When Angels Dare

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU to the good-looking young man who inspires my writing.

His name is Timothy Isaiah Gabriel Tan-Miller.

He’s my son. He came into the world on the fifth of January 1996 and stole my heart.

He left this world at just fifteen, on the nineteenth of May 2011.

For me, he will always be around. He’ll always be remembered. He’ll always be forever young. He is the reason I write.

Writing has become my therapy. It helps me cope with my grief. So, I want to honour him for the positivity he brings into my life even when he’s no longer physically around.

I love you, Timmy. Thank you for the memories.

I love Sam, James, and Hannah in equal measure.

1: She’s Somewhere Out There

DANIEL OPENED HIS EYES and then quickly closed them again to protect them from the intense glare of the morning sun. Yesterday, he put in a double shift at the emergency department of St Luke’s Hospital at Potts Point, not far from the infamous Kings Cross of Sydney.

It was almighty chaos throughout the day and night. It started with five vehicular casualties and ended with three drug overdoses. In between, there were three sick children, six adults with work-related injuries and one mental case. It was one of those days he thought he might have made a huge mistake; he might have misheard his calling, that he wasn’t cut out to be a doctor.

Perhaps it’s not too late to change the course of my life.

He turned to face the wall before opening his eyes again. The walls were bare; symptomatic of his sterile existence. In some ways, he had gotten used to his ordinary and uneventful home life. But what’s not to like?

My home life is relaxing. Peaceful. Quiet. Serene.

He sighed when he twigged that the adjectives all meant the same.

He took a deep breath, then exhaled the air forcefully. It helped somewhat. Sometimes, he had this sense of melancholy he couldn’t explain.

Five minutes later, he forced himself to get up. He realised he hadn’t gotten out of his scrubs the night before. He undressed right by the laundry basket, dumped the used clothes in it ready to take to the laundromat.

Naked, he went to his sterile kitchen, pressed the espresso machine for a cappuccino, and then padded back to the bathroom to turn on the hot water for his shower. It was his peculiar ritual. This way, he didn’t have to wait for his coffee, then have to wait for the hot water to run, too.

He returned to the kitchen in time to see his mug full to the brim. He drank it while it was still warm. There were days when he lamented how everything seemed to be done in a rush. He should savour his coffee, enjoy it, taste it, smell it, but time seemed to move too fast these days. If he didn’t gulp it down quickly, he might not have one at all!

Just then, he became aware of the music playing. His thoughts went back briefly to his childhood, to the time he first saw the movie ‘An American Tail’.

As he listened to the song, he was no longer thinking of the Jewish mouse who got separated from his family but rather longed for someone with whom he could share his life.

It hadn’t been possible to find a love partner where he’d been working the last six years. Pretty nurses surrounded him, but all seemed to be taken. He scratched his head.

What else is there to do?

He finished his coffee, then headed for the shower.

SITTING ON HIS TWO-SEATER SOFA was his Guardian Angel, Galileo. He’d been exhausted; very exhausted.

Minding Daniel Lewis Philips, he was sure, was a punishment. The Council of the Seven Archangels told him it was a promotion. If this was a promotion then he really, really didn’t want it. Since being assigned to Daniel, Dan, Dano, whatever—his life had been one hell (oops, sorry God) one hell of a mess. Not a moment of peace.

He supplicated.

‘Come on, in one day I’ve had to save him five times. Five times! What the hell! (oops, sorry again God).’

He sighed, then added, ‘Okay, to be fair, he’s a nice guy. So, I don’t really mind.’

Galileo had a thought that since Dan was in the shower, he could leave him for a little while. Surely, he could hardly hurt himself in there. And surely no one would dare break and enter while he quietly minds his own business.

GALILEO WENT TO SEE Guardian Angel Thaddeus, who was supposed to be watching someone named Guinevere Winney somewhere in Chatswood. He appeared next to Guin’s bedside expecting to find Thaddeus, but the G.A. wasn’t in the house.

Why not, I wonder? I’ll wait for fifteen minutes.

He sat on a chair next to Guin, observing the young woman peacefully sleeping. She’s just the girl for my boy, he thought. He smiled, knowing that he’d found the woman of Dan’s dream.

But where on earth is Angel Thaddeus?

He was about to depart when said Angel appeared.

‘Where in Heaven’s name have you been?’ he asked the truant Angel.

‘Oh, hello, Galileo, where’s your manners? Anyway, I’ve been to the Manchester United game.’

‘What? You went to watch a football game and left your charge behind?’ Galileo said in disbelief.

‘Soccer, you mean,’ corrected Thaddeus. ‘And by the way, my charge never ever comes to any harm. All she does all day is teach cute little toddlers, then come home and sleep. She hasn’t so much as scraped her knees since the fifth grade.’

Galileo groaned and looked up to Heaven.

‘How is this even fair, God? I get to watch the hard case, and he gets to do the easy beat.’

Angel Thaddeus chuckled.

‘At any rate, what are you doing here?’ inquired Thaddeus after he peeked into his sleeping charge and found that indeed she was alright. The only bad thing that happened to her during the night was that she drooled on her pillow.

‘I want to discuss something with you,’ opened Angel Galileo. ‘My boy is lonely and wants a girlfriend. Your girl suits my boy. They’re suited to each other. We ought to do something about it.’

Angel Thaddeus was momentarily shocked. When he recovered, he said, ‘Heaven forbid! No way! No way! Ah, ah. No, no, no, no.’

Then it was Angel Galileo’s turn to be outraged.

‘Why not? What’s your problem with my boy? He’s respectful, kind, good-looking, intelligent, amazing, loving and loyal.’

Angel Thaddeus countered with ‘AND he’s a doctor, AND he works in the emergency department of a very busy hospital in the heart of Sydney. So, NO! Big fat no!’

‘What’s wrong with being a doctor in the ER?’

‘Look at me,’ said Angel Thaddeus. ‘I have a good life. My girl goes to kindy, teaches littlies, comes home tired and goes to sleep. If she hooks up with your boy, his problem will become hers, and hers will become mine. So, NO!’

Angel Galileo gasped.

‘How selfish of you! I shall report you to the Council.’

At the mention of being reported, Angel Thaddeus became conciliatory.

‘Okay, let’s say I agree to this half-baked idea. How on Earth are they ever going to meet? Their worlds are as far apart as the North and South poles. Their paths never cross. They don’t even know the other one exists.’

‘But that’s what we’re here for, isn’t it? To make Heavenly things happen? To make miracles possible? To save lives? To help when needed? Not just go off and watch Manchester United play! By the way, who won?’

Angel Thaddeus rolled his eyes.

‘We lost 2-0.’

‘Sorry, I asked. So, are you gonna help?’

‘I’ll think about it,’ said Angel Thaddeus. ‘By the way, how long have you been here?’

Angel Galileo nearly had a heart attack: he’d been away from Daniel’s side for over an hour!

‘Oh dear, I better go.’

IT WAS A GOOD THING he did when he did because the good doctor was being held hostage by a patient, a drug-addled teenager who was demanding to be given his drug of choice.

Angel Galileo stood by his side and whispered, ‘I left you for an hour, and you’re in trouble already.’

Strangely, although the hostage-taker was holding a knife to his throat, Daniel had a sudden sense of peace—a feeling that everything was going to be okay. Especially when a policeman arrived to talk the drug addict down.

Vincent, the cop’s Guardian Angel, winked at Angel Galileo, who nodded back in appreciation. Between the two Heavenly Creatures, and the policeman’s intervention, Daniel’s arse was saved.

In the meantime, Angel Thaddeus still wasn’t convinced hooking up his girl to Galileo’s boy was a good idea. But he noticed that his girl was kind of lonely, too.

‘Umm...’

2: Conniving Angels

DAN SHOWERED UNTIL the hot water ran out. He was eating breakfast when his cell phone rang and jiggled on the kitchen counter. In between chewing and swallowing his piece of toast, he said to himself, ‘It’s ten past eight in the morning, for crying out loud.’

He ignored the call and felt justified doing so because he had assigned different ringtones to different people.

If it were the emergency department calling, it’d be screaming Code Red.

If it were anyone of his buddies, who were mostly in the medical profession, the sound of a siren would go off.

If it were one of his family members, it would belt out the tune We Are Family.

Instead, it was just ringing, so it was probably a telemarketer somewhere in India who didn’t know about the time difference.

But, five minutes later, it was going off again!

He reached for it and made a promise that if it were a telemarketer he’d put them on hold, that should stop them from making another call.

‘Hello,’ he answered, sounding a little impatient.

‘Hey, it’s your sister.’

Rhonda, his one and only sibling, must have lost her phone again. She was older by five years and a bit, and the love of his romance-less life.

Growing up, he used to call her Rhoster, a hybrid of Rhonda and sister. On occasion, he still did, like right now.

‘What’s up, Rhoster?’ Dan said with a smile in his voice. ‘New number, eh?’

She laughed out loud, like it’s supposed to be funny.

‘Yeah, third in two months, I keep losing my bleepin’ phone.’

He rolled his eyes.

‘Rho, you don’t have to change phone numbers every time you get a new phone, you know.’

‘You don’t?’

‘No, you don’t. You can ask for the same number back,’ he replied. ‘So, why are you calling so early in the morning?’

‘Calling to remind you we’re celebrating Elena’s birthday today. Come over if you’re free.’

Elena, his most favourite little niece in the world, was born when he was twenty-two; and his nephew, Elena’s older brother, Jorge, when he was just eighteen.

He momentarily thought how amazing it was that Rho was married, and having babies, at the tender age of twenty-three. And he? Well, still a bachelor-at-large at the ripe old age of twenty-six years, six months and seven days!

‘Sure, I’d like that. It just so happens I’m free today. How old is she?’

‘She’s three today.’

He could hear a happy little girl squealing, mucking around with her big brother, nine-year-old Jorge.

‘Is that her I can hear in the background?’

‘She’s the one. Would you like to speak to her?’

‘Yeah, I’d love to.’

Rho called Elena over.

‘It’s your Uncle Dan.’

He felt sadness in his heart when the little girl said, ‘Who’s he?’

He overheard Rho explain, ‘My brother, your Uncle, and godfather, Elena. We don’t see him often, but he’s coming today for your party. Here, speak to him.’

He sensed little Elena wasn’t going to be keen to talk to a ‘stranger’.

‘Me, me, I’ll talk to him,’ said Jorge.

Rho came back on the line.

‘Elena’s a little shy.’

‘Figures. I should visit more often,’ he conceded.

‘That you should, Dan,’ she said with emphasis. ‘But Jorge wanna talk to you.’

She passed the phone to the boy.

‘Uncle Dan, how are you?’

‘I’m great. And you, what have you been up to?’

‘Studying hard. Uncle Dan, I’m top of my class in science and maths,’ he said proudly.

‘Wow, that’s amazing. That deserves a reward,’ Dan said encouragingly.

Then, he felt a little ashamed. The last time he took Jorge out was to see ‘The Lion King,’ the stage musical version. It had been six years since he’d done any uncle-ly activities with his nephew.

So, he asked, ‘What would you like us to do?’

‘Can I come to work with you?’

He thought about it for a second and said, ‘Umm, I’m not sure. Let me talk about it with my boss first, okay? But is there anything I can get for you?’

Jorge excitedly said, ‘A chemistry set.’

‘Done. By the way, where’s the party and what time?’

The boy hollered, ‘Dad! Mom! Where’s the party and what time?’

‘Lane Cove National Park, enter via Lady Game Drive, the picnic area. One-p.m. And tell Uncle Dan to bring his soccer jersey.’

Jorge relayed the information; his uncle said, ‘Okay, I’ll be there. See you soon, mate.’

Listening in to the conversation, Angel Galileo sparked up!  By Jorge! Just what I need to hear.

Dan was now very motivated to start the day. He looked at his to-do list: vacuum, clean kitchen, take laundry. To that list, he added shop for presents.

‘Good,’ Angel Galileo said happily. Then, exhorting his unhearing charge, he added, ‘Stay here and be a good boy. I have an errand to run.’

THE ANGEL FLEW ACROSS town to Guin’s apartment, smashing into Angel Thaddeus, who was playing an imaginary harp in the living room as he listened to Bach’s Cello Suite Number One.

‘What’s wrong with you?’ yelped Thaddeus.

Galileo ignored the reprimand.

‘I have something to tell you. My boy is going to be at Lane Cove National Park, in the picnic area, at one-p.m.’

‘So?’ said Thaddeus.

Galileo exhaled in frustration.

‘Don’t you get it? He’s gonna be in her neck of the woods. And it’s Saturday; it’s her day off. Couldn’t you, at least, nudge her to go jogging at the park or something?’

‘Or something,’ said Thaddeus.

‘What do you mean, or something?’

‘Well, as I said, she’s not scraped her knees since the fifth grade and why do you think that is so? My girl doesn’t do jogging. She does dance and yoga. And, if she needs more exercise, she uses her legs to go shopping.’

‘Shopping! That’s it! Where does she shop?’

‘She enjoys window shopping at Westfield in Chatswood. Why?’

‘Nudge her to go to a Toy Store. Around ten-thirty-a.m.’

The penny dropped!

They shook hands on it.

Galileo rushed back to Dan in time to see him pack his soccer jersey inside a sports bag.

The Angel smiled, pleased with himself as he sat relaxed in the passenger seat.

‘Drive away, my boy.’

FIRST STOP, THE LAUNDROMAT.

The Angel got a tad agitated when his charge and Elizabeth, the laundry owner, got talking about everything under the sun. He pricked Dan’s ears.

‘Let’s go! Let’s go! We need to be somewhere at ten-thirty.’

It took three ‘see ya’ before the laundry owner finally let her favourite customer go.

‘Okay, gifts—’

Dan considered a small village shop. He hated big malls. Using his smartphone, he googled the nearest village shop near the park.

Galileo groaned, he kept saying, ‘No, no, no, no. Go to Westfield. Go to Westfield!’

Dan sat in the car to mull it over.

The Guardian Angel smacked his knees in utter displeasure. He glared and ranted at Dan: ‘You can be so annoying sometimes! You, who have no issue making a quick decision about which drug to give someone who’s dying, but deciding where to go to buy a child’s toy...? Seriously!’

OUT OF THE BLUE, DAN declared, ‘I should go to Westfield.’

Finally!

Angel Galileo gleefully nodded his head.

‘Yeah, yeah. That’s it; there’s a big toy store there.’

To cut a long story short, Dan went to the Mall, to a shop called ‘Toys, Toys, Toys’.

He got there at the appointed time; exactly ten-thirty a.m. He wandered around helplessly, totally bamboozled by the number of choices.

What does a three-year-old girl want?

He checked out the girlie toys, picking up one thing at a time and reading the labels to find out what they were supposed to do; he was so caught up in the moment.

What distracted his attention was the hint of floral perfume in the air. He sniffed the scent appreciatively. The appealing, delicate scent of jasmine was just right.

He turned around to find a woman in a sleeveless floral maxi dress, overlaid with a sheer, white shawl. Her curly hair was held back with a white scrunchy, but a few strands of stray hair framed her face. She was carrying a wicker basket with a decorative ribbon around it.

Wicker basket, he thought. How quaint.

There he was, standing in front of her transfixed. Utterly speechless and gaping at her.

Her face tilted to the right seeing him standing there like a statue. Guin smiled and asked, ‘Are you alright?’

He stammered, ‘Um, oh, yeah. Just not sure what to get my three-year-old niece.’ He opened his arms out in a gesture of defeat and said, ‘Too many choices.’

She laughed, her eyes following his hand, which held a Barbie doll.

‘Need any help?’ she asked.

Meanwhile, Angels Galileo and Thaddeus were, uhum, beside themselves. They high-fived and patted each other’s back, excited as.

Wow, finally!

‘What does she like?’ she asked.

Dan looked down at his feet and said, ‘Honestly, this is embarrassing, but I don’t know much about her. I haven’t seen her much lately.’

‘It’s alright,’ she said. ‘Well, you’ll be surprised, little girls don’t necessarily like toys. They like to use their imagination, so the best things are costumes, picture books, paint and easel, modelling clay. A ball would be perfect for outdoor activity.’

‘Thanks for the suggestions,’ he said. ‘I think I’ll get her some picture books.’

Galileo urged, ‘Get her name. Come on!’

Guin smiled, ‘Glad I could help.’

Looking at her smiling face, Dan was tongue-tied.

Galileo hissed into his ears, ‘At least tell her your name...’ but it was too late. She had made an about-face and was heading away.

The Angels thumped their foreheads in unison.

Thaddeus added insult to injury: ‘He’s a bit slow.’

Galileo hung his head in shame.

DAN MADE IT TO THE park on time. He presented Elena her birthday present and another to Jorge. Both children were delighted with their gifts.

For Elena, it was a box set of Dr Seuss’ books. The little girl, to his surprise, was an early reader.

To Elena’s joy, Dan’s reading was delivered with voice animation. ‘Read it again,’ she kept saying.

Close to an hour later, Rho came to his rescue.

‘Elena, leave your Uncle Dan alone now. He hasn’t had anything to eat. Go and play with your friends.’

‘Last one,’ she said.

They read the ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ last.

Around two-ish, after just fifteen minutes of soccer, his cell phone blared out a Code Red. He excused himself.

‘I gotta take this.’

Rho waved her hand and said, ‘We know what you gotta do.’

He answered the call then bade his extended family a hasty goodbye. He ran to his car, Angel Galileo following closely behind.