Page 1 of Angel Condemned

Jody

“Why aren’t you in bed?” I dropped the grocery bags on the counter and the egg carton burst open, releasing several eggs. I lunged forward to catch them all in my arms, but three rolled across the stove and splattered onto the floor.

My dad gave me a sheepish look, but his face was pale, and he hunched over from the pain. “I wanted to help.”

“It’s okay.” Panic dried my throat. He needed to be resting, not doing chores. “Why don’t you read me the headlines while I put these away and make some breakfast?” I forced a smile and made sure my eyes crinkled in the corners so Dad would buy it. One good thing about taking a community acting class was learning how to fake a smile. Mine always looked unreal and like I was in pain when I had tried before.

“All in the eyes,” my professor had said.

“How about I read our weekly horoscopes instead?” Dad offered and sat down at the kitchen table.

“Works for me.” I grabbed a handful of paper towels and wiped up the egg goop. At least I managed to salvage eight of the eggs to make omelets. “I’ll make some bacon too. That way you can crumble it into your food.”

“I don’t even think bathing in bacon could get rid of the nasty aftertaste of my meds.”

And I hated that he had to have the stinking medicine. If there was a cure, I’d do anything to get it. “Do you want spicy or cheesy?”

“Both.” He turned the pages of the paper in search of the horoscope section.

I hurriedly put the groceries away before he noticed my hands were shaking.

“Ah, here it is.”

I set a pan on the stove, adding oil, and turning the burner on medium.

“Says here that I’m going to win the lottery. Oh, and there’s a co-worker that’s interested in me.” He squinted at the words before looking up at me. “You think that could be my nurse, Florence?”

“No idea, Dad.” I chuckled. “Those things are all fun, you know that right?”

“Yeah, yeah.” He turned back to the paper.

I cracked the eggs into a bowl, added a touch of milk, salt and pepper before beating them. Then I took out the precut onions, peppers, and shredded cheese. “So, what’s mine say?”

He didn’t answer, but he was muttering over the paper.

I poured the eggs into the sizzling pan, then added the other ingredients.

“Yours makes no sense.” He shook his head.

“Don’t keep me in suspense. What does it say?” I opened the cabinet and took out two plates, setting them on the counter, before popping the pre-cooked bacon in the microwave to warm it up.

“You will meet a dark stranger who will take you to new worlds.”

The eggs popped and I jumped, then shook my head with a laugh. “Okay, so that means I’m going to catch a bus and it’ll take me to a new restaurant. You know, I’ve been wanting to try out that Smörgåsbord place that opened up downtown.” I pointed at my dad with the spatula. “The one that promises new world cuisines.”

“That’s not what your horoscope means, Jody.”

“Dad.” I rolled my eyes, dividing up the omelet between two plates. “Come on. That stuff isn’t real, it’s just for show and fun. Coincidences. Random sayings that could apply to anyone.”

“Don’t mock what you don’t understand.” His voice was soft and tight.

I set his plate in front of him and took my usual spot across from him. The other two empty spots a constant reminder of my mom and sister who had been killed in a plane crash three years ago.

“Eat before it gets cold,” I said gently. He needed food in his stomach in order to take his medicine. What he really needed was multiple mechanical transplants, but those were for the filthy rich.

My dad studied his food. “Jody, there are things in this universe that we can’t explain. Magic. Miracles.” He looked up at me and I caught a glimpse of how he used to be. The softball coach. The comedian who did funny voices just to get me, Mom, and Vivian to laugh.

How I’d been the Tomboy, seeking Dad’s approval however I could. While Vivian had been so pretty and ladylike. Her and Mom had been on their way to a beauty pageant up on Decca 12. A simple small flight to the space shuttle they’d catch in Boston. Then their plane had missed the landing spot, clipped a forest, and crashed into the ground.

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