Dedicated to Joel, and all who went ahead
Author: Ita Udoh
Date of Creation: Circa September 2003
Back near the gate, the youngsters were in various stages of finishing their apples. Some licked fingers, others nibbled at the stalks, and some of the youngest ones still munched happily, with the occasional ‘help’ given by the older ones to quicken its consumption received good-naturedly. Jesus was doing a countdown by pulling petals off a flower. “Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, …get ready now…, One!”
At that moment the large gate swung open slowly and a huge angel came in, holding the gate open with one hand and giving careful attention to something just out of sight connected to his other hand. A little boy came in cautiously, clinging tightly to the angel’s hand, with a look of wonderment on his face. In the first few seconds, his large eyes wandered slowly from the top of the flower and fruit laden trees, to the lovely snow peaked mountains in the distance, and to the beautiful chirping birds perched on just about everything, including people.
The little fellow’s attention was brought into sharp focus as by some hidden cue thirty hearty voices burst into a piece of music that would have made any music producer proud. The slightly startling bombardment to his now perfectly acute senses (abilities that excited him to no end) stopped him in his tracks. He didn’t scare for even a second; such an emotion was impossible since he met the big man who had introduced himself as his guardian angel. Then his face, slowly and imperceptibly at first, creased into a shy smile as he looked at this group of very friendly looking potential playmates.
As the heavenly song drew to a typical children’s ending: on a high pitch and on slightly different timings, a glorious looking man in white, stepped out from behind a tree. He squatted and stretched out his two hands with a gentle smile on his face. Then he called the boy’s name. As his eyes widened slowly and a look of recognition gradually lit his eyes, he ran towards Him with all the strength of his little legs. As he fell into the embrace of the Everlasting Arms, a cry escaped from his lips…
“Jesus!”
Sizzling Sunday: 14th September 2025
Sizzling Sunday 159
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