AN ANGEL'S FRIENDSHIP story

A dot of movement grew larger as it rushed downwards. Like a runaway candle it entered the earth’s atmosphere. Almost like a chunk broken off the moon?

Or, is it a flying saucer?

Look, it’s a beautiful young angel. And her name is Esther. Now she smacks into a high spruce tree. One wing is trapped between two branches.

"Help me," is a cry that travels across the valley.

"HEELLP MEEE!!" is an answering echo.

Looking down between the limbs, Esther could see a pond. At first it seemed no one else was around. But, croaking sounds came to her ears.

“Who is that stranger stuck in the tree?” frogs asked, eyes bulging in surprise.

"Please, help me get LOOOOSE," the angel called.

"But we can't climb trees," their croaky voices answered.

A hawk listened from his perch. He thought about chasing this falling visitor before she landed in the tree. Too late, now his dinner is overdue.

As the angel twisted around, one branch gave way. Esther dropped to a lower resting place.

She had been so careful to follow her plan. Around the moon, left at Newfoundland, then land beside Cobequid Bay near Truro, Nova Scotia.

Landing on a nearby pasture was the plan, not on top of the highest tree in the forest. "Is anyone else around?" she whispered.

Three mallard ducks were busy feeding on vegetation and insects. "Quack! Quack!" they shouted. "Are you in trouble?"

"Yes, please help me," the angel pleaded from above.

“Not me,” said the largest duck. “Those branches might ruin my colorful feathers.” The others agreed. “I might get stuck myself,” another said.

"Let me try," said one small duck. He paddled furiously across the pond then leaped into space. He was able to get a closer look at the problem.

As his wings brushed against several limbs, Esther fell two branches lower. Unable to help, he quickly returned to the pond below.

The noise alarmed a red squirrel that began scampering around his tree home. "It's a human child!" bushy chattered. "With wings like a bird!"

An eagle flew lower to help. However, his six-foot wings were too wide to get close to the angel.

A young Cygnet swam slowly into view. He wasn't very large and everyone knew he was just an orphan. In fact, no one in the pond really understood what kind of bird or duck he was. Besides, he was so very plain looking.

Peering through trembling leaves, he said, "I think I can help you."

"How?" the Esther, the angel answered fearfully.“

"Just let go of the branches," the Cygnet said.

"Let go?" Esther’s voice trembled. "But I'll fall, maybe hurt myself." She wrapped her wings tighter around a branch.

"I'll catch you," the Cygnet said.

"But you're so little," answered the angel.

"Let go of the branch, and land on my back," said the Cygnet. “I may be little, but I’m strong.”

"Are you sure it will work?" the angel asked timidly.

"Have faith," the young Cygnet replied.

But Esther did have faith. After all, she was an angel. After letting go of the branch, she dropped down, traveling down and down. She went in a straight line between leaves and branches.

It was as if a perfect trail had been prepared.

She flew past the watchful eye of the hawk. Past a nosey Crow, and disappeared from the sight of a sharp-eyed eagle. Esther made a perfect landing right on top of a feathery back.

The shock scared a raccoon leaning on a nearby limb. And he quickly dropped to the ground.

"OOMPH!” and “THANKS!" were words barely heard above the angel's thumping heart. She flapped both wings slowly. Then back and forth until she rose into the air. She flew around carefully, testing every movement.

Nothing broken, only a few feathers out of place.

The Cygnet’s eyes grew large at the beautiful sight before him. A glow surrounded the angel, her smile radiant as the morning sun. Wings expanded to full size, sending gusts of perfumed air in his direction.

"If only I could be beautiful as you," said the Cygnet.

"You will," the angel answered. "One day every creature in the forest will stare at your beauty."

"Oh sure," the Cygnet said. "Compared to all these ducks, I look awful."

The angel smiled knowingly as she flapped her wings. Her reddish cheeks were full of understanding. The young Cygnet heard the angel’s voice come like a mighty wind, before she disappeared into the sky.

"Have faith. One day, you will grow into one of the most beautiful birds in the forest,” said Esther the angel.

“They will call you, Swan.”

* * *

(c) Richard and Esther Provencher 2007

Richard & Esther Provencher invite you to read their first of three novels ‘FOOTPRINTS” now available from www.synergebooks.com. “Someone’s
Son” and “Into The Fire” will also be available soon by the same company. These books were written during the first several years while Richard was recovering from his stroke, which felled him in 1999. He is still recovering.

The link to “FOOTPRINTS” is as follows: http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_footprints.html