Life as an angel

The vision of heaven hit John like a thump on the back of his head. He could see he was under the covers of his brass bed and felt his mind move beyond the foot of his bed, out the French Doors and beyond his balcony. Below, he could see Ocean Boulevard and then white sand dunes. Over the Atlantic, the stars shone in round specks against a black sky.

Soon the ocean faded from view as he saw the white specks elongate to white rods. In the center. there were many rods huddled around a bright light. On the edges, were rods near the cold void. These were souls. And he was drawn to the warmth of the bright light. Although all the rods were white light and looked at a distance to be the same, he sensed the one approaching him was an Indian woman speaking Hindi.

Hindi soul

'You aren't due here yet.'

John's soul

'Did I go to the wrong Heaven?'

Hindi

'There's only one. Everyone gets in.'

John's soul

'Any creep...or good person.'

Hindi soul

'Yes The light we are drawn to is God or whatever people call God. Do you think you can be close to God when you live and die with unGod thoughts of hatred or anger towards other souls. So just because all souls get into Heaven...doesn't mean they get to be near God The souls near God are God-like...good. loving.

John soul

'Who are the one's nearest God?'

Hindi soul

'You call them angels. They no longer are born to perfect their souls. They are born with so much love of people...they devote their lives to helping people. And one is trying to revive you now. So as you boarders say: 'Later Dude. You're not due here for a while.'

John realizes he is on his back and sees the sunlight around the head of a 20 something-year-old man leaning over him.

John

'Halo'

Lifeguard

'What? Are you all right.  I'm taking you  to medi-merge in Thoms River.'

John tries to get up

'No I'm o.k.'

Lifeguard grabs John's arm and skateboard.

"Didn't I save you when you were walking under the pier when there was a hurricane off shore and another time when you fell on the beach during a storm in the summer?'

John

'That was you?'

Lifeguard and John get into his red, wrangler jeep.'

'You know. I swore to save lives...plural. Not a life.'

John

"thanks. I must of hit my head. Maybe you're a guardian angle.'

Lifeguard turns out of parking lot and heads towards the bridge over Barnegat Bay.

'Yeah? Ask the waitresses at the Beachcomber Bar if I'm an angel.'

John

'Well you wouldn't remember you were sent down here to be a guardian angle...you would just live your life as one.'

Lifeguard

It's John right?'

John watches as they rise up the bridge over the bay. Sail boats are gliding across the blue-green water.

"Yeah it's John'

Lifeguard

'John, Look at me. When the doctor is examinating your head, try to sound competent. Or they'll keep you over night for observation.'