Chapter 6 – Closing Time

Muriel had gotten into the habit of going to the Coffee Shop at closing time. She would stack chairs and help sweep up and in return, Nina and Maggie would let her ask questions she had thought of that day. Before the Ball, they thought she was Mr. Fell's niece, who had been raised by nuns in a convent. Now, they knew she was another angel who was watching over Earth. They were still surprised they had been trusted to keep the secret and regarded Muriel as a child they had to help protect. The pair would marvel at the naivete of Heavenly creatures and sometimes had a laugh over Muriel's questions.

But today Nina also had questions, as Muriel entered, wearing a pale green ballgown, complete with bell-shaped skirt that whooshed through the door.

"Why?" Nina looked Muriel up and down, "the dress?"

"You know that Mr. Fell and Mr. Crowley were trying to help improve my understanding of humans? I just finished reading Jane Austen's novels as recommended by Mr. Fell and I wanted to know what petticoats were like. They sway beautifully," and Muriel was spinning across the floor, almost hitting Maggie as she entered.

"Are we having another ball?" she asked as she hugged Nina.

"No, but we won't have to sweep tonight", Nina whispered. Maggie giggled, and then asked the dancing angel, "Are Mr. Fell or Mr. Crowley in the bookshop? I saw the Bentley parked outside".

"Mr. Fell is still gone, so it's just Mr. Crowley. He told me to go away."

"Still? Mr. Crowley must be terribly lonely. How is he?"

"He sits staring at Mr. Fell's chair and drinks a lot of scotch. Occasionally he laughs at nothing. He said I was watching too loudly and sent me over here. He is usually better or leaves after an hour or so. I know what 'lonely' feels like. I didn't know I was supposed to drink; we don't drink at the office."

"Everyone deals with loneliness differently. I clean, Maggie sleeps, apparently Crowley drinks. I think you try to find people to be with, which makes you the smartest." Muriel's face lit up at that comment. "When is Mr. Fell returning? He left so unexpectedly.."

"I'm not sure. He's very busy, but we're making progress…."Muriel's phone rang, and she pulled out a cheap basic phone which she answered, "Hello, we're Muriel….yes, I will ask and return soon….you're welcome…ciao." She turned to the pair, "Nina, Mr. C would like an eight espresso shot please. He says thank you and 'put it on his tab'."

"Put it on his tab? Who has tabs anymore?" Nina pressed and poured while Maggie explained what a tab was to Muriel. Nina handed the cup to Muriel. "Tell him it's on the house".

"But it's in the cup". Muriel was still very new to Earth.

"'On the house' means the business is buying, making the item free of charge to the customer." Maggie's patience with the angel, and everyone, was one of the things Nina loved about her.

"On the House. Free." Muriel filed it away in her mental list of idioms.

"Any other questions today? Nina asked, doing her second final cleaning of the espresso machine that evening.

"Yes. A gentleman called me a 'dizzy bird' and I didn't know how to respond. He wanted help finding a book, and I said, 'you won't find it, Mr. Fell hides the books'." Muriel pulled a pad and pencil out of her pocket, ready to take notes. Maggie noticed it looked like a dance card of the 19th century.

Nina answered this one, "Well, 'bird' is a 1960's slang term for female. 'Dizzy' implies that you, well, lack understanding. He didn't understand you and tried to mask his confusion. Any other questions?"

Muriel nodded as she put the dance card away. "I do, actually. Humans are so much more emotional than angels and maybe angels become more human the longer they stay on Earth. I know that you know Mr. Fell and Mr. Crowley are not human, but they both almost seem to be. Since Mr. Fell's promotion, they're both so sad; especially Mr. Crowley."

"Your question?"

"Are they going to get better?"

"That's not an easy question to answer." Maggie looked to Nina for confirmation. Nina nodded and added "It's going to take time, especially if they aren't speaking".

"Can I help? I want to. They've been so kind to me." Muriel pouted and she reached out toward the bookshop, as it symbolized her friends.

Maggie consoled her, "It seems like you are in contact with them both. Just do what they ask of you, but don't try to push them together. You are their contact with each other for now. And you will do it very well."

"You think so? Oh, thank you!"

"Now take Mr. Crowley his coffee before it's cold. We'll see you tomorrow.

"Yes, Good Night. I'll see you tomorrow" and Muriel flounced out in a rustle of taffeta.

The pair watched her enter the bookshop.

Maggie spoke with the strength she usually kept hidden, "I'm worried about this 'promotion' and what it might bring."

Nina replied with the tenderness she usually kept guarded, "Why can't Heaven and Hell leave them alone?"