2000 Words A Collection of Short Stories

2000 Words A Collection of short stories

Published by Sonya C. Dodd at Smashwords

Copyright Sonya C. Dodd 2013

Introduction by the author

Life can sometimes seem dull and unexciting but even the smallest event can have a life-changing effect. This collection of short stories is about people. They are about their minds and/or how they are affected by other people.

None of us exist in a bubble; we all react differently to our interactions with others and sometimes these reactions can be profound.

The human mind remains out of the reach of science and we use our minds in many different ways depending upon our past experiences and our perceptions and beliefs about the world around us.

These stories are based purely in fiction but seek, in some ways, to discover the person who could be hiding within any of us.

A Perfect Halo

Charlotte had no idea how he did it. He sat there looking squeaky clean, his clothes spotless and tidy, not a speck of stubble on his smooth perfect skin. Even his blue eyes were like two pools of purified water.

In contrast, she’d been a trainee for two years now. Most people were fully qualified within a couple of months but she just couldn’t seem to get things right. Okay, she came very close many times, but she always ended up doing or saying something which set her right back to the beginning of her journey. It was like playing a game of snakes and ladders but someone had forgotten to put any ladders on the board.

It couldn’t possibly all be down to her, could it? she mused. If he was supposed to be her guide and trainer, then he must have to take responsibility for some of the blame himself. Surely any trainer worth half their weight in gold should be able to churn them out like a factory conveyer belt.

So Charlotte sulked. She was very good at sulking, had become an expert in it over the last two years.

When she had died, it had all been a bit messy. Waiting for her next to the mangled wreckage of the car, Gabriel had thought she was going to be a bit different from all the others. Even after they had both sat and watched her body get zipped into the body bag Charlotte had still been complaining about the pain which she could not possibly have felt and how she’d only had her hair and nails done earlier that morning.

Okay, most people did find it a bit weird, having to get used to the whole concept of death and what came after it. But usually, they soon discovered that they’d won a lucky ticket and settled down into their new existence with relative calm and acceptance.

Not Charlotte! Gabriel wouldn’t have described her as exactly clumsy or ungrateful but there was always something not quite right as far as she was concerned. For example, they didn’t need to worry about what was underneath their feet. Mostly they glided along gracefully with a touch of white cloud swirling around their bare feet, to add a slight air of mystery. It was simple and made getting around a relaxed affair; it should have been anyway. Somehow Charlotte managed to trip her way along, saying she needed to be able to see her feet properly if she was going to know where to put them.

When they spoke to others like them, the conversation was supposed to be amicable and easy. However, Charlotte was forever interrupting and putting her opinion across a little too forcibly; and some of the words she came out with, Gabriel wasn’t sure he always knew what half of them meant.

But he was not one to give up. Gabriel had, literally, been blessed with the patience of a saint and would get Charlotte her full colours and perfect halo, no matter how long it took.

He knew she was watching him. She seemed to spend a lot of time quietly looking at him and he was grateful for being unable to read her mind. It was difficult to try to analyse what her problem was. She was a pleasant enough girl, especially when she kept her mouth closed. If she wanted to, she could look the part and even show a bit of compassion. Now he came to think of it, Gabriel realised that she simply seemed to have an issue with maintaining her angelic qualities for more than a few hours at a time.

Perhaps he needed to think outside the box. Clearly, Charlotte was a very special case and he could do with some fresh ideas; he was having to re-write the rule book as far as she was concerned.

He’d never let her bring someone home on her own. Many times Charlotte had been by his side and watched what he did; he’d even let her have a go but only in his presence. Maybe the only way to find out whether she could really earn her halo would be to take a little more risk and give her the opportunity to prove herself.

The pressure was clearly getting to her and perhaps that was what was holding her back and causing the mistakes. Resolved to give it a go, Gabriel consulted the list of names to find someone he thought might just help to give Charlotte the extra little push she needed.

It was a foolish idea. Charlotte had pleaded with him, begged and sobbed; but he wouldn’t budge and now she faced the stairway alone. It seemed ironic how she had longed to go back, hadn’t asked to be here in the first place; but now, as she stood looking down into the cloud covered staircase, Charlotte longed for the protection she felt whenever she was near Gabriel. He had become her safety belt, the person who kept her from harm and helped to fix her mistakes.

This was scary. Never having been any good at independence, Charlotte felt very isolated and hesitated to take her first, tentative steps downwards.

They’d spent hours going over her instructions and as she watched her foot being swallowed up by the swirling mist, Charlotte ran over the list in her head. It never failed to amaze her, how you disappeared into the cloud and always managed to step out again in exactly the right place. There was no doubt in her mind though, that if she ever did get to do this job, it was likely she would be the first person who had ever arrived in the wrong location.

There didn’t, initially, seem to be much difference from the cloud to where she ended up. Surrounded by bright, clean whiteness, the hospital could have been an extension of the stairway.

Charlotte took in the room. The tiny incubators looked as if they contained fragile dolls. Each with an assortment of wires leading in and out of it; with bleeping machines standing over them, monitoring every breath and cough.

The mother’s back was to Charlotte, her hospital gown taking away her own identity as the machines did the little infants’.

Standing at the foot of the plastic cot, Charlotte looked down at the tiny bundle, barely visible between the soft, white blanket and the miniscule, woolly hat.

Shifting in her chair slightly, the baby’s mother turned towards Charlotte: you’ve come to take him away, haven’t you? she asked quietly.

Charlotte stared at her in disbelief, then glanced quickly over her shoulder to see whether there was someone standing behind her, but they were alone.

It’s okay, I can see you; I have a sixth sense or whatever you want to call it. I knew this would happen; I understood someone would be coming to take him home. The woman turned back to look at her baby.

What was she supposed to do now? Charlotte wondered. Gabriel had never told her that someone might see her. Had she cocked up? She hadn’t even considered hiding herself.

I just need a couple more minutes to say ‘goodbye’; if you don’t mind waiting, of course. Her voice had a soft Irish accent. The woman couldn’t have been more than twenty, Charlotte thought; and she didn’t look big enough to have just gone through childbirth.

Take your time, Charlotte offered. Her voice seemed to boom but the woman didn’t even flinch as she stood up and gently scooped the tiny baby up into her arms.

Watching the mother and child together, sharing their final earthly embrace, Charlotte felt a lump in her throat. The woman kissed the child’s forehead and then whispered unfamiliar words into his face, which Charlotte didn’t understand and assumed they must be in Gaelic.

Turning to face Charlotte, the woman held out her baby. Promise you’ll look after him for me. You have a kind face, I’m sure he’ll be in good hands.

Tears stained the mother’s cheeks and Charlotte quickly stretched out her hands to take the baby in her arms. She looked down at the peacefully sleeping infant. There was no sign of injury or illness but a perfectly formed, miniature face.

Charlotte nodded to the woman. I’ll care for him as if he were my own, she promised.

The woman turned away and sat back down, looking at the tiny figure lying in the incubator and sobbed quietly.

Holding the baby tenderly in her arms, Charlotte walked away, back up the winding staircase.

Gabriel was waiting for her at the top. His smile was reassuring and for the first time Charlotte saw it as something positive. She didn’t interpret it as condescending or that he was laughing at her; it was a silent hug, encouragement of her having done well.

Walking side by side as she carried the baby, Charlotte asked Gabriel about the mother being able to see her. It just sometimes happens like that, he said. There are not many humans who have the ability to see us but, for those who can see us; it can be helpful for them at such a time as this.

Charlotte gazed down at the baby’s sleeping face. Slowly she realised she didn’t feel any anger for his death. Usually she ranted about the futility of life and death but today she knew he was in safe hands and had come to a good and happy place. Perhaps it did help to know his mother had been accepting of the inevitability of his death but Charlotte was at peace with herself and what she was doing.

When she glanced up at Gabriel’s face, she saw he was watching her. You’re not looking at me, are you? she laughed. I thought I was the one who was always observing you.

I am marvelling at you, he replied softly.

Me? Charlotte laughed in surprise. What is there to marvel at about me?

Your transformation.

She shook her head, confused now. I don’t understand.

But it fits you very nicely, as if the place had been prepared especially, Gabriel replied with a small smile playing on his lips.

Charlotte came to a standstill. You are talking in riddles, Gabriel. Please can you tell me what you mean?

I was simply admiring your halo. It shines beautifully and sits very neatly upon your pretty head. Gabriel turned and continued walking.

Stunned, Charlotte held the baby carefully with one arm and reached her other hand up to her head. The warmth was evident immediately. Her hand touched upon the smooth surface of the circle. It was true; she had a halo.

Charlotte opened her mouth to express her joy to Gabriel, but he had already disappeared from view. Instead she gazed down at