ANGELS AT WAR

CHAPTER 11

ARCHANGEL QUERIDA

BEHOLD, YOU DESIRE TRUTH IN THE INWARD PARTS, AND IN THE HIDDEN PART YOU WILL MAKE ME TO KNOW WISDOM (Psalm 51:6)

            “Yes!” Vermillion bellowed. “Look at his face, Querida!”

            It had been three days since Jimmy had seen Jenny, although they did have a few phone conversations. She had also been absent from the prophecy seminars ever since Larry had suggested they stop attending. Although she seemed to have a legitimate excuse, as her job as a waitress often had her working evenings, it had been in the back of Jimmy’s mind that Larry had influenced her.

            But she had this night off and Jimmy had a big surprise for her. She said she had a big surprise as well. But Jimmy wanted to go first. Was he gonna propose marriage? Her brain scrambled with how she should reply. He led her from her apartment down to the parking lot. He spread his hands at a 1979 Chevy Chevette.

            “What do think?” he asked, waving a hand at the compact car. “It’s all yours. A little old lady owned it. It is eleven years old, but it’s cherry. And I don’t just mean the color. It only has a little over fifty thousand miles. It’s in mint condition.”

            Jenny stared at it with wide eyes and a gaped mouth. Jimmy thought she was overwhelmed with surprise. He began to sing the Prince song ‘Little Red Corvette.’ But he changed Corvette to Chevette.

            “You bought a car for me?” she asked. He frowned at her stricken expression. He thought the stunned look she first exhibited would turn to joy. “Jimmy, you shouldn’t have.”

            “No worries,” he said. “It didn’t even cost me a third of my savings.”

            “Can you return it?”

            “Why would you want me to return it?”

            “This is so awkward,” she said, breathing hard, like she was about to have a panic attack. She put her face in her hands.

            “What is it?”

            She pointed to a gray 1985 Monte Carlo. It looked like it had just rolled off the assembly line. “Larry gave me Linda’s car just a couple hours ago. Signed the title over to me and everything.”

            “I see. I was gonna sign the title over to you as well,” Jimmy said. She noticed that he had said WAS.

            “He hadn’t sold it out of memory for her,” Jenny explained. “It’s mostly been in the garage the last few years. Since she and I had been pretty close, he said giving it to me was the perfect solution to free up space in his garage, as well as help me with my vehicle dilemma. It only has sixteen thousand miles.”

            “Left, right, left, right,” Vermillion cackled. “Now watch, Querida, the knockout punch is being thrown by the old the green eyed monster.”

            “Okay then. I guess you won’t be needing the Chevette.”

            “Oh Jimmy, it was so sweet of you though!” She hugged him tight and kissed his mouth. “I’m sure you could sell it for what you paid for it.”

            He shrugged. “I’ll keep it. It will get much better gas milage than my truck… So instead of leaving it here, why don’t you drive the Chevette to my place and I’ll follow you in my truck. Then we can head to the seminar.”

            “About that,” she said and winced. “I won’t be able to go with you tonight.”

            “How come? I thought you had the night off.”

            Her wince increased to a cringe. “I do, but I’m cooking dinner for Larry.”

            And that is when Vermillion told me to look at Jimmy’s face.

            “You’re kidding,” Jimmy said quietly, but with a bit of a growl.

            I cringed and Vermillion cackled some more.

            “Jimmy, please understand. When I said how can I ever thank you to Larry, he said ‘just cook me dinner.’ He specifically wanted this chicken bake I used to make for him.”

            “Well, our being couple didn’t last that long, did it?”

            “Jimmy, don’t be like that! I told you Larry is more like a father figure to me. Very much like an uncle.”

            “That’s twisted, Jenny. If he’s a father figure, or like an uncle, then how is it your relationship became… how did you put it? Affectionate. And you two did stuff. Well Jen, you don’t do the stuff you suggested with a father or uncle.”

            She pressed a hand to her forehead. “I admitted our relationship was complex. But the reality is, he is not my father or uncle.”

            “Exactly, he’s more like an ex. Now you’re cooking dinner for him, instead of going out with me.”

            “Jimmy, he bought me a car.”

            “So did I!”

            “I’m sorry… I guess he got to me first.”

            “Yes he did… I need to get going, Jenny.”

            “Jimmy, please. After tonight I will do my best to avoid Larry.”

            There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second is claimed by God and counter claimed by Satan. As Jimmy was being demonically assaulted with jealousy, I ran an attitude of patience through his mind. A mindset of selflessness into his conscience. As new as he was to Bible based faith, he was learning to follow the Holy Spirit.

            Jimmy smiled, nodded, and said mildly, “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

            Vermillion frowned at the abrupt change in attitude. We watched as Jimmy and Jenny returned his two vehicles to his home. Jimmy swung a leg over his Vmax. “Do you mind if I take you back to your place on my motorcycle?”

            “Not at all,” Jenny grinned.

            Vermillion didn’t watch as the young couple exchanged a quick kiss goodbye. He had focused his attention on Lucy Freya before Jimmy and Jenny had climbed onto his motorcycle. It was a hot day, and he inspired Lucy to put on tight gym shorts and a small halter top. Right about the time Jimmy started his bike with Jenny on the back, Lucy kick started her Yamahopper moped and headed to the seminar.

            This fifth night of the seminar was entitled ‘A Colossal City In Space.’ Until this evening, Jimmy had always arrived before Lucy. But as he pulled into the parking lot, he saw her walking into the auditorium. As he entered the building himself, he watched her take her usual seat in the back.

            “That’s it, Lucy, Jimmy’s not in his usual seat,” Vermillion began a play by play. “He must not be here. You won’t be able to keep an eye on him. Why do you find him so appealing anyway? Especially with what happened to you. But you do. So much so, you want to go sit in his usual seat. Row eleven and seat A, right on the end. Keep an eye on this, Querida, lust is a beautiful, helpful thing.”

            Jimmy watched as Lucy got up and went to the chair he had occupied for the previous four events. He followed her down to the middle of the auditorium. She had only been seated a couple seconds when he squatted next to her and grinned. “You’re in my seat.”

            She looked startled at first but smiled back. “I didn’t see a reserved sign.”

            “I don’t want to cause a scene, so you just better move right now,” he said menacingly.

            Although he was clearly joking, the smile left her face. Teasing and flirting had gotten her into big trouble four months ago. It was an ordeal that would leave a permanent scar.

            “Hey,” Jimmy said easily. “I was joking.”

            “I know,” she responded, forcing a smile. “I just had a weird thought is all.”

            She hoped he wouldn’t ask about the weird thought, which was actually a nightmarish recollection. But he simply said, “I guess I’ll just have to sit in seat B.”

            He scooted past her and sat. She crossed one leg over the other and Jimmy watched intently. You could say beings like Vermillion and I give food for thought to people, as well as protection on my side and destruction on his.

            So Vermillion used distraction with Jimmy’s thoughts. Is it possible Lucy has even nicer legs than Lexi? Apples and oranges. What about Jenny’s legs? Apples, oranges, and bananas. Jenny was so feminine, Lexi was so athletic, and Lucy was in between. Compare their chests, that halter top isn’t very modest.

            Look at her eyes, Jimmy, I coaxed. Turn your head, Lucy. For the first time, Jimmy gazed directly into Lucy’s light brown eyes. He squinted. “You have amazing eyes. I hadn’t noticed those little gold flecks.”

            “Not surprising,” she said with a coy smile. “When you seem to be looking elsewhere.”

            “Just want to make sure you’re not crowding me and that big hammer of a foot doesn’t come down on mine.”

            “Hammer foot!” Lucy replied incredulously, but with a little smile as she bobbed her left foot, covered by a white Reebok running shoe. “I wear a size seven, that’s hardly a hammer foot.”

            What was she doing flirting with a guy? She hadn’t directly flirted with a guy since that awful night four months ago during spring break in Florida. Her playful banter with Jimmy quickly morphed into frustration. She stomped on his foot. The sudden surprise of her impulsive action, coupled with pain, almost made him cry out. But aware of his surroundings, he merely grunted.

            He looked at her incredulously, but she looked as surprised as he did. Her eyes were wide and her hand covered her mouth. Just above a whisper she said, “I’m so sorry, Jimmy, I didn’t mean to do that so hard.”

            “Well you did,” he replied and began to rise from his seat. “I can take a hint; I’ll sit somewhere else.”

            “Please don’t go,” she said, spontaneously grabbing his hand, surprising herself. What puzzled her even further was that she held it tightly even after he sat back down. He looked at their joined hands, and then into her large, soulful eyes with confusion. Her gaze seemed to be pleading some type of need from him. But for what he didn’t have a clue. They hardly knew each other, yet it somehow seemed they had known each other for a long time.

            Who was this strange, yet intriguing girl who was known as LucyFr? Part of him wanted to flee, while part of him wanted to protect her. Sort of like Jenny. But protect from what? What was happening to him? He had never really felt the urge to play protector with females before. Just the opposite. He was a heartbreaker. Love em, but when they started to get to close, leave em.  

            But now he felt the need to play protector with a second woman in less than a month. What did this mean? What was he to do? What was his relationship with Jenny? What was this dynamic he felt with Lucy? Could he or should he be friends with a girl he found so appealing?

            He had noticed Lucy talking with the pastor’s wife for a second time after the meeting the previous night. Only this time she seemed to be wiping her eyes as if crying. Now tonight she was clutching Jimmy’s hand almost like he was pulling her from a raging river. Only the river was life, and they were both making their way to the living waters. (Revelation chapter 22 and John 4:10)

            The meeting started. As the pair began to learn about the new heaven and the new earth in Revelation chapter twenty-one, Lucy’s hand slipped from Jimmy’s as she began to take notes. Next they studied about the city of God, the New Jerusalem. As with the previous nights, they left the auditorium with a sense of wonder at the Bible truths they had learned.

            I couldn’t get a read on what my counterpart’s plan was. I detected concern over Jimmy and Lucy’s interest in Bible truth. I knew he was using jealousy in the case of Jimmy’s feelings for Jenny. I was countering with her delicate femininity and gentle nature, coupled with her pregnancy dilemma. But the more Jenny let Larry become involved in her life, the more my efforts were slipping away.

            When it came to Lucy, Vermillion was falling back on old faithful when it came to Jimmy. That was simply animal lust. As familiar with a variety of ladies as Jimmy was, he had never met anyone quite like Lucy. What a combination of both cute and sexy. Add in the spices of feisty, fun loving, as well as mysterious, and it brewed quite a stew of agitated hormones in the young man.

            But I made Jimmy aware of Lucy’s vulnerability. I caused him to detect her hidden pain, that faraway look in her eyes which would hopefully cause him to respectfully keep his distance. I was also trying to establish a bond between them with a newfound love of the Bible.

            “I don’t get what you’re up to,” Vermillion said, not knowing whether I was pushing Jimmy toward Lucy or Jenny. I only knew that, with favorable conditions, either woman he chose would be instrumental in becoming a one woman man.

            “Fair enough, I don’t get what you’re up to,” I replied. Not knowing if Larry would continue to be in Jenny’s ear about the seminars. Or if Jimmy’s jealousy would get out of control. Or if Lucy’s scars would limit or eliminate her growth.

            “You know it’s a no win situation,” Vermillion added. I made no reply, so he continued. “There’s gonna be pain and rejection of what you call truth no matter where this all goes.”

            We watched as Lucy and Jimmy left the auditorium. She stopped at her QT 50 Yamahopper moped. His Yamaha Vmax, one of the most powerful production motorcycles of its time, was parked ten feet away. Lucy teased, “Wanna race?”

            “As long as you give me a head start,” Jimmy joked.

            “So where’s your girlfriend been?” Lucy blurted.

            “She works most nights,” he replied. The subject of Jenny between them felt strange.

            “So she is your girlfriend then?”

            He shrugged. “Yeah.”

            “So you were cheating on her with Lexi?” Lucy asked, and all teasing was gone. Her demeanor was one of disapproval.

            “No,” he replied and then tried to explain his relationship with Jenny, and what happened following his situation with Lexi.

            “Wow, so she’s pregnant, and you might be the father, but most likely you’re not? And this Larry guy, who gave her a car, who she’s cooking dinner for tonight is the grandfather? And they had been sort of lovers in the past, but not really?”

            “That pretty much sums it up.”

            “That should be written into a soap opera.”

            “Tell me about it.”

            “I just did,” she said with a giggle, and then frowned. “You two seem like an odd fit.”

            “Who is a good fit for me? Lexi?” he asked with a bit of sarcasm.

            “No,” she said as she kick started her Yamahopper. She would have roared off, but it was a moped, so she began to put, put away. Over her shoulder, she said, “Me.”