A whim and a prayer, or how an angel finally got her wings

Senga lived a godly life. She went to Mass each Sunday and Synagogue each Saturday. She volunteered in the city soup kitchen every Wednesday, and was crossing guard at the elementary school. To have the wings of an angel was her life's passion. To fly through heaven, was her just reward. The day she died, Senga took her last breath with great anticipation and expectation...

Senga stood in front of the ornate gates of Heaven peeking through the bars to see the angels. St. Peter strolled over to talk with her

"I see you have lived a perfect life for 80 years. We are so proud of you. You have truly earned your wings. He handed her a small pin. Wear them with pride, Senga Angel."

"What the hell is this?" asked Senga,

"Do the wings expand or something when you put them on?"

"Expand? No, that is it ... Just what you see there... Quite an honor really."

Explained St. Peter.

"Come on! I was promised wings to fly. Like the pictures in that Holy book."

"Sorry, Angels don't really have wings at all. But we knew how much you wanted them, so we borrowed that pin from an old pilot. We did it on a whim."

Senga stared at St. Peter open mouthed. You mean I worked my ass off for eighty years in the name of God and all I get to show for it is this tacky TWA pilot"s wings ? Holy shit! I prayed my whole damn life for....for this?"

"Ppppthtttttttttt!" responded Senga, as she stomped down the golden path to the Ivory Tower. Pilot's wings. God damned Brass wings."

Senga fluffed up a cloud making it elongated and comfy. She absentmindedly picked at it casting clouds everywhere . She lay on her stomach watching butterflies and bluebirds, fly over the grassy knolls below. Stupid creatures, she thought. Stupid butterlies with wings. Stupid bluebirds singing happy songs!”She saw her Semite healer friend floating on a nearby cloud and whistled to him.

"Hey, Saul, come on over here!"

He popped over to her cloud and sat with his legs crossed. "I believe I know how to grow wings." he said. "I have been studying the Seraphim and feel I know how it is done." "Their wings seem to appear as they circle the Merkabah."

"They are the privileged choir and acquire wings for some feat beyond the call of duty. You can't grow wings. Even the Cherubs wings are just shiny cellophane and bent wire. We mere angels don't get 'em at all."

" Remember the old proverb...just have faith. Well, if faith can move a mountain, why not grow wings?"

"You may have something there pal. But, I don't think growing them is the answer. Maybe finding them and attaching them myself."

She sat quietly for a few minutes." Yes, I think that is it. Would you like to come with me to find some wings? No? If anybody asks where I am, tell 'em I'm off mooning St. Paul again. That'll send them into a major tizzy."

Senga poofed off the cloud and re-emerged behind a silver tree on the knoll. She tripped a Cupid-wanna-be as it skipped by and grabbed its bow and quiver of arrows. The Cherub was attacked by a licking horde of puppies and didn't see Senga run off to the Heavenly Library.

She found a book titled 'God's Winged creatures great and small'. She rifled through it, hunting for the perfect wings. Ahhhhh, the Volcanic Dragon on pg. 322, with a picture on facing page was perfect. Last seen in a cave on Mt. Shasta, it was the size of a large giraffe. She swung the quiver over her shoulder, grabbed the bow and vanished from the Library. She reappeared on Mt. Shasta, immediatelyrealizing she did not have to fly.

Senga peeked into the fissure. She saw nothing resembling a dragon. Carefully she stepped into the opening. She could hear the faint echo of a snore and followed the sound through the maze of corridors. She turned a final corner and stumbled upon a large reptilian beast. A dazzling transparent wing covered its irridescent Reddish orange head. A fiery glow came from the back of the cave, and glistened with flashes of light on the sleeping dragon. Senga stepped softly up to the beast and touched its throbbing side. It did not wake. She carefully strung the bow and pulled an arrow from the quiver. Silently she pulled it taut and aimed at the large red dragon.

"POOF" she was covered with soot as the dragon uncovered one nostril and blew sizzling breath at her.

"Stop it!" she sputtered. The dragon snuffed again. "I am an angel, and I demand that you quit doing that."

"Oh by all means, you're an angel. A fallen one I presume." "Why else would you be bothering me?" queried the dragon.

"No-o-o. I am a... a hunter angel. I am out hunting for ...things."

"I didn't think angels were tempted to lie. What are you really?"

I told you I'm a hunter angel." Senga coughed as the dragon breathed out at her. "STOP IT!"

"What do you want?" asked the dragon." And remember, I can tell a lie because I invented them. I suppose you are searching for a way back there?" he nodded toward civilization, "or the holy grail?" He eyed her cleverly. "Or perchance you are looking for something more personal? A vanity perhaps?"

"There's a lot you don!t know about angels," said Senga.

"Hey I was an angel once, myself," snorted the dragon.

"Of course... I mean, how did...Give me your wings you demon spawn of Satan."

"Oh heavens, silly girl. Go play someplace else. I'm napping."

He turned and wrapped his pointed tail around his scaly body.

Senga picked up the arrow she had dropped and aimed it at the back of the dragon. PRANG she let it fly. It stuck in the dragon scales and stood straight up like a flower swaying in a spring breeze. The dragon slowly turned it's swirling eyes toward Senga. It inhaled deeply its mouth and nose oozing thick gray smoke. He opened his mouth to let a trickle of flame escape and stopped suddenly. He tilted his head and belched a sulfurous burp. His head came to her level and he stuck out his long snaky tongue and licked her startled face.

"Hey, knock it off!" shouted Senga. "What the heck are you doing?"

"You're very cute when you're mad." He rubbed his head against her and knocked her playfully backward into the cave. "I love you!"

"Are you crazy?" questioned Senga. I'm trying to kill you and steal your wings."

"Kill me? Kill me? You wouldn't kill somebody that loves you, would you.?"

"Oh no. gasped Serra. "Its the arrow! She pulled the arrow out of the dragon's back; it dripped steaming crimson blood. Oh hell. Those stupid Cherubs were using real cupid arrows.

The dragon was still sobbing causing a flood of tears to puddle in the cave. Senga climbed on to its back and sat looking at the rising water.

"Please stop bawling. I won't kill you. But, you have to quit the waterworks. I'm not sure angels can swim."

"I can't stop...I...can't understand why you...he sobbed. I need a hug!"

Senga climbed over the folded wings and put her arms around the dragons neck. He smelled like hot cinnamon buns. She buried her face in the soft leather and could feel the pulse of the his heart thumping warmly. The dragon purred.

"Can you fly out of here?" asked Senga.

"Certainly!" said the dragon. " Hold on!" He took a step toward the passageway, and spread his wings. With a belch he let lose a fiery ball of steam and he rose up the shaft of the volcano. He burst out into the blue sky and beat his beautiful wings in the thermals.

"Oh my! gasped Senga. This is fabulous!" She hugged the dragon closer. Will you come to heaven with me and be my wings?"

No, ! I'm not allowed in heaven, I got kicked out. Not even for you. But I have an idea."

He flew down to the lake at the base of the mountain. There was a pile of bones left over from his feeding. At the top of the mound was a set of swan's wings. Senga liked them and knew they would be perfect angel wings. She placed them on her shoulders and the dragon carefully fused them to her back with a soothing warm flame. She jumped on the dragons back and they flew off into the air. She stood up on his back and let the wind swish through her wings. A gust caught them and she twirled off into the sky. She quickly grasped the way to flap and float. She was an angel, and she had wings. She caught up with the dragon, and shouted her delight.

"Thank you! Without you, I would have never gotten my wings!" Senga flew off into the clouds and vanished into the heavens.

"Whatever you're heart desires! You owe me one!" the Dragon whispered.

>

>