bookclub.”

“Oh dear. So that’s why you didn’t come.”

“I really wanted to, but instead I spent the evening in the emergency room. Not nearly as entertaining, and much more costly.”

“I’ll bet.”

“So, before I forget,” he said, pulling his phone out of his coat pocket, “may I have your phone number? And is there a date for the next book club?”

“Oh yes.” She gave him her phone number and the date.

“Good. I felt doubly the fool for not asking when I first met you.”

“Well, we’re all fools,” she said.

“What brings you here today?” he asked.

“I’ve been feeling sort of blue. Nothing happening until Christmas day. You know everything is cancelled in December. My knitting and crocheting group, monthly lunches with old friends. So, I decided to drive here and pick up some of those delicious chocolates you had last week.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“I think the rest of the world had the same idea. It took me half an hour to walk from my parking spot and I risked my life several times. Felt like I was walking in the jungle.”

He laughed. “Yes, one does take their life in their hands out there.”

They laughed and chatted for quite a while. Then ended up going into the store for her chocolates. Afterwards they out to lunch.

Bettye hovered at the edge of their conversation. Making sure things were going well. Eventually, they parted. Making a date for her to pick him up and go to a tree lighting festival and Christmas parade the next day.

Bettye smiled.

Her work was done here.

She made the cloud retreat. The day would be coming soon when she would earn wings large enough to support herself. No more having to float around on clouds. She’d finally be allowed to grow up.

She waited, watching the world below her.

Then waited some more.

Larger wings were not forthcoming.

She checked in on Rosa and Jerome. Their relationship was growing deeper by the day. Rosa had even invited him to spend Christmas with her family at their big celebration, and he’d accepted.

“What am I doing wrong?” she wailed to no one in particular and expected no answer.

But one came.

A female voice, one she’d known from the distant past. Marya, another Amore who’d gone on long, long ago.

“It will only happen when you’re sublimely happy with your calling. When you least expect it.”

That didn’t help. She always expected it.

Far below, Bettye heard a wail of loneliness. She had no choice, but to follow that miserable sound. She lowered the cloud to investigate. There it was. A bedraggled, nearly frozen kitten. Desperate.

She didn’t normally do animals.

The kitten was in a dirty, piss-filled alley of a large city. Bettye searched between the garbage cans and bins, pallets and other debris, trying to find the kitten. There it was, huddled next to an empty plastic bucket set out for recycling.

She searched nearby for a human. Then found one. A middle-aged woman working the night shift, cleaning inside a nearby restaurant.

Bettye had her open the door to the alley to take a garbage bag out.

She made the woman pause long enough to hear the kitten.

The woman stood, staring at the tiny kitten, abandoned by the world.

“Where did you come from?”

Mrow, my mother left us and didn’t come back. Mrow, she’s dead and gone. Mrow, my brothers and sisters are all dead. Mrow. Hungry. Mrow. Cold.”

“Oh dear. What a poor little thing you are,” said the woman. She scooped up the shivering, shaking kitten. “You must be half frozen.” Her breath hovered on the air.

She took the kitten inside and locked the door behind her. Then Bettye followed inside on her cloud and watched as the woman rinsed the kitten in the warm water of the sink.

“Let’s get you cleaned up a bit and then I’ll dry you off. Find you something to eat. You are so tiny.”

The woman, Karen, did as she promised. After the kitten had eaten a bit of warmed chicken with some broth over it, Karen wrapped it in a clean kitchen towel and put the kitten in a small, empty box in the warm kitchen. The kitten fell asleep, while she continued to clean the restaurant. Karen took the kitten home with her when she finished work, stopping at an all night grocery store to get some kitten food and supplies. The clerk oohed and aahed over the tiny orange bundle of fur.

Karen had lived a lonely life. Failed romance after failed marriage, after failed love affair. She’d long since given up on men. It had never occurred to her to get a pet. She worked and then went home and watched TV. That was her life.

Karen set up the cat food and water in her spotless apartment. Another place for the litter box. She showed the kitten where they were. It took a few tries but eventually, the kitten figured out the litter box.

Bettye watched as the sluggish kitten grew more alert and healthy with food, warmth and love. She changed into an adventurous kitten who loved to sit in the sunny window and watch the birds perched on the roof of the apartment building.

Karen changed as well. She played with Flame, as she called the kitten, and taught her tricks. They cuddled together in front of the TV. Karen grew happier with someone to care for, who loved her deeply.

They would live happily ever after, Bettye decided.

She checked in on Rosa and Jerome. It was nearly Christmas and they’d become fast friends and were becoming romantically involved. They went on an actual date, dinner and a movie.

Nothing for her to do about that. It just took time with some people.

She floated her cloud around the world, searching for souls, lonely and in pain. Floating over a school and following the strongest tug led her to the lunchroom.

A teenage boy sat all alone, eating the peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich he’d made that morning. He wasn’t hungry. The sandwich stuck in his throat.

He just wanted to walk away from lunch. Away from school. Away from everything.

Ethan’s world was exploding. His dad had left, gone to live with his girlfriend while waiting for the divorce to finalize. He had little time for Ethan now, between work and his girlfriend.

Ethan’s mom was melting down. She was working lots of overtime just to pay the bills and had no time or energy for him either. When she wasn’t working, she was sleeping. He heard sobbing from her room all the time.

He was left alone, nothing for comfort except the TV and his phone. No living creature was there to help catch him, and he was falling.

His misery was palpable to Bettye.

She nudged one of the teachers, brought him to her attention.

Ethan took his time eating. That way he wouldn’t have to talk to any of the other kids. They’d broken off into groups and were playing games or had gone outside.

The teacher began talking to the school librarian as they supervised the lunchroom.

“Ethan’s having a hard time lately. His parents are getting divorced, his mom told me at the conference. His grades are slipping. I’m not sure what to do. He needs help though.”

The librarian, aptly named Marion, said, “Poor kid, eating all alone. Doesn’t he have any friends?” She remembered Ethan from when he’d come to the library. Smart kid.

“He used to. But he’s been sitting alone ever since the trouble between his parents began. I don’t think he wants to talk to anyone. He seems to keep everything inside.”

“I have an idea,” said the librarian.

She went over to Ethan and sat down across from him.

“Hi Ethan. I have a problem. The person who used to help me in the library has moved. I just can’t get everything done. I know that you know your way around the library. Would you be willing to come in a couple days a week, after you’ve eaten, of course? Help shelve some books?”

Ethan had managed to swallow his sandwich.

“Sure. I could do that.”

“That would be such a relief,” she said. “Thank you. You can start any day you’d like, just show up.”

“Can I start today?” he asked, hope in his eyes.

“Perfect. Just come after you finish lunch, we all need to eat.”

He nodded and Bettye could see he was going to eat the rest of the sandwich in one huge bite.

The librarian said, “Well, I’ll see you there.” She got up and left the room, nodding at the other teacher.

Ethan wolfed down his sandwich, shouldered his backpack and got up to throw his garbage away. He followed the librarian, keeping far enough behind to make it look like he had taken the time to finish his lunch, chewing as he went. He stopped only to drink at a water fountain.

Once inside the old library, she pointed him towards the cart stacked high with battered books to shelve.

“I’m sure you remember, nonfiction goes on that wall, fiction in that half of the library and biography over on that wall,” she said, pointing. She picked up a book, showing him the spine. “Nonfiction has these numbers and fiction has call letters like this. If you can’t find where a book goes, just ask. If you see books that aren’t in the right place, feel free to put them where they belong. And when the bell rings, pull the cart back here and get to your next class. I don’t want to make you late.”

He nodded.

Bettye watched him push the cart around the library, finding where each book went and shelving it. Ethan grew calmer and calmer. Having a job to do made him feel useful. Not so worthless.

He’d always liked the library. Felt at home there. He loved to read and the library was a place of stories that were filled with adventures. The room even smelled good, filled with books. He found several things to check out, titles he’d never noticed before.

The librarian peered over her computer from time to time. She smiled.

Bettye checked back a week later. Ethan was sitting at lunch with his friends, talking and laughing. He finished eating quickly, though. Then rushed off to the library. He chattered with Marion about the latest fantasy he was reading, as he shelved books.

He was going to make it.

Bettye sighed with relief.

She returned to Rosa and Jerome. They were sitting in an elegant restaurant with white tablecloths, gleaming wine glasses and cloth napkins. Candles burned at every table.

Rosa was dressed in a maroon, velvet dress with a lacy neckline and cuffs. It seemed very fancy for her, she’d really dressed up. Jerome wore a black suit, that was perhaps a few years out of style, but still looked very nice indeed. His white sling cradled the broken arm.

The scent of roasted meat and garlic filled the air. Bettye didn’t eat, but she loved the smell of food.

They’d finished their meals and were ordering dessert.

Rosa sipped her wine. Jerome pulled a box out of his pocket, opened it with his good hand, and set the box on the table. Then with much effort, he knelt on the hardwood floor at Rosa’s feet.

“I know we haven’t been acquainted for long, but I feel as if I’ve known you my entire life. I’m not sure how much time we might have left together, so I’m declaring my intentions. Will you marry me Rosa?”

Rosa’s face flushed with emotion. Her hands went to her mouth as she gasped. Clearly, this was unexpected.

Bettye waited for her answer, just a little less anxious than Jerome.

“Yes, oh yes. I’ll marry you.”

“Thank you. You’ve made me the happiest man in the world today,” said Jerome. He took the ring out the box and slid it on Rosa’s finger.

“It’s beautiful,” she said.

“It was my grandmother’s.”

“I love it,” she said. “It fits. Now what are the chances of that?”

He laughed. “We’re soulmates. There’s no chance involved.”

He put his weight on the table, with his good arm, and then leveraged himself back up and into his chair, grinning madly.

Bettye was so happy for them, she made the cloud spin in circles as it moved out through the roof of the building.

Where should she go next?

She spread her awareness out, searching for the next being who needed help. She was excited to find the next souls to bring together.

Even though her shoulders ached. As did her entire body.

She looked down to see that her legs were growing longer, as were her arms. Her torso lengthened like it was stretching. Her wings felt as if someone was trying to pull them off. She looked back at the tips and felt them touching her calves. They’d never been that long.

It was happening. She was changing. She had passed the test.

It wasn’t about finding the perfect match. It was about becoming lost in the work. Enjoying bringing souls together, feeling their joy and letting that joy seep into her own lonely soul. To be vulnerable.

Her heart filled with joy, just like someone pouring wine into a cup.

She must be getting heavier. Her body sank through the cloud until she came out at the bottom.

Falling.

She panicked, flapped her great wings and shot forward just a bit. She flapped them again and her body rose.

It took a while before she could actually fly farther than a short distance. There would be no more standing on clouds anymore. She was too heavy for most of them.

She needed to find something more substantial to rest on. But what?

Where had the others gone?

She cleared her mind and asked again.

Where had the other transformed Amore gone?

There.

It was in that direction.

Bettye stretched her long, white wings and shot upward.

The cool air swept past her face as she flew.

Bettye didn’t know where exactly that she’d end up, but it was time for her own adventure.

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