Here is the final thrilling part of our Story written by Baz Knowles

If you want to read the previous installments first click here for part one.

And click here for part two

DESCENDING ANGELS Part Three:

“It’s alright flying by the seat of your pants, but if you don’t wear any…’ ”.

The man looks thoughtfully around and, almost to himself, “ I’ll have to get a change of clothes to go in, you know, clean underpants, my mum always used to say you never know when you might get knocked down and have to be taken to hospital”.

Even Raphael looks impatient and anxious, “You still don’t get it do you. You are not going anywhere to get knocked down, you are already in the process of passing over and, anyway you won’t need clothes where you’re going.”

“What, not even for the journey?  November in Yorkshire can be quite cold and damp sometimes and I don’t want to get my death of cold.” He was now getting used to the idea and finds the thought of some of the things he has heard quite attractive. “Will I get my wings there and a modesty gown like you have”.

Jophiel assumes a more business like air “Now, when we arrive, the journey doesn’t take long, a few years or so, you will be taken to the new arrivals cloud and there you will be prepared for your first assessment. You will not get wings until you are approved by the panel and become an Apprentice Angel, we call them AA’s and even then they are only little wings, not like ours, ours are Archangel wings and… we are not wearing any clothes or modesty gowns as you call them anyway-  we are just as nature intended…”

The man peers closely at the angels, “I must be honest I can’t see anything - you don’t appear to have any, you know … thingies anywhere. In fact I can’t tell whether you are lady Angels or Men Angels, very puzzling”

I think we better explain a bit more,” says Raphael “we don’t have lady or gentlemen Angels we are just ANGELS, actually we are just ARCHANGELS. Also the hierarchy of Heaven has been laid down over the years and is based on a workable structure, tried and tested. We have Apprentice Angels, those worthy ones who have undergone a very stringent apprenticeship, that can last for several millennia. Then we have Angels who do all the preparation work above, then Guardian Angels who work with every human on this earth to try to keep them on the straight and narrow, and then there is us. There are also Princes and Dominions, a very high lot but you need not concern yourself with them.  Now, if you have no more questions we really need to get on”.

“What about football, I’m a big football fan you know, sorry, of course you know, - can I still do the pools and watch Man. United and Arsenal for instance or do you have your teams and leagues and such. Hah, I bet you lose the ball a lot kicking it around up there.”

Chamuel looks disdainfully at him. “If you get selected, and to my mind that is very doubtful, I think you are a better candidate for the other lot below.  From your viewing cloud you can watch every sporting event at the same time, you just have to look down and all things are there for you to see.”

The man sounds very pleased at that,”“ Oooh! Do you get your own personal cloud then, that sounds good, no one watching over you all the time, tee-hee .

OK then, but are you sure I can’t say owt to the  missus, she’ll be upset- me  just going off like that -  I know, will I need any money?  She doesn’t like me having money - she thinks I only waste it in the betting shop and pubs  and the like. If I need some money I’ll have to ask her ‘cos she keeps it in her purse.”

Chamuel is getting really impatient now.“ You can’t say goodbye because you are already in the process of passing over and you can’t talk to her and she couldn’t understand you even if you could talk -. AND you don’t need any  money, - you really are enough to try the patience of a saint”.

Raphael says gently “Now, now, Chamuel, don’t go getting upset - you know what you’re like when you get upset,  all moody and then it takes us ages to get you down off that black cloud of yours. And… don’t bring that lot, the Saints, into it, that will confuse him even more.  Let us get on. Are you ready for your journey?”

Raphael looks confused. “Jophiel, you’ve got his CV there, is his name George, I thought it was Duggie”

Jophiel hurriedly looks at the parchment, “Now let me see – mmmm- no, his name is definitely Duggie,  Duggie Brown that is, and he was married but his wife, Daphne, left him after a few hours.”

The three Angels speak in unison, “Oh good Heavens, now what should we do. we’ve come to the wrong house, we should be next door”

George stirs in his chair,“ Coming dear - I’ve just had the strangest experience….”

Descending Angels

A short story      by       Baz Knowles.

Originally aired on BBC Radio 4 March 2009