Short Stories

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The following is an excerpt from the e-book, "Whispers" - featuring the angel Max:

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“One round trip ticket.”

“Thank you,” said Max. He took the ticket and looked around. The Littleland Bus Station was small. It served as a convenient store/bus station. One had a choice, come in for a gallon of milk…or buy a ticket. Today, Max chose the ticket.

The bus wasn’t due for another thirty-five minutes. He looked around and found a place to sit. There were only two tables at the store; a young couple occupied one. Max noticed that the couple were sitting very close to each other, holding each other’s hands.

The other table was empty. Max walked over and took a seat, setting his hat on the table. “Good morning.”

Max received nervous glances. “Morning.”

He continued. “Nice day for a bus ride, huh?”

The young man spoke. “Yeah…I guess.” He smiled at his companion, and Max noticed that the young man’s hand tightened around hers.

“Where are you two headed?” Max asked.

It was the girl’s turn. “How did you know where headed anywhere?”

Max smiled. “Oh, just a lucky guess.” He scooted a little closer, but not so close as to intimidate. “I figured, what else would someone be doing here this early on a Friday morning?”

All three smiled, and the girl spoke again. “We’re headed for Houston…” she hesitated before continuing, “…to visit my family.”

“Well, looks like we’ll be riding together. By the way,” Max said, holding out his hand, “my name’s Max.”

“Oh, uh…I’m Richard”. Richard reached across the two small tables and shook Max’s hand. “And this is Debra.”

“Hi Richard. Debra.” Max with the smile again. “Listen, it looks like we have a few minutes before the bus gets here. How about something to drink? My treat.”

The young couple stared at each other, wondering if this stranger could be trusted. Finally…Richard shrugged as he answered. “Okay, if you want.”

“I want.” Max stood up. “So, I’m gonna have coffee, how about you two?”

Richard replied, in his best grown-up voice. “Coffee sounds good.”

“Coffee is it then. Debra?”

“Hot chocolate?”

“You bet. You two stay here, and I’ll be right back.”

The couple nodded their heads and returned to holding each other…in silence.

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About a hundred miles from Littleland, the bus stopped at another town. A man in a dark coat and carrying a suitcase got on board. He looked around, when his eyes rested on Richard and Debra. After a few seconds he walked to the back of the bus and took a seat.

The bus rolled on.

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Max and the young couple continued to become friends. “So you guys aren’t from Littleland?”

“Nah,” said Richard, “we’re from a town just to the north.”

Debra explained. “It’s cheaper to travel with all the stops than go straight through.”

“Makes sense. Always good to save money.”

They rode in silence for awhile. Finally, It was Max who broke it. “And you’re going to visit relatives?”

The young couple looked at each other before answering. It was Debra’s turn. “My sister lives there.” She looked at Richard, grabbing his hand. “We’re going to Houston to stay. We’re getting married.” Her face lit up with the announcement. Then her face became solemn. “I’m pregnant.”

“Congratulations!” That made them both smile, as if it was the first time someone suggested that this was a good thing. Max continued, “and your parents? How do they feel about this?”

“They don’t want us to get married, cause we’re too young.”

The celebratory moment was gone.

Debra continued, staring at the floor of the bus. “My mom even said she’d pay for an abortion.”

Max listened as he glanced at the back of the bus. His eyes landed on the man who had boarded the bus at the last stop. Max caught him staring. When eye contact was made between the man and Max, the man quickly looked away. Max directed his attention back to Richard and Debra. He looked at Debra. “And your sister. She wants you guys to come?”

Debra became excited again. “Oh, yeah. She said that Richard could get a job with her husband. They’ve got this big house…plenty of room. Said we could stay as long as we needed.”

“Wow, that’s one special sister you’ve got there.”

“That’s for sure.”

“And they’re okay with the baby?”

“Yeah. At least, that’s what they said. My mom’s pretty mad at her for letting us come live with her, but Sis said to leave that to her…said mom and dad would get over it in time.”

Max considered his next words. “I know you guys don’t know me very well, but I want to ask one more question.”

They both looked at Max, completely convinced he could be trusted, convinced his words were words of wisdom…to help and encourage…not tear down or destroy. “Will you promise me that you will carefully consider giving this entire situation to God?”

Not the question they were expecting.

He continued. “I know you want to hear how everything is going to be okay, but you both know that it’s not going to be easy.”

They stared at Max, hanging onto every word.

“It may not be easy…love never is. But as long as you guys put God first, I mean really put him first, and acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then nothing is impossible. Believe me, I know.” Max smiled, a smile that seemed to carry with it a secret only he knew. “You put him first, and he’ll see you through anything. He’s not asking for perfection, he’s asking you to come to him just as you are. You see…I know both of you are Christians.”

Their eyes widened.

“I know that you haven’t been living for him the way you should…and that’s okay. Jesus can take this situation and turn it into something good…scratch that…he can turn it into something wonderful. He will bless this marriage.”

Max put his arms around them.

“Can I pray for both of you?”

They nodded. With a strong and protective hand on their shoulders, he began to pray.

In the back of the bus, the man in black stared.

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The bus rolled quietly down the Texas highway.

Richard and Debra were fast asleep, each one leaning on the other.

There were only a handful of passengers on the bus. Max, at this point, was only concerned about one. He got out of his seat and quietly made his way to the back.

“May I?”

The stranger looked up at Max, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s a free country.”

Although there were many empty seats at the back of the bus, Max chose one right next to the man, and sat down. “Nice day for a bus trip, huh?”

“I suppose, if you like this sort of thing. For me, just a way to get from one place to another.”

“So, where are you headed?”

The man looked at Max. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“It's Max. I guess I didn’t catch yours either.”

The stranger looked Max up and down. “Maybe that’s because I didn’t give it.” He continued. “Look, I don’t know what kind of game your playing, but I’m not in the mood. So why don’t you just go on back to your friends there, and let me get a few minutes of shut eye, all right?”

Max’s demeanor changed at once. His usual trusting smile was instantly replaced by a tight and narrow scowl…a rattlesnake, ready to strike. And right before the stranger’s eyes, Max turned a different color – a dark, almost indescribable color. He glared at the stranger and moved closer. “I want you to listen to me.” His head turned towards Richard and Debra. “I know the game that you play. You take advantage of the weak. You steal from them, robbing them down to their very soul. And I will not tolerate you laying a hand on those two.” Max’s face was almost touching his. “Am I clear?”

The stranger was clearly shaken. “Listen man, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just here minding my own business…”

“STOP!” The sound shattered the inside of the bus, almost causing it to shake, sending the stranger cringing to the side of the bus, hands over his ears, almost in a fetal position. No one else aboard heard it. Richard and Debra continued to sleep. Max continued. “YOU ARE A LIAR AND A THIEF. I WANT…” Max shook his head, “THE MASTER WANTS YOU OFF OF THIS BUS AT THe next stop,” his face and demeanor returned to normal, his voice becoming almost a whisper. “Have I made myself clear?”

The stranger, his whole body shaking, nodded a yes.

“Good.” Max got up from where he was sitting, headed to the front of the bus, and sat back down next to his two friends, who were still fast asleep.

A few miles down the road, at the next bus stop – the stranger in the back darted off the bus as if his pants were on fire.

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“Ten minutes before we leave for Houston, folks,” the bus driver yelled out. “If you’re going with us, it’s time to board.”

Debra laughed. “Why does he yell like that, there’s only a few of us here?”

Max and Richard smiled.

“Just part of the trade, I suppose,” said Max. “Part of the whole, ‘All aboard!’ thing.”

“Yeah. I guess.”

All three were at another small table, in another small store/bus station, in another small town.

Richard. “Are you sure this is where you get off? This town looks like it could be smaller than Littleland.”

Max looked outside the store window. “This is the place.”

“Well, we’re sure going to miss you. You wouldn’t believe how we needed someone like you to talk with.”

Max smiled. “You two have been a blessing for me as well. So, you’ll both think about what I said back there, about putting God first?”

Richard put his arm around his fiancé. The love between them was obvious. “We will.”

Max continued to stare.

Debra took the hint. “Promise.”

“That’s good enough for me. C’mon, I’ll walk you out to the bus.” Max grabbed his hat, and the three of them left the store.

“Now, you two have everything you need?”

The both nodded their heads.

“Money?”

Richard. “We’re okay.”

“You sure?”

Double nods. “We’re sure,” said Richard.

The stopped just outside the door of the bus. The time for words was over. Debra turned and hugged her new friend. Richard did the same. Max grinned from ear to ear. He watched as they climbed the steps of the bus.

The driver acknowledged Max and closed the door. Max stepped back to let the bus pass.

As the bus went by, a window opened and Richard stuck his head out. “One thing. A while back, when Deb and I were napping, you got out of your seat and went to the back of the bus for a few minutes.” Richard continued. “It was really weird, like you were talking to someone…or something.”

Max looked surprised. “I was a…praying. I didn’t want to disturb you guys.”

“Oh.” Richard looked at his friend. “That was some pretty serious praying.”

“Hey,” said Max, “We can use all the help we can get, right?”

“That’s for sure. Well, thanks again, Max. We’ll be seeing you.” And with that the bus drove off.

Max watched until the bus was out of sight. He turned and walked away, shaking his head, thinking about how close that was.

Guess even angels get caught off guard from time to time.

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"Whispers" is now available at the FaithWriters ebook store.

To learn more, click here:
'Whispers'

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