Demons & Angels! (Part 1 of 4)

 Demons! & Angels!

 

“As the mean ole-dragon lunged its fiery head toward the knight…” droned the man in a hushed-whisper to emphasize the terror of the tale, all the while suppressing a clandestine smile at his young ward’s furrowed brow showing a concern-of-fear, he continued the narrative.

“…Sir Galahad loosed his long sword from its sheath at his side, the honed blade shining brightly-red from the fire-of-the-beast. In a freighting roar from the dragon as it increased the length and ferocity of the flame, the brave knight stepped toward the threatening beast. Dodging to his left to avoid the fiery-flame, the knight feinted a retreat, then struck swiftly with his trusty sword, slaying the evil dragon.” Gramps smiled. “And, the people lived happily…ever after!”

The conclusion delighted the child; she clapped her hands and cheered.

Now six, the girl would begin her formal schooling in the fall, only seven months away.

“Oh! Gramps! You tell the very best stories.” Gramps beamed. Chelsea had heard the tale, in one version or another, myriad times previously. It didn’t matter; each delighted in the telling.

Waiting for her enthusiasm to abate, even if only a little, Gramps paused. In the play of their “little-game”, Chelsea knew the man had some “serious” thought about the tale to impart.

As Chelsea’s blue eyes widened and she focused attention on her Gramps in anticipation of the “moral” of the story, he said, “Revelation foretells: In the end---the ‘good’-guys…Win!”

She nodded to affirm “understanding” of his wisdom, as much as a 6-year old might muster.

As the old man had spun the tale to his granddaughter, little-Chelsea, his attentive eyes had witnessed a young man approach a lady on a bench across the narrow walkway from his own seat. To the observer, it was obvious that the man verbally intimidated the elderly lady to give him some money; too far to be definitely determined, it appeared to be a five dollar bill.

The frail woman seemed terrified of the hoodlum; he had not touched her person; he did not have to do so. Gramps noticed a “glint” of metal as the thug pulled his hand part way out of the right hand pocket of the heavy black leather jacket. The old man surmised what the object was.Gramps watched as the thief stuffed the cash the elderly woman had given him with a shaky hand into his left black leather jacket pocket. Then, the “bum” eyed the old man on the far bench with a little girl; he smiled showing rotted teeth; he turned abruptly from the woman.

Gramps watched as the thief stuffed the cash the elderly woman had given him with a shaky hand into his left black leather jacket pocket. Then, the “bum” eyed the old man on the far bench with a little girl; he smiled showing rotted teeth; he turned abruptly from the woman.

(Part 2 of 4 tomorrow)