So now we know that Grandfather is up to something……. But what?
Anyway, to all fans of Nigel and those who ship him, no offence because my OC's going to get really close to him!
I don't think I should go on writing disclaimers…..
Chapter 8: I'll Try
I laid on my bed in my treehouse bedroom and pulled on the covers, trying to hide from the world. I couldn't believe what I just did. After all the promises about how I will forever be a kid at heart, I broke all of them…….
My friends were only having fun, I mean, what's wrong with Wally making faces at Nigel? What's wrong with Nigel using his powers to play a trick back onto him? What's wrong with Kuki singing nursery rhymes as Hoagie and Abby made a pun about it?
As I remembered, I was sitting on the couch in the living room, thinking about my childhood days. Nigel was sitting on the opposite couch, with his legs folded under him and chanting something. Wally came up behind him and looked him weirdly, then he pulled a face behind him. I didn't know why I got angry, I yelled at Wally, but he only made stupid faces at me. I was furious.
Nigel opened one eye and looked at Wally, he snapped his fingers and a force made Wally trip over. Then Kuki, who was sitting not too far away, begin singing "Humpty Dumpty" at the top of her voice. Hoagie and Abby begin making silly puns about Wally's 'fall'.
Somehow, all these irritated me. I got so angry that I yelled something only a villain would yell, "Would you all stop being so childish?!"
Childish! I called them childish! After all the promises I made on being a kid at heart and never saying, not even thinking about the word childish. That was when I ran away, back into the safety of my room, away from my friends' horrified stares…….
As I sat there, thinking if my friends will take me as a 'rotten teenager' from now on, a voice called out gently to me. "Darrel?"
I jumped up in shock, I didn't hear the door opening, I didn't hear the ringing of the little wind-chime I hung at the door. I looked up and saw Nigel standing by my bed, looking at me sadly.
"Darrel? Is there anything wrong?" he asked in a low voice.
I tried to bury myself back under the covers, but something about Nigel made me stop. There was something different about him, he spoke a soft, gentle tone, his English accents were stronger than ever, and I noticed his eyes seemed clearer, as clear as ice.
Nigel sat down beside me on the bed. I tried to turn away, but found I couldn't. I wondered if Nigel was using the force he used on Wally to pull me to him.
"Darrel, I know you are sad over what happened just now, but I can see something is bothering you, you must tell me….."
I looked into his eyes, "I'm….. I'm growing up……"
"That's normal, everyone must grow up on the outside……"
"No, not only on the outside, on the inside too. I want to be a kid at heart, but…..." I could say no more.
Nigel nodded, "I see. But even if someone stays kid at heart forever, a small part of him or her will grow up, no matter what."
"Do…. do you think growing up is a kind of virus or something?" I asked half-frightened.
Nigel smiled, "It is if you grow up too much or too fast, on the inside that is. But if you let the kid inside you stay forever, the 'virus' will never get to you!"
I smiled at him and said, "Yeah, I'll try to do so….."
I notice he has made his wings appear, his long red wings which looked so fluffy. I suddenly remembered I had never touched his wings before. Slowly I reached out towards them, and stroked one of them. To my surprise, it felt silky and fluffy at the same time! It felt like both a velvet cloth and a soft pillow. I cuddled his wing in my arms.
"Aw, Darrel….." I heard Nigel say, "You like my wings don't you….."
Suddenly, a voice came from behind us, "I used to have a girl who would do that to me!" We turned in surprise. A boy with brown hair had appeared there, it was Micah! He smiled at us.
"Micah! I was trying to contact you with my mind the whole morning!" said Nigel as he stood up, I let go of his wing.
"I heard you Nigel. I'm sorry I couldn't come, I was helping some poor African children." I stared at Micah in amazement, he was an angel, why did he need to bother about earthly things?
"So, it seems like Benedict attacked you last night." said Micah to Nigel, who nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me Grandfather was after me!? Why didn't you tell me he was the one behind all these attacks?" blurted out Nigel suddenly, it was so sudden that I nearly yelled.
"I couldn't let you know, the leader of all Angels said that you had to go through what happened last night!" was the reply.
"You could have at least hint me on it!"
"It was an order!" Micah seemed to be losing his temper, "I have to obey orders!" he almost yelled.
Nigel suddenly sat down onto the bed, as if all his energy was used up. I continued stroking his wing. "Why…..?" he asked to himself, "Why is being an Earthly Angel so difficult?"
Micah walked up, I couldn't even hear his footsteps on the floor, he laid his hand on Nigel's shoulder, "It is an honour to be an Earthly Angel, you can help people on Earth. I was an Earthly Angel when I was still alive, but I didn't take my responsibility seriously, I am regretting it now, that's why I still try to help the helpless on Earth!"
Nigel kept silent, he was still looking down. I saw a drop of water fall from his eyes onto the floor. The droplet laid there shimmering even when my shadow blocked sunlight from it, "Angel tears….." I thought.
"So…so this means, I'm still alive?" asked Nigel looking up to Micah.
"Indeed you are. You have been given a second chance to live, Nigel, as well as powers to come with it, use it well!" was Micah's reply.
I was still looking at the teardrop on the floor, it gave one last shimmer and vanished. Then I heard Nigel say, "I'll try, Micah, I promise I will……"
Deep inside my heart, I also made a quiet vow, "I'll try to be a kid at heart forever, I'll try….."
Yeah, I'm always trying to be a kid at heart, kind of like the last thing Nigel said in INTERVIEWS…..
Thank ya fer readin'!