4 Chapters 8, 9, and 10

Simon and Ossie danced like wood sprites ahead of their cabinmates while singing with a volume and pomp that only increased every time Billy growled something along the lines of "you sound like castrated mules" or "my farts have better pitch than you two."

Inspired by a newly realized mutual affection for the 80's pop band INXS, Simon and Ossie were attempting to best each other in annoying Billy, and to a lesser degree, the rest of the explorers weaving through the forest on their way to the cliff.

Edward guessed INXS probably sounded better in its original form, but he had never really followed music outside of the dull chamber music played in his church. He'd gone to a few jazz clubs when he was young, but there was just too much temptation.

Ossie and Simon rarely hit the same pitch, and only through pure chance. Their singing was not so much a celebration of the music, but more a gleeful and purposeful mutilation.

They neared the cliff as Ossie and Simon blurted out lyrics about the devil. Edward wasn't sure of what the substance of the song was since the duo would hum the words they didn't know (which were most of them) but Edward understood enough to make him uncomfortable.

"About goddamn time," Billy said as the cliff came into view, then "shut that shit up."

"Language!" Simon exclaimed in a piercing falsetto.

The worn airstrip was just a flat, red-tinged dirt road that ran parallel to the lip of the Island. The sky above was blue, but along the horizon the boys could see the vast expanse of souls weaving into the fabric of Heaven.

"Too bad God already made off with the plane," Simon said.

"Why?" Tommy asked. "Were you planning on stealing it?"

"Thought had crossed my mind."

They edged toward the cliff and looked down. Tommy nudged Edward on the shoulder and motioned toward the trees.

"What?" Edward asked.

"You don't see them?"

Edward looked again. He peered, but still nothing. He almost gave up when he saw something like black static. It was a small cloud of gnats in-between the group and the trees. They swarmed and zoomed around in an airy ball.

Edward was always awed by the unity of gnats, how they all seemed to be buzzing in their own senseless patterns, and yet, when they moved, the swarm moved together. Hundreds of independent minds all finely tuned to sweep collectively at a moment's notice. The cloud was impressive and beautiful to watch, yet when he saw that same herd mentality in humans, he attributed it to naivety and weakness.

This explained a great deal of why Edward had so few friends among his parishioners. He found it hard to fully embrace any individual who so willingly forfeited his or her own personality because that's what he'd done by hiding from himself within the dark, unyielding folds of the church.

"Why would God even need the Cessna?" Billy asked. "He could just poof wherever He wanted to go."

"Yeah, I guess even for the all-powerful, it's still the safest way to travel," Simon said.

Ossie chuckled and then sat down at the edge of the cliff, throwing his feet over and looking down. Simon picked up a pebble and tossed it over the lip.

"Hey, don't do that!" Billy said. "There are people down there."

"Oh, like a pebble is going to hurt them," Simon said.

"Just don't."

"I'm soooooooooooooo sorry, Dad."

Simon sucked and gathered phlegm into his mouth and moved over the side of the cliff to spit.

"I will destroy you," Billy said.

Simon swallowed and smiled.

The others sat down along the edge and stared at Heaven. The cliff dove straight down. The jagged rocky face bore subtle bands of differing colors just as Edward had seen in canyons back on Earth. The bands of color sometimes resulted from changes in the area's environment, showing that at one point the land was underwater, at other times not. Edward wondered why the Island would have those same bands.

The answer was complicated since sometimes they did, sometimes they did not. It all came back to God's chaotic moods.

Near the base of the Island was a thin halo of mist, and beyond that, Heaven. The longer Edward stared, the more he could make out individual souls. Each seemed to be a ball of energy at the front with a tail like a comet.

Simon giggled and leaned over to Edward.

"They look like sperm," Simon whispered. "It's like God shot his load all …"

"Simon!" Edward gasped, scooting away from him. Simon laughed and mumbled something about a "money shot."

Edward shook off the crass comment and looked back down to Heaven. The ball of each soul would emerge from the quilt, then plunge back into vast sea, with the tail following for a few moments and then fading. He wished he'd asked for a telescope, too.

He tried to think of the souls as a universe of comets winding around each other, but now he could only think of sperm.

"What was it like for you guys down there?" Tommy asked.

"You were there, too," Billy answered.

"I know, but maybe it feels different for everyone."

No one responded, instead they all gazed back down at Heaven. Ossie began humming another song. Simon joined in.

"Stow it," Billy grumbled.

"Soooooorrrrrreeeeee, Dad," they replied in unison.

Edward glanced from Heaven back to the swarm of gnats. They were still there. The mass would drift all together, then shift over quickly for no apparent reason. Edward felt Tommy's finger brush up against his. Edward looked over at him. Tommy slid his eyes up, barely meeting Edward's. Tommy looked back down at Heaven as he moved his hand.

Edward's heart beat heavily and his armpits started to sweat. Edward couldn't help but smile. He closed his eyes and imagined Heaven.

"It was warm," Edward said. "Down there, I just remember it being very warm and very safe. And simple."

"Yeah," Tommy said. His finger touched Edward's hand again and Edward blushed. Tommy moved his hand back to his own side. Mission accomplished.

"It was like I was just a small part of everything else," Ossie said. "I still felt like an individual, but I was also being supported, if that makes any sense. A pool of good vibes too intense to really let me think about anything aside from joy."

"A really, really, really long high," Simon said. "Or orgasm. We were all just swimming in God's …"

"Simon!" Edward said.

"Gross," Billy said. "But maybe also true."

The group chuckled and Simon was pleased with himself.

Edward let his eyes trail back up to Tommy, hoping he would glance over again. He didn't.

"Where do you think God went?" Ossie asked.

"Maybe he's running around with some other hussy Heaven," Simon said. "Some younger Heaven that'll do things for him that we won't."

"You know, there's probably an angel watching us," Billy said. "He's going to toss your ass off this cliff."

"Whatever," Simon said, then discreetly looked around him.

Tommy laid back against the dirt. Edward leaned back too and tried to appear relaxed. He had a light glaze of sweat on his forehead.

"Everything was just so much simpler down there," Tommy whispered.

"It was," Edward said.

"Just floating. Floating."

Their eyes met briefly. Tommy smiled and then returned his gaze to the blue sky above.

"I bet I could climb down," Simon said. "If I had the right equipment, I could make it all the way to the bottom."

"You'd just fall and I would laugh," Billy said.

"No, I wouldn't, I'd be like Spider-man, all 'Thwipt, Thwipt!'"

"Thwipt?" Edward asked.

"That's the sound Spider-man makes when he shoots out a web," Ossie informed.

"I see."

Leaves rustled and branches creaked. Edward sat up and looked at the woods behind them. In the distance, he could hear a stiff wind pass through trees.

Tommy stood and studied the branches.

"The wind is picking up," Tommy said. "You don't think there'll be a storm, do you?"

"Bali said it didn't rain here," Billy said as he stood and brushed red dust off his shorts.

The trees rustled again, the branches bending, and weaving. The breeze swept past Edward, nudging him.

"Maybe we should head back," Edward said.

"You're such a pansy," Simon said, still staring at Heaven.

"They might be looking for us," Edward said. "Plus, if it does rain, I don't want to get caught in it."

"Okay, Mom," Simon said, rolling back from the cliff and standing up.

The wind rushed through the trees again, closer. A loud crack startled Edward.

"What was that?"

The trees creaked and swayed as air swept through them. Leaves and branches came hurtling toward them. The wind hit the group like a strong wave. Edward fell back to the ground. Tommy tried to stay on his feet, but he staggered backwards and rolled toward the edge of the cliff. Billy caught his arm and Edward scrambled over to grab Tommy's other arm.

The wind roared around them as Ossie and Simon scurried to the edge to help. Tommy was shouting, but his voice was washed out by the raging wind. His feet struggled to find a foothold on the rocks jutting out below, but just slid off. Edward held Tommy's forearm with one hand and braced against the edge of the cliff with the other.

The wind died and Tommy cried "Don't let go!"

"We won't!" Billy said. "We'll get you up. Ossie, Simon, grab onto us! We'll pull up together!"

Ossie grabbed Edward's legs and watched Billy. The temperature had dropped dramatically, and Tommy's gasping breaths were forming into white puffs.

Tommy looked below, watching Heaven as his feet still slid against the rocky wall. He turned to look back up at Edward. Tommy's face was suddenly calm.

"We'll get you up," Billy said, whipping his other arm down to grab onto Tommy's shoulder.

Tommy craned his head to look back down at Heaven.

"No!" Tommy said. "Wait!"

���What?" Edward asked.

"Let me go!"

"What?" Billy shouted.

Tommy stared up at Billy, then Edward.

"Let me go," Tommy said. "I want to go back."

Billy and Edward glanced at each other.

"No, we're pulling you back up," Edward said.

"Please, Edward. Let me go."

Edward held his eyes steady on Tommy. Tommy mouthed "please."

"You don't know what will happen," Edward said.

Tommy struggled to smile.

"What's the worst they can do?"

Edward's grip loosened.

"Dammit!" Billy growled, adjusting his grip. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Okay," Billy said. "Keep hanging on back there!"

"We got you," Simon replied.

"We let go on three, okay?" Billy asked Edward. Edward nodded. "One … are you sure?"

"Do it!" Tommy yelled.

"Two … Three!"

Edward and Billy released and watched Tommy drop. Edward locked eyes with Tommy as he plummeted backward down the cliff.

Another breeze brushed passed Edward, whooshing down the cliff. As it soared down to Tommy, it began glittering with sparkles of light.

"An angel," Billy said.

Tommy turned and faced Heaven. His body jerked and slowed. The angel glowed as it seemed to wrap completely around Tommy. They came to a stop, and then began ascending back up the cliff. Tommy's body hung limp, still facing Heaven. He was lifted above Edward and then sat back down near the landing strip. Edward stood and ran toward Tommy as the light around him lifted and evaporated.

Tommy's body remained still as he laid face down on the ground. Edward could see Tommy's chest heaving; he was crying. His breath formed small clouds that tumbled along the ground. Edward knelt down beside Tommy. He ran his hand over Tommy's shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

Tommy didn't answer. He kept his face hidden in the dirt.

******

Goose bumps formed on Edward's bare legs and his breath gusted long white plumes into the frigid air as they walked back through the forest toward the camp.

Billy stopped suddenly, turned to Simon and slugged him in the chest.

"Oomph," Simon winced as he fell backward onto the ground. He held his chest, grimaced and looked back up at Billy. "What was that for?"

"You were the dumbass who threw the rock!"

Chapter 9

Why would God leave the Island?

The question is beyond even my knowledge of His ways and means. The very thought that God would ever or could ever abandon His creation is staggering, if not devastating.

Humans often believed God was all-knowing and all-seeing because they then felt watched over and protected. How can God be the divine and supreme judge of man's heart and character if His entire focus is not on us?

Is the question legitimate or just another example of humanity's warped pride and jealousy?

I must confess that this riddle has haunted me ever since I first thought of it many, many years ago.

Without God, the Island felt unsettled and my job became much more difficult. I watched light shimmer off the face of an angel as the wind picked up. With the sparkles erupting at such frequency, a vague outline of the angel could be discerned—the noble chin and strong jaws, the inhumanly beaked nose, the swept-back forehead and the massive wings tucked behind his thick frame. He seemed to shiver from the cold, or perhaps impatience, as he waited for my directions.

I tried to keep the pages of my organizer from flapping in the wind as I read over my notes. Children passing on their way into the mess hall stared at the angel in awe and intimidation, swerving away from us as they neared the door.

I'd sent the angel into the water earlier to ensure all the children had made it out of the lake when the winds hit. There were more children to account for off in the woods, along the shoreline, and scattered throughout the campground.

Above the Island, vast expanses of dark gray clouds were racing from horizon to horizon. On Earth, the clouds would indicate a front, but on the Island there was no telling what the clouds might bring. I would have assumed God was up to something, had some experiment under way or was simply in a vile mood, but God wasn't on the Island. His absence didn't always bring about such turbulent weather, so there wasn't any predicting what was on its way.

I watched as Edward and his cohorts slunk into the campground, cautiously scanning for angels. The boys' faces were flushed from the sharp, frigid winds. Tommy was trying not to cry, but whimpered abruptly from time to time as Edward walked alongside and whispered encouragements. Billy kept an eye on me while he led the group back to the screen printing room.

I turned to the angel. His face sparkled as the wind kicked up and, for a brief moment, I could look into his small, severe eyes and sharp, inhuman smile.

"We need one of you to go find God, immediately," I told the angel, then turned my organizer toward him so he could see a small map of Heaven I'd devised. It was drawn more out of assumption and educated guesses than real knowledge.

"I think he might be in the lower outskirts. Find Him; tell Him what's happening. Go ring the bell, have the others collect the children. I want them all to stay in the mess hall. We'll ride it out there, have dinner early and wait for God to get back."

The possibility arose that God might not be in Heaven at all. He'd been known to disappear altogether, but if that were the case, there was nothing I could have done about it anyway.

The angel grunted and began to back away.

"Hey, hold on," I said, closing my eyes.

It was hard to picture the Island with the cold wind biting at my skin. I took a deep breath and scanned the outer perimeter, up to the mountain, along the shoreline and into the forest.

"There is a group on the northern side of the campground—four of them, about a hundred yards into the forest," I said. "Another group near the mountain, just east of the base. Just two there. The rest are near enough that they won't have any problem hearing the bell. Retrieve the children first, then go after God."

The angel grunted. I opened my eyes to see his massive, sparkling wings beating as he lurched into the air.

The door to the screen printing room edged open and a pair of eyes looked out at me.

"Bali!" shouted a voice from another direction. I saw Jay emerge from God's house. He waved and began running toward me. Jay looked out at the lake while he approached.

"What are we going to do?" he asked, stopping next to me and watching the choppy waves.

"Round up the children and get them into the mess hall. An angel is going to get God; the rest of the angels will collect all the kids. We'll just ride it out."

Jay turned to me and nodded.

"What do you need me to do?" he asked.

"Let's go see if we have any long-sleeved shirts or extra blankets to keep the kids warm," I said as I looked through my organizer. "There should be enough for all the children."

I tucked my organizer into my armpit and led Jay toward the screen printing shop.

"Edward and Petrov have been printing shirts, so we might take those over, too."

We jogged to the door. I knocked before opening, hearing hushed voices arguing inside. As the door opened, the boys all stood and faced us.

"Hey," I called as Jay and I entered and closed the door behind us. I rubbed the goosebumps on my arms and studied the guilty parties. "How are those shirts coming?"

"We're done," Petrov said. The sketch pad and the case were tucked behind him, hidden on the other side of a box.

"Good, grab all those shirts," Jay said. "Have you seen any long-sleeve shirts?"

Petrov and Edward shook their heads.

"What's going on out there, Bali?" Billy asked.

"There's been a disruption," Jay said.

I turned to Jay and leaned close.

"Don't," I whispered.

"No," Jay sneered, pushing me aside and walking toward the group. "If they make a mistake, they should be held accountable."

Jay approached Simon, his fear of the weather outside shifting into anger as he glared down at Simon. The former magician and con artist avoided Jay's eyes but frowned bitterly.

"Sorry."

The bell began ringing and Jay glanced away. He smirked at me and then walked toward the door.

"What's going to happen?" Billy asked.

"We're not sure," I answered. "It might get colder. We're having everyone gather in the mess hall until God returns. We need to bring everything we can find to stay warm."

"Where did He go?" Edward asked.

"That is none of your business," Jay said.

Edward narrowed his eyes, stood straight up, and took a step toward Jay.

"Why?" Edward asked. "He's in charge of the Island. It seems reasonable to ask why He's not here to protect us."

Jay looked to me, and I shrugged.

"You don't know, do you?" Edward asked. "Do you even know if He's coming back?"

"He'll be back," Jay replied, his voice weaker.

"How do you know?"

"Because I have faith. Something you seemed to have lost, Preacher."

Edward's face flushed and he took a step toward Jay, his fists clinched. Billy lunged in front of Edward and held him back. He met Edward's eyes. Edward nodded and retreated back to the others.

"What if He doesn't come back?" Billy asked, turning back to me.

"He'll be back!" Jay yelled, opening the door and storming out. He froze just on the other side of the door, his mumbled "oh no" barely audible over the roaring winds.

I motioned for the kids to wait inside and I walked out to Jay. Grey clouds were overtaking the sky. Two waterspouts twisted up from the other side of the lake, reaching high into the clouds. They weaved and wound around each other erratically. Waves were crashing farther up onto the shore and sweeping over the pier.

"I can't get wet," Jay said, his face pale and his green eyes locked on the water.

"I know; get to the mess hall," I said.

Jay sprinted across the campground and waved children to follow him. He opened the mess hall door and ushered other children in before following them. I stepped back inside the screen printing room and closed the door behind me.

"Okay, real quick," I said. "Don't worry about the rock, Simon; it had nothing to do with what's going on. Sometimes this happens when God leaves. He'll be back soon, though; you have my word."

"Why would Jay say that this is my fault if it isn't?" Simon asked.

"I don't know. He just does that sometimes, but this is happening because God's not here to regulate the weather. It will be okay—the angels will protect us until He gets back. Now, grab all the shirts and go to the mess hall. I'm going to see if we have any blankets. Keep all the kids calm until I get there, okay?"

They nodded, then started grabbing boxes of shirts. I opened the door for them and watched the waterspouts. The funnels had hit the far shore. A third spout slithered down from the clouds and dove into the middle of the lake. Ossie ran out of the room but stopped to stare at the spouts.

"Don't look!" I shouted. "Just go! Hurry!"

******

The campers huddled in the center of the mess hall as Jay stood up in the middle of the group and read passages of the Bible aloud. The usual fair of faith and endurance and God's eternal, unwavering love that we only returned to when God's love wavered.

The temperature continued to drop outside and there was no heater, despite my continued requests. The Island wasn't supposed to get cold enough for us to need one. The tables had been folded and stacked along the walls. Piles of shirts and blankets surrounded the children; many of them had wrapped themselves in several shirts and then clutched blankets tightly over their cold bodies.

Even amid the pandemonium, I could acknowledge the delightful irony of the serene image on the front of the T-shirts (hand-holding beneath a calm, happy sun) contrasting with the chaos outside. Though I thought it was funny, it just fed many of the children's burgeoning resentment.

Tommy separated himself from the group and Edward followed. They sat against the inside wall of the building. Edward whispered, Tommy stared at the floor.

We were startled by the first lightning flash. The thunderclap rattled the windows as the winds picked up again. Jay watched the glass panes warily. When the gusts subsided, Jay returned to reading the Bible. He was skimming through various selections from the letters of Paul, finding anything to give the children, and himself, solace. The children weren't listening.

I'd stuffed my organizer into a plastic bag and then wedged it into my waistband. I went looking for the hot chocolate machine in dry storage and found Barry and Mary huddled in a corner whispering to each other. I didn't say anything, just grabbed the small machine and a large can of chocolate sauce and left them there.

Sophia volunteered to help set it up and started hooking up the water line.

"Okay, we need to let it warm up," I said as I finished pouring in the chocolate sauce. I ran my finger inside the can and licked the chocolate off. "Go wait with the others."

"One of the funnels is getting closer!" Billy called from a window, sending a wave of nervous chatter through the group.

"Shut up and get back over here!" Jay said. "If that window explodes, it'll cut your face to shreds."

A few whimpering cries followed.

Jay slammed the Bible shut and stood.

"That is enough! God will not abandon us! I am ashamed that some of His most strident followers are breaking down because of a little foul weather!"

"This isn't supposed to be happening in Heaven!" one of the girls called.

"This isn't Heaven!"

The children looked up at him. Jay grimaced and shook his head.

"I mean, it is and it isn't," Jay struggled. "God will come back; just have faith."

Martha stood and tossed down the shirt she was using as a blanket.

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial! Because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him!"

Jay patted her on the shoulder and then looked to the others.

"See, not all of you are cowering like mice."

"What happens if those waterspouts get to us?" Edward asked. "If it sucks us up and kills us, what happens then?"

"It won't," I called, walking over to the group. "There are angels all around the mess hall; they'll protect us."

"There are more than sixty of us here," Simon said. "Can they save all of us? Are there enough of them?"

"Yes," I answered, knowing that it wasn't the truth. "As long as you're in the campground, they will keep you safe, okay?"

Another lie.

"What if I leave the campground and go to the waterspouts?" Tommy asked, standing.

The children turned to the boy, who hadn't spoken since returning from the cliff. I glanced at Jay, who grimaced and shook his head.

"Please stay," Edward whispered to Tommy.

"Why?"

"For me."

Tommy sighed and then sat back against the wall.

"Everyone stays in the mess hall, okay?" Jay said. "We will be fine!"

"Is there not one storm cellar in this whole place?" Ossie asked.

"No," I answered. "We'll just have to wait in here and stay away from the windows."

"Can I at least get some hot chocolate?" Ossie asked.

I grinned and nodded for him to go ahead. Before he got to the small table with the machine, another stiff wind shook the windows next to it. Ossie backed away as the children watched the glass and huddled even tighter in the center of the hall. The roof and the walls creaked, a piece of sheet metal jarred loose in a supply shed outside and began banging as the wind beat against it.

I heard light tapping begin on the windowpanes and roof.

"Is that rain?" Ossie asked as the tapping grew to a patter all across the roof.

"No," I answered. "It's from the lake—the funnels are picking up water from the lake and it's falling all around us."

A heavy thud shook the roof. Girls screamed. Whatever had hit the roof slid off and fell to the side of the building facing away from the shore.

"Stay here," I said, walking to the window. I craned my head over the window enough to see. I shook my head and turned away to make sure none of the children could see.

"What was it?" Billy asked.

"Nothing."

Jay separated from the group and jogged to me. He looked out the window.

"We need to make sure the angels get that before we let the kids outside," Jay whispered. I nodded.

Water began streaming down along the windowpane and Jay backed away. He looked across the mess hall to the children.

"It'll be okay," I whispered to Jay. He turned back to me and smiled. "Go read to the children."

I patted Jay on the shoulder and walked over to the other side of the mess hall to watch the lake. It was now as dark as night. The waves were high enough to pour over the pier. Two of the waterspouts had spun into tornadoes and had ventured deep into the woods on the other side of the lake. I could make out trees and debris swirling in the funnels.

The third spout appeared—it was approaching the shore near the mountain. I walked to the northernmost window to get a better view. The funnel dipped from the clouds near the middle of the lake but the neck of the funnel bent and stretched out toward the shoreline.

The funnel suddenly veered toward the campground and I stumbled back from the window. The roar consumed the building, as if a train were rumbling through it. Children were screaming, but their voices were drowned out. Jay closed his eyes and his lips trembled out prayers.

I eased back to the window. Branches and water were blowing across the lake. The windowpanes were rattling; a square of sheet metal tumbled across the shore into the lake. Glittering angels were almost completely visible as they soared around the building. They looked like bears with wings, but with longer necks. They were as impressive as eagles and as clumsily assembled as platypuses.

I retreated back to the group. The children huddled tightly; many of them were crying hysterically. Jay was still praying.

Edward pulled Tommy up and led him to the rest of the group. Edward was yelling at me but I couldn't hear him.

The building groaned. I looked up to the ceiling. A swath of the roof and ceiling cracked and ripped away. Windows broke all around us. Glass and water swirled around the building. Tables tipped over. I ran to a huddle of children and put my body over them.

Then, silence.

The wind deflated. Water dripped from the open ceiling for a few moments, then stopped. I scanned the damage— the broken glass, the broken beams from the roof, the tables scattered across the mess hall, puddles of water on the floor. No blood, no hurt children.

As I watched, the glass swept up off the ground and reformed into the windows. The puddles of water turned to mist, lifted off the floors and billowed out of the open ceiling. The gray clouds were clearing, giving way to blue sky. I heard the hum of engines and then saw God's airplane pass above the hole overhead. Wood and tiles then flew to the hole and reformed the damaged ceiling.

I stood up and looked over the group. They were drenched with water and shaking in fear, their breaths puffing out in thin clouds. The sun was out, but it was still bitterly cold.

Ossie stood and staggered across the mess hall. He picked up the hot chocolate machine, which had leaked chocolate sauce. He tipped it upright and grabbed a nearby mug.

"Who's thirsty?"

Jay stumbled away from the group, pushing kids out of the way and holding his head. He struggled to stay on his feet, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.

"Stay here!" I told the children and followed Jay into the kitchen. I grabbed a pile of T-shirts and ran over to him, catching him just as he stumbled to the ground.

I didn't realize until I left the mess hall that my organizer had fallen somewhere. I'd worried that the children would take it out of the plastic bag and look through it. I could only hope that the terror of the moment would stay their curiosity.

In the kitchen, Jay tried to stand by bracing himself against a stove, but he slipped and fell to his knees. Blood was pouring down from his scalp.

"I'm wet, Bali!" Jay moaned as his hands shook. "I'm wet!"

I knelt down and pressed the shirts against him, trying to dry his skin.

"It's okay," I said. "We'll get you dry; no one will see."

"Is everything okay?" a voice called.

I turned to see Barry and Mary watching us from the dry storage area.

"Get in the other room!" I yelled.

They shuffled out of the kitchen and disappeared into the mess hall.

"Do you know where the other cups are?" Ossie called as his head poked in.

"Other room!"

Ossie ducked back out.

"It hurts so bad," Jay said as he laid down on the tile floor.

"I know, I know. We'll get you dry."

Chapter 10

Edward thought of fireflies as he watched the sparks from the bonfire dance and swirl up into the sky. The crackling logs and the smell of the rich, enveloping smoke relaxed him. He wanted to sleep, they all wanted to sleep—but the storm had left them without cabins or beds. They used the campground wreckage to make the campfire.

In the distance, Edward could hear Martha reading the Bible aloud to a small group of girls—mostly passages about temptation, judgment, and penitence.

As with most other things, God would tend to the campers' lost homes in His own time.

The children were wrapped in blankets as they gazed, tired and withdrawn, at the fire. No beds to sleep in, not enough energy left to talk, all that was left was to dwell on the lives they had left behind: Billy on foreign wars, Sophia on missionary work in small African villages, Simon on Vegas casinos, and Petrov on the end of the world.

Tommy's mood, on the other hand, was light. Once the storm had passed, so had his sorrow. He joked about Jay in ways that made even the boldest children uncomfortable. He started a semi-successful round of "Row, Row Your Boat" and then he initiated a rendition of Milli Vanilli's "Blame it on the Rain" with Simon and Ossie.

Edward was pleased to see Tommy's mood lifted, but he was troubled by the suddenness and severity. Edward had seen this kind of erratic behavior in troubled youth before as well as the destructive decisions that often resulted. Yet it didn't diminish his fascination. If anything, it heightened Tommy's allure.

The glint of an angel's shimmer appeared from above and another log dropped into the fire, sending a blossom of sparks up into the sky. The wind shifted and blew smoke over Tommy. It was warm and enveloping.

It reminded Tommy of his father and made him hungry for marshmallows—the roasted kind with molten sugar concealed beneath the crispy surface that coated the tongue in scalding heat. Also overcooked hot dogs that were black and flaky on the outside, but still tender and juicy on the inside. Then, in the morning, there'd be his first taste of coffee, which he'd hate but still drink because his father would grin at him like his son had just shed a layer of his childhood. They'd blow steam off the surface of the coffee and talk about God, football, his father staying straight and, of course, all those ambitious plans. His father always had exciting schemes. It made Tommy believe his father was capable of anything, until later in life when Tommy realized his father's life had amounted to nothing.

His father was supposed to move in with Tommy's mother to be a family again, but ended up in jail a month later. That was between stepfathers. That was before the big beach house that led to their years of vagrancy and desperation.

And, as quick as that, Tommy's face sank, his smile faded and he was distant again.

"Hey," Simon whispered to Tommy and Edward.

Simon was hunched over, the blanket covering his entire body like a burka. Simon's hands were shifting around inside the blanket as he searched for angels in the sky.

"Check it out," Simon said, sliding his hands outside the blanket. He opened his right hand to show a rock to them. Simon tossed it into the air, caught it, tossed it again, caught it. He tossed it a third time and the rock hung in the air. It seemed to freeze as Simon moved his hands in small circles with his hand underneath and wiggled his fingers. The rock finally dropped back to his hand.

"Whoa," Tommy said. "Cool trick; how'd you do it?"

"I don't know," Simon said, pulling the rock back into his blanket.

"Oh, okay," Edward said, rolling his eyes as he and Tommy turned back to the fire.

"No, no, seriously," Simon whispered. "I was trying to do another trick I used to do back when I was a magician, and it just sort of happened. I can't make it hang up there long, but I feel a connection to it."

"Good for you," Edward said.

"I'm not kidding," Simon said. "I'll do it again."

Edward turned back to Simon as his hands appeared back out of the blanket.

"What are you doing?" Billy asked from behind them, startling Simon enough for him to fumble the rock. Simon shushed Billy and scanned the ground for the rock. He snatched it out of the dirt, looked around, then motioned Billy over. The four formed a tight circle with Simon's hand hidden in the middle.

"Now, watch closely," Simon said.

"You're not going to fart or something stupid like that are you?" Billy asked.

"No," Simon said, offended. "Now, this isn't a trick. Don't tell anyone, though. I don't want to get in trouble again."

"Okay," Billy said. "You fart or whip out your Johnson, and I'll throw you into the bonfire."

Simon's hand reappeared, pinching the rock between his finger and thumb theatrically. He then tossed it in the air. He caught it, tossed it, caught it, tossed it and it hung in the air.

"Jesu …," Billy mumbled, then stopping and glancing around for angels. None came, so he looked back at the hovering rock. They watched it closely for five seconds until it dropped to Simon's palm. "Do it again!"

Simon scanned around them.

"Okay, last time."

Simon repeated the process, this time fighting back a smile. The rock hung in the air again. Billy moved his hand around the rock and then underneath it. It continued to hang in the air, undisturbed.

"Close your eyes," Billy said.

Simon did and Billy grabbed the rock and tried to pull it away, but couldn't. After the fifth second, Billy's hand jerked away with the rock inside. Billy fell backwards, almost into the fire. He opened his hand and looked over the rock.

"How do you do it?" Billy asked, looking up at Simon whose smile was wide and beaming. "It's a trick, isn't it?"

"Nope."

"Then why are you smiling like that?" Billy asked, tossing the rock back to him.

Simon caught it and slipped it back under the blanket.

"'Cause it's magic, man," Simon said. "I've always wanted to be able to do something real. Honest to god magic."

"What else can you do?" Tommy asked.

"I don't know. I've only been a wizard for ten minutes."

"Teach me how to do it?" Billy asked.

Simon winked. "Can't—it's magic and I can't divulge my secrets." Simon turned back to the fire.

"Bastard," Billy whispered as he moved around to sit next to Simon. They chatted softly, then laughed.

"That's weird," Tommy said to Edward, and Edward nodded. Tommy smiled wide and nudged Edward on the shoulder. "It's been quite a night, huh?"

"It has."

"Are you okay?"

Edward took a deep breath, then leaned in toward Tommy.

"I'm really worried," Edward said.

"About?"

"About this whole place," Edward whispered, glancing around them for angels. "Doesn't it seem to be unraveling to you? Tonight we almost died in a tornado, bugs and animals are popping up when they're not supposed to, now Simon is a magician."

Tommy nodded as he watched the fire. "At least they're keeping it interesting."

Edward sighed. "Yeah. I just don't like not knowing what the rules are. I could accept bad things happening on Earth because even if they were unjust, at least there was a consistency to the way the world worked. Here? I just don't see the same structure, and it bothers me."

"You need to learn to relax and enjoy the ride."

"That's never been my strong suit."

"Well," Tommy said as he wrapped the blanket tighter around himself. "No matter what happens, I'll protect you."

Edward's face flushed and his stomach fluttered. He felt weak, nauseous, and overcome with nerves. He ducked his head away as a smile broke through to the surface. Tommy bumped his shoulder again, sending a wave of sparkling energy through Edward's body.

"Hey, everyone!" Jay called as he approached from Cabin One.

Edward and the others had to stand and walk around the bonfire to see Jay. He was holding a clipboard with a pencil tucked behind his ear. There were no signs of blood left on his clothes, but Edward thought he still looked pale.

"Listen up," Jay said, glancing at the clipboard. "The angels should have the cabins repaired soon, then we'll send you guys to bed. Is anyone hungry or thirsty?"

"Got any s'mores?" Ossie asked.

"No," Jay said. "Just stuff we have in the cafeteria."

The campers just looked to one another, then back to Jay. He looked back down at the clipboard.

"God will be coming by in a second to talk to you—just hang out and stay warm," Jay said. "Let Bali know if you have any problems or issues, or need to use the bathroom."

Edward raised his hand. Jay glanced at him, frowned, then looked away. He turned and began walking toward God's house, where God's silhouette could be seen through a window, pacing and looking back out at the campers.

"Jay!" Edward called, but Jay kept walking.

"What is it Edward?" I asked.

Edward turned to me.

"Why doesn't God just poof the cabins back, like He fixed the mess hall roof?"

"Because there is no imminent danger," I answered. "God only intervenes when there is danger that the angels can't handle."

"Well," Simon said. "I'm in imminent danger of freezing my nuts off, what's God going to do about that?"

"I suppose God could just remove them," I said. "Would you like me to make an inquiry?"

******

"Where'd He get a fur coat from?" Billy whispered to Edward, who just shook his head.

God approached the bonfire like a visiting dignitary, wearing a spotted tan-and-white fur coat with a hood pulled over his head. His hands were jammed into the coat pockets. He wore black dress pants underneath.

"It's a parka—looks like American lynx to me," Ossie answered, then leaned in close to them. "It's actually a woman's coat."

When God reached the group, he motioned for Jay to bring the clipboard. God wore matching mittens and awkwardly attempted to flip the pages on the clipboard. Unable to grab the sheets through the mittens and aware the children were stifling laughter, He just handed the clipboard to Jay with a disgusted look, as if the clipboard and/or Jay had failed Him.

Jay flipped the page for God and held the clipboard up so God could read it.

"What do you call snails on a boat?" God read aloud.

The group deflated slightly and shot narrow looks back and forth to each other.

"What?" Ossie asked God.

"Snailors."

None of the children acknowledged the joke with even a smile.

"Snailors," God mumbled to Himself, then motioned for Jay to make a note on the clipboard.

He pulled off the hood of the parka, revealing a pair of earmuffs underneath that matched his mittens. Laughter erupted from the group. God smiled, motioned for Jay to scratch out the previous note.

"Snailors," He said, satisfied.

"Okay, calm down!" Jay called to the group.

God cleared phlegm from his throat and spat. The children backed away as the loogie hit the ground in front of them.

"Oh, sorry," God said to the children, then looked out to the whole group. "I know it's been a rough day for you, and I understand that it is cold. I will warm it up tomorrow, but for the time being you will have to tough it out."

"Can we get coats or more clothes?" Edward asked.

"No."

"Can I have your coat?" Billy asked as he stood up from the group.

"No!" Jay said. "Sit down and show respect!"

God frowned as he looked over the group. He motioned for Jay to make a note.

"What about the earmuffs?" Simon called as he stood up.

"I could just freeze you out tonight!" God shouted as He swiveled and strode around the campfire to Simon. "Or I could just warm you up right now, is that what you want?"

Simon ducked his head and sat down. The children were silent until Tommy stood with his blanket still wrapped around him.

"You can warm me up," he said.

"It's not a pleasant experience, boy," God said, not even turning toward Tommy.

"Nothing on this rock is pleasant."

God walked toward Tommy, jerking off his mittens. "Okay." He raised his hand and placed it on Tommy's shoulder. Jay jogged toward God.

"Sir," Jay said.

"He asked me to warm him up, and that is what I'm doing."

Tommy began to wince, sweat formed on his face. He grit his teeth, but kept his defiant eyes focused on God.

Edward began to smell fabric burning as smoke wafted up through God's fingers.

"Sir," Jay said. "Please."

Tears started welling in Tommy's eyes. Smoke drifted up from his shoulder as his fists were clinched tightly. Tommy grunted and tried to flinch away, but God kept His grip on Tommy's shoulder.

"Sir!" Jay shouted.

God lifted his hand. The imprint of His palm was burned through the shirt. Tommy's skin had burned to a dark red.

"Thank you," Tommy said, tears rolling down his face. He straightened and glared at God.

"You are not my only responsibilities!" God turned to the rest of the children. "I have an entire universe to look after—I'm not going to babysit you and let the rest of My creation languish! I created this island for you, and I have not heard one 'thank you'!"

"Thank you, Sir!" Ossie called. "Now can we go back to Heaven?"

God scowled down at Ossie.

"Please," Ossie added.

God looked over to me and motioned for me to write. I did. I quoted them both word for word.

God stormed back to His cabin, pulling on his mittens and jamming His hands back into His pockets. Edward urged Tommy to sit down, which he finally did, wincing from the pain in his shoulder. Blisters were bubbling on his skin.

Jay watched God retreat, then looked over the group, his eyes resting on Tommy. He broke his gaze and began pacing in front of the children, mumbling to himself and shaking his head. He stopped, threw the clipboard into the group and strode away.

I let Jay go, then motioned for one of the children to hand me the clipboard. I knelt down amidst the children.

"Your cabins are going to be ready soon," I said. "Try to get some sleep and let's just pretend this night never happened, agreed?"

No protests followed.

"Tommy, your shoulder should be fine in an hour or so. If it isn't, let me know."

Tommy nodded.

"Ossie," I said, turning to him. "Please don't ask that again."

"Only if I can get another cup of hot chocolate."

"Deal."

Tommy raised his hand weakly and I pointed to him.

"Do you have any coffee?"