As I was sniffling through the tears, I managed to subside them for a little while. "I've been thinking about Uncle Joe. I know for sure he was there with me when the guys broke into the house." I looked to Dad, then to everyone else in the room. I looked over to the bed at where I was sitting and Uncle Joe was sitting there smiling.
"Tell Dad, he left his keys in the right pocket of his brown coat. His favorite one that mom got him for Christmas ten years ago before you were born. Tell him he put 'em there when he was leaving the house going to the air show." He smiled again. It made me smile, knowing that I wasn't alone in my problems, and I could talk to him if I needed advice. I nodded, turned back to Grandpa and told him.
"Uncle Joe said to tell you that your keys are in the right pocket of your favorite coat that Grandma got you ten years ago for Christmas before I was born. And that you put them there when you left the house going to the air show."
Grandpa smiled and said, "Oh? Well, tell your Uncle Joe that I said thank you and that I'll be right back to check."
I giggled and said, "Uncle Joe can hear you, Grandpa. He's sitting right over there on Daddy's bed. In between Pop and Uncle Jamie."
Uncle Joe stood up and walked over to me and put his hand on my head. "I need to go, for now, little one. But remember, I'll always be there to protect you, and so will God. If you are ever in trouble, start praying and He will keep you safe." He bent down and kissed my forehead. He put a hand on Dad's shoulder, then on Grandpa's. They both felt it and looked at me. Uncle Joe ruffled my hair, smiled at me, and walked out of the room past Grandpa and disappeared.
Grandpa walked downstairs to look for his keys, and hollered down the hallway "Don't go on without me!" I laid my head on Dad's shoulder as we waited for Grandpa to get back. When he finally did, I looked up to him and almost started to cry again.