A is for Angel
"Andre!" a shrill voice rang out over the quiet house and made the sleeping teenager stir.
"Andre, get up! Quick!"
Andre groaned and rolled out of bed. He stumbled through his bedroom door and out into the dimly lit kitchen, where his grandma was standing on a chair looking out the window.
"Grandma, it's five o' clock in the morning. Why are you up?"
She turned to her grandson, the whites of her eyes budging and waving her hands animatedly.
"Andre, there's an angel out there!" She pointed out the window she had been looking and put her hands on her head. "We need to get the angel inside, Andre, she needs us to protect her!"
Andre squinted through sleepy eyes at his grandmother and slowly shook his head. "How about you go get some rest, Grandma…Later, we can help the, er, angel."
"Boy," she took him by the shoulders and shook him. "I'm not crazy, there is an angel out there and she needs our help!"
Andre sighed.
"Okay," he said, gently taking her hands off him. "How about I go check? Will that make you feel better?"
She nodded and looked around, paranoid as always.
"…no good, lousy," Andre grumbled to himself as he walked to the back door and unlocked it. He poked his head out, and looked around. The yard was dark and quiet, and there was definitely no "angel."
"There's nothing out there, grandma," Andre closed the door and walked back to the kitchen. His grandma was on the chair again, peering out the window.
"Look! Andre, there she is again!"
"Where, grandma?"
"Out near the tree! In the other people's yard!"
"Fine," Andre groaned. "I'll go look."
After all, Cat lived next door. Her bedroom was even facing his kitchen. Maybe she had a hung a new poster on her wall or gotten new curtains or something, and it was confusing his grandma. Andre slipped on a pair of sandals and walked out the door.
He walked along the damp grass in the direction of the tree separating his and Cat's yards. At first, he saw nothing, but then he realized there was something. A pink yoga mat and a bottle of water, with Cat lying there, eyes closed looking peaceful.
"Um, Cat?" he asked. Her eyes flew open.
"Andre," she said, her little voice sounding surprised. "What are you doing here? Do you wanna join me in sunrise yoga?"
Andre stared at her. She was wearing a pair of fuzzy white shorts and a matching tank top. The sun was rising behind her house and made her hair and eyes glow in a way that was almost magical. Her flawless skin was makeup free and radiant…
"Huh," Andre said. "I guess maybe you could look like an angel from a distance."
Cat giggled.
"Thanks, I guess."
If it were anybody else, a statement like that would be one that made them go to Lane immediately and recommend counseling for Andre. But, since she was Cat, things were different. Sometimes in a good way.
"Cat," Andre was struck with a sudden idea. "Would you come with me for a moment?"
"Sure," she said, and as they walked back to Andre's house she did something unexpected. She took his big hand in her little one. Her touch was sweet and gentle, like a butterfly's.
"Grandma," Andre called as they opened the door to Andre's house. "Was this the angel?"
The scared looking woman walked forward nervously twisting her hands together.
"Hello Mrs. Harris," Cat chimed, pulling her into a hug like only Cat would do. "That is such a pretty nightgown! How have you been?"
"Okay," Andre's grandma nodded, looking at Cat closely. "You're an angel, right?"
"Well," Cat turned her head to the side, examining the woman closely. "I suppose so…If you want me to be. Hey, I have an idea. Do you want to make pancakes?"
She nodded slowly, and Cat took her hand happily and led her to the kitchen. Andre smiled. Cat may be silly and childish at times, maybe even a little dim, but she was exactly what Mrs. Harris needed. Maybe Cat knew, Andre decided. Maybe she knew that his grandma needed help and she purposely gave it to her. It was the way she took her hand and let her gently anywhere she wanted to go.
In a way, he thought as he watched her laugh and smile, not letting go of the elderly ladies gnarled hand, maybe his grandma was right.
Maybe Cat was an angel.
Note: These drabbles won't always be this length! Generally, they'll be from like four hundred to six hundred words so pretty short. Review, and let me know what you all think of this so far! 143!
