Saturday, February 2, 2008

Angel Love


I love my angels.
I love the way they watch over me and my children.
I love they way they keep us safe.
Even when we have no idea that we are in danger.

Thursday night, they were working overtime.

I came home late, after an evening at a friend’s house. Parking my car in the driveway, I paused a moment to enjoy the quiet. The rain had stopped, but the air was still wet. The clouds parted just enough for me to see two stars. I wondered if they had been the first two stars in the sky that night, the ones that my youngest son baptizes each night, christening them Sam and Twinkle.

The house was still. The bedroom windows were dark and I knew that each of my children must be deep in Dreamland.

Down the street, I heard my neighbor dragging his garbage can to the curb for the morning trash pick-up. It reminded me that I still needed to put out my recycling.

I turned and walked up the steps to the front door. Opening the door, I knew immediately that something was wrong.

The house smelled hot, like skin that’s been in the sun too long.
I glanced quickly at the heat vents and sniffed the air again.

No noise. No smoke. No flames. No excessive heat. Just the smell of summer car hot.

As I headed toward the kitchen, the quiet was replaced by the sound of empty air burning.
Reaching the back of the house, I found darkness that was illuminated only by the hood light over the stove. It shined like a spotlight on the teakettle standing center stage, silently screaming.
The stainless steel skin was no longer shiny, rather it had become pock marked and scarred black. The air was filled with agony.
I rushed over and turned off the licking flame, but the screaming didn’t stop. I reached down to lift the lid and found that it was firmly soldered in place. I turned on the fan and the screaming stopped as the pain was gently lifted and ushered out into the night.

I left the kitchen and made my rounds of the house, checking on each of my children. Deep breathing came from beneath the mound of pillows and blankets in Bub’s room. Ely’s golden blond hair covered her face, stirring slightly with each breath. Ugly Dolls formed a halo around the head of my littlest, watching over him as he slept.

Assured that everyone was safe, I exhaled. I hadn't realized that I had been holding my breath. The air felt good in my lungs. I turned toward my room. I reached over and flipped off the light switch and, as the hallway turned dark, I’m sure I heard a little flutter of wings.

Smiling, I looked up and whispered, “Thank you!”

13 comments:

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Thank God for your angels. I have no doubt they were with you and your children, and always are.

I wouldn't be here if my angels didn't work overtime. I even felt a giant hand on my body once which lifted me and my bicycle out of the path of a speeding truck and deposited us safely on the other side of the intersection.

They are always on the job, watching for burning teapots in our lives.

Wanda said...

Halle-effing-lujah! Glad you are all still hear and safe. I, too, and thankful for your angels.

Wanda said...

Oops...I meant "here"...but I guess I am glad you are "hear," too. :)

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Puanani, I gave you an award. Please come over when you get a chance.

Jess said...

I'm so glad those angels were there that night. I must have some too, because I've killed several tea kettles already. I had to get an electric tea kettle to prevent that before my angels gave up on me.

Lovely to meet you that night!

Kapuananiokalaniakea said...

Hearts,
WOW! Aren't angels grand! I'm so glad that yours were on hand to save you from that speeding truck.

Wanda,
Glad I am both here and hear too!

Jess,
Are electric teakettles impossible to kill? If so, it might be something that I need to investigate. Thursday night really gave me a scare.

Not to worry about your angels. Angels are a tenacious bunch -- they never give up.

Carrie Wilson Link said...

SEE all the problems one can have by drinking tea? OBVIOUSLY you need to switch the whole family over to the real deal.

Michelle O'Neil said...

So glad all were safe!

Kapuananiokalaniakea said...

Carrie,
Which coffee company employs you to do their stumping? Clearly, they do no pay you nearly enough!

Michelle,
Me too!

Wanda said...

Has to be Stumptown.

Jerri said...

So glad all the pain of this incident belonged to the tea kettle.

And you're right. Angels are tenacious.

Kind Claudia said...

Oh, thank God! I am so glad. That simple kind of mistake can destroy an entire house. PHEW! You are protected!

Do you have a favorite angel?

Kapuananiokalaniakea said...

Jerri,
Yes, we were lucky and blessed.

Kind Claudia,
I love them all. Some of my favorite protectors are: Michael, Mary, Ganesh, Kali, Padmasambhava, Lakshmi, and Zadkiel.