Angels

ANGELIC CONTACT Two high school boys used to tease me. Not the playful kind of teasing. They knew I was terribly shy and they would slowly follow me in their car while I walked on the sidewalk. They shouted to each other so I would overhear them as they recited all the dirty things they would do to me if they could get me alone.

I'm sure I did nothing to encourage them. Although I had a decent figure, I wore baggy clothes to try to disguise it. But I did have one habit which finally gave them an opportunity to get to me. I loved walking at night under the stars, all alone, because I always felt close to God under the beautiful heavens.

So one night, they saw me. No other cars were around on that particular street of our small town. They started yelling four letter words and making propositions. I blushed and walked faster as I ignored them, trying to get home as fast as possible. I prayed to God to help me. To keep me safe, just this one time, and I would never walk alone in the dark again.

They pulled their car up ahead of me, onto the sidewalk, and jumped out to block my path. I turned around, prepared to run away. But there, on the other side of me, was a tall, muscular man. I did not recognize him. This was unusual as most everyone knew each other in our little corner of the world.

His eyes were gentle and suddenly I felt calm. I simple knew he wouldn't let anything bad happen to me. He told the boys that he was my protector and to get back in their car and drive on. They laughed.

The next thing that happened was strange. Both boys tumbled to the ground as if pushed or hit. All of us looked at the stranger who acted as if nothing happened at all. The boys rushed to their car and left.

I thanked the man. He smiled and offered to walk me home. Along the way he told me that I should not make promises to God that I wasn't positive I could keep. He suggested I get a big dog to take on walks with me.

He never told me his name but I'm positive he was an angel. How else could the invisible "push" be explained? And the very next morning a big, stray dog was sitting on my porch, waiting to be loved and taken for walks.