Guardian Angel

I knew it. You are real. I was right.

Except no one calls me that anymore.

What do they call you?

They don’t.

When my parents split. I was clingy I’m told.

My approach took some convincing. It came down to a close vote. Remembering is overrated.

That’s why all I have is other people’s stories?

Memory tells stories too. Your slant would have hurt more.

When I ran away from home. To my friend’s house. Her dad was a minister. Later convicted of child abuse.

You’d been down that road before. Let’s just say your friend’s Mom was more alert than usual that night.

The time I drank from the back of my Dad’s liquor cabinet. Then drove around for hours. My head was so fuzzy.

It took some doing to keep good people out of your way.

The time I went to my Spanish Professor’s party. There was something sinister in the weed they passed around.

You were exhausting back then.

That job that fell into my lap after college. I know there were others better qualified.

Your Uncle saw something in you. It was his idea to call his friend on your behalf. That was all him.

I still thank him from time to time. That job set me up for other great jobs.

Being thankful is a gift. I did intervene on the golf course though.

When he had his heart attack?

The defibrillator was close but nudging the fastest runner to action takes some skill.

And all the times I’ve asked for guidance over the years?

That goes further up the chain than me.

There haven’t been many close calls lately.

That you know of.

What about all that bad stuff that happened to me?

(Sighing) Into every life a little rain must fall.

Do you watch over my kids now too?

I’m not at liberty to say.

I should go.

See you at the... I mean, good bye.