Angel

           

It was nine o’clock in the morning. Sunshine seems to be reflected by water in the pool. On the trees along the pool, the birds were singing their songs as always and it seemed like that’s the only sound we can hear. Well, that’s before class 3B’s kids ran into the pool. It was their swimming period. After five minutes, the teacher started to take attendance until he called out for Nick.

“Nick! Why don’t you get change?” asked the teacher.

 “No, and I won’t!” answered Nick in a stubborn way.

The teacher’s face turned red. He stood up and left. The other kids started to take Nick’s shirt off and teased him. After struggling very hard, Nick was finally beaten his shirt has been taken off. Nick immediately rolled himself up, like he want to hide something A shocking look appeared on the kids’ faces as they saw Nick’s back. Their mouth and eyes are wide-opened. Nothing very special, except for the two scars , ran along Nick’s back.

“Monster! Don’t come near me! We human aren’t disgusting as you!” shouted one of the kid.

Then, for the rest of the week, no one see Nick go to school.

            “Nick! Stop locking up like that! Let’s me in!” shouted Mrs. Mary.

“No! Never! Everyone is scared of me!” answered Nick, his voice shivered.

“Don’ you say that, everybody love you.” replied Mrs. Mary.

“Well, then explain to me about their humiliating looks, about their saying, about my new ‘names’ I received from those I called friends!” said Nick.

Mrs. Mary started to hear weeping noises. She turned and walked away, with tears on her face.

            The next day, she decided to go to Nick’s school, asking for help from his homeroom teacher, Mrs. Emma. Then she started to tell the history of Nick’s scars. A puzzled but sympathized look appeared on Mrs. Emma gnarled but gentle face as she hear the story.

“Nick was sleeping at home on that destine night.” said Mrs. Mary.

Mrs. Mary paused to control her tears from falling.

“He was sleeping with his back facing the window in that stormy night. A lightning struck, and the window was blown to pieces. I was right on the bed next to Nick’s. Although the blanket did cover most of his body, the two largest sheet of glass already cut deep into Nick’s back.. I immediately carried Nick to the nearest hospital.” said Mrs. Mary

“He was saved at last, but the marks are still there.” she continued.

The teacher finally speak, while her face look even worse than before.

“How terrible! I’m so sorry for Nick! Poor him, nobody knew about that.” said Mrs. Emma

 “Please, I beg you. Help him.” Mrs. Mary finally talked in a shaky voice, holding Mrs. Emma hands.

            After a few weeks, Nick finally came back to class. Nobody talked when he came in. Nick just went to the table near the window and looked out to the rain, as if it could help.

“Class! Stand!” shouted the class monitor like it’s his only thing to do.

“Good morning Mrs. Emma” everyone said that together, everyone except Nick.

 “Anyone know who or what an angel is?” started Mrs. Emma.

 “A fairy!”

“Someone who is from the heaven!”

“ The one who give us one dollar if we put the first tooth we lost under our pillow.”

Tons of answer was thrown to Mrs. Emma.

 “So is there anyone know that angel are among us?” Mrs. Emma continued.

The students’ eyes was wide-opened. The room was silent and filled with curiosity. Some fidgeted, while some just look at Mrs. Emma, the look of inquiring.

            “When I was young, my grandfather usually told me stories every rainy day. One day he asked me the same question I asked you just now.” said Mrs. Emma.

             “Before, the angel lived on the heaven. After seeing people doing bad deeds, they was sent to by the King of Gods to make things better. The angel after flying to the Earth, they tore off their wings on their backs. It was because of the fact that they would lose their power if being identified by a human. When they tore their wings off, it left two scars along their backs.”

The story was told in a voice that even without rhyme, was still like a song. Everyone just listen to it, everyone, even Nick. Some kids then turned and looked at Nick. People saw that in Nick’s eyes, a small fire of confident, which was extinguished before, was once again ignited.

            A few years later, the annual Country swimming contest was held as usual. It was hard to believe but Nick joined the team. When took off his shirt and get warmed up, in contrast to before, his friends on the spectator seats all cheered for him. They even have a banner. It said, “Go Nick! Our one and only angel!”