Rodney very slowly unwound himself from the crumpled heap his arms and legs had become. He watched the FitBall bounce away in one direction and the skateboard roll away in another. Behind him he did a double-take at the trampoline. “Wow! That was fire!” Whipping his head around he shouted, “Hey Kirby, did you see that?”

Kirby, another teenager volunteering in the church’s rummage sale for the day, stood up from where he had been stooping behind the cashier’s desk. “See what?”

“Oh, man,” said Rodney. “It was an epic wipeout. You didn’t get that on camera?”

“No, dude. I missed the whole thing. I’m going for some coffee. I’ll be right back. Hold down the fort.”

Barook was just picking himself up off the floor when Rodney noticed him.

“Oh no! Did I plow into you?” Rodney asked with concern.

Barook continued examining Rodney for any visible signs of injury without acknowledging the boy’s question.

Just then, Adoram descended from the ceiling to assess the situation.

“Howdy, ma’am,” said Rodney. “I’m really shook right now. I had a pretty wicked fall. You’re a little blurry, as a matter of fact. Did I hurt you? Or this nice woman over here? She was on the ground a minute ago.”

“No, no, we’re fine. Thank you, young man,” answered Adoram while Barook’s face took on an expression of understanding and terror.

“Oh, good,” said Rodney. He wondered why the lady in front of him, wearing a long white dress, had such a deep voice. Then he wondered why the other lady was dressed the same way. He tried to focus on the fluttering things attached to their backs, but the eye can’t always see what the brain can’t comprehend.

“Didst thou hearest?” gasped Barook, backing away from Rodney, his wings quivering.

“I did. This is not good,” Adoram replied.

“It’s not that bad,” chirped Rodney, answering the angel he shouldn’t have been able to hear. “I’ll be fine. I just need to sit down for a minute.”

Adoram joined Barook in backing out of the room while Barook whispered, “He can seest our faces. He can hearest our voices. Woe unto us! Woe unto him!”

“Perhaps it’s not that bad. This must have happened before in the history of humanity,” responded Adoram. “Surely this can’t be the first time such an accident has occurred. I’ll go back to heaven right now and find out. Stay with him, but not as close as usual. Try to blend in with the people until I get back with some news.” Adoram bolted out the door and immediately took flight on his route back through the valley and towards the HeavenLink downtown.

Barook, left standing in the doorway wondering what to do, stared at Rodney as the lad made his way to an old pink velvet couch lightly perfumed with a mélange of dog pee and mothballs. “You must be really anxious to buy something,” Rodney offered in the way of conversation. “Kirby will be right back. He’s just getting some coffee.”

Barook stared at Rodney without saying a word. The angel wasn’t a big talker. He liked to play a more physical role with his charges. He preferred protecting clumsy folks who didn’t need a lot of verbal advice. “Ahem, yes, sir. I am anxious to purchase baskets fine for a tiny donkey of mine.”

“You have a donkey? How cool is that?” Rodney beamed.

“Tis the height and breadth of cool, the complete sum and pinnacle,” Barook stammered.

              Adoram climbed up the glowing ladder and—poof! He was home. The seraph angel unfurled his six wings and used them to navigate toward archangel Gabriel’s office. He flew down golden streets, past gates made of gemstones, and past the crystal temple of God in which God was seated on His holy throne amid flashings of lightning and fire, encircled by a glorious rainbow. Adoram flew down a small cobblestoned street that resembled a quaint English town in the countryside. He landed just before a tiny white gate. Walking through it, a gardenia bush with an abundance of small white blooms caught his eye. He took a moment to inhale deeply. Adoram approached the door of what appeared to be a tiny cottage.

A knock on the door with a brass knocker in the shape of a cow’s head summoned a wingless dominion angel. Adoram explained that he didn’t have an appointment, but urgently needed to speak with Gabriel. The dominion angel opened the door wide to admit Adoram. A huge entryway became apparent behind him. He was now standing in the foyer of a huge English manor house, complete with crystal chandeliers and a double marble staircase winding toward a massive landing on the second floor. Gabriel had built the best of both worlds: it had the charm of a country cottage on the outside and the space and grandeur of a palace on the inside.

Eventually Adoram was shown into Gabriel’s office. An enormous, intricately carved mahogany desk sat in front of very tall windows. Gabriel stood up to greet his old friend, towering almost 18 feet high as he did so. His wingless body glimmered like a gemstone as he walked around from behind his desk to greet his unexpected visitor.

“Adoram. It’s been too long. I’ve missed you.” He bent down and grasped his friend’s hands warmly. “But I doubt you are here for a social call.”

“No, I’m not,” said Adoram bending backward in order to look up at his superior. “One of the people on earth—a believer—has suddenly developed the ability to see spiritual beings. I thought you should know right away. And I’m hoping you can give me some advice on how to help him deal with this, this—,” he searched for the right word, “situation.”

“Oh my. Geisterseherkraft has returned,” said Gabriel, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Have a seat.” He pointed to a large couch behind a coffee table set up with tea service. “Tea?”

“No, thank you. What is that you said?” asked Adoram, fluttering his wings a bit in order to reach the high couch, and settling down on it.

“That’s what Martin Luther called it. ‘Geisterseherkraft’ means the ability to see spirits. How did it occur?” Gabriel sat next to him.

“Well, it involved a skateboard and a huge bouncy ball and a mini trampoline, I think. His guardian angel Barook and I were—on the ceiling mind you—almost finished sealing Barook’s performance review when suddenly his teenage charge, Rodney Simplessohn, came flying toward us and right through the angelic contract while it was still glowing.”

“Oh my,” said Gabriel. “The ceiling you say? That’s a new one. Well,  this type of vision has happened in people before, but it doesn’t usually go well for the person. Since he’s a Christian, he has a firmer foundation than most humans. But geisterseherkraft can really unhinge people. Break the news to him gently. Explain it as well as you can. And try to keep Satan from finding out. He’ll just make things worse if he gets wind of this. Barook needs to stay by Rodney’s side to offer comfort and advice. Make yourself available to Barook and the boy if and when they need you. And I will make myself available to you for any questions you might have. Be sure and let me know if any further complications arise.”

“Thank you, Gabriel.” Adoram was sure there would be no further complications, but then, he was an optimistic angel. He made his way out of the palace, through the cottage garden, then back down the golden streets. He flew back along the crystal wall which surrounded the city, and past its gates made of different gemstones. Before he got to his particular portal, Adoram passed by the HeavenLink that led to the dark side of the moon. It wasn’t used very often. Adoram shuddered slightly, then shook his wings as if to clear himself of a bad feeling. Shortly thereafter he crossed dimensions for the third time in less than an hour.