Latest Story.

Here is my latest Story. Initially I was hoping to have this finished in time for Christmas, but time got away from me (as it tends to do towards Christmas). But better late than never as the saying goes. I have to say, I do like this one. It’s a heartwarming tale, quite long, but worth the wait. So, you know the rigmarole by now, picture, story, then your feedback in the comments as always.

Father Angel

Father Radley strode down the aisle to go lock the doors of the Church. It was Christmas Eve of 1995 and the Church Choir had just outdone themselves with a wonderful performance. He was feeling very pleased with himself, many people had placed coins in the Donation box. This would be sent to The Missing Childrens Foundation directly after Christmas. As he walked by the last pew, something caught his eye and he turned his head to look. There on the pew was a young girl, she couldn’t have been more than 10 years old, wearing a thin dark grey top and a denim skirt that fell to her knees, her feet were bare and her legs were filthy as was her face. She was curled up on the pew in a fetal position fast asleep. The Father’s mouth dropped open in surprise and shock.

Tiptoeing past he locked the Old Heavy Oak Doors as quietly as he could then walked back to the last pew. The young girl was still asleep. Her dark hair fell across her face and a few strands lifted and fell rythymically as she breathed in and out softly. Sitting down beside her Father Radley gently shook her awake. The girl stirred slowly, then suddenly she seemed to realize she wasn’t alone and scrambled to a sitting position pushing herself away from Father Radley on the pew, her eyes wide and filled with terror as she stared at him. Father Radley held his hands up hastily and said gently
“It’s okay, I won’t hurt you, you’re safe”
The girl continued to stare at him but said nothing. Father Radley tried again
“What’s your name?” His question was met with silence.
“Where are your parents?” The girls eyes filled with tears and she whispered in a small voice
“Dead”
Feeling slightly encouraged Father Radley pressed on
“Where do you live?”
The girl shrugged and said
“I don’t have a home”
“Oh come now, you must have a home to go to, EVERYONE has a home to go to” smiled Father Radley.
“I don’t” replied the girl defiantly, then unexpectedly she began to cry, her small frame racked with sobs. Cautiously Father Radley slid along the pew and gently wrapped his arms around her. She scrambled onto his lap and wrapped her arms fiercely round his neck, sobbing into his shoulder. Father Radley was taken aback, but continued to soothe the child, rocking her gently in his arms. Slowly her sobs faded away and she drew back slightly to look up at him with a tear streaked face. Hesitantly she began to speak.
“My name is Anya. My Mommy died 6 months ago. I never knew my Daddy, he left before I was born. When my Mommy died I was sent to live with my Aunt Holly. I don’t like her. She beat me every day for no reason, and made me do all the housework. Then she made me sleep outside in the dog kennel. I ran away that night, and I’ve been living in a doorway ever since” she finished. Father Radley was stunned.
“How old are you Anya?” he asked
“I’m nine” she replied in a small voice
“My God Anya, how on earth have you survived?” whispered Father Radley in shock.
“By begging mostly, people give me spare money and sometimes food too” she answered truthfully.
Father Radley sat for a moment in thought, then sighed and said
“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do, you can sleep here tonight, then tomorrow I shall get in touch with your Aunt and see what she has to say, then we’ll take it from there. You do know your Aunt Holly’s address right?”
Anya nodded wordlessly, then burst out
“Please don’t make me go back there, she’ll beat me for running away, and she won’t give me anything to eat”
“Anya, calm down, I’m not going to make you go back there. I’m going to go and see what she has to say. You don’t even have to come with me” replied Father Radley
“Now come, are you hungry?” he finished
“I’m starving” replied Anya, “I haven’t eaten for three days”

Taking Anya’s hand, Father Radley led her through the door of the nave and along a corridor into a warm cosy living room.
“You sit here Anya and I’ll get you something to eat” Father Radley said, then exited the room into the Kitchen.
Anya sat down in a cosy armchair by the fire burning merrily in the grate. Every so often a log shifted, sending sparks up the chimney. In the opposite corner stood a huge Christmas Tree, decorated lavishly in Gold and Red Baubles, Tinsel, and twinkling Fairy Lights. Anya curled her legs up underneath her and rested her head on the arm of the chair. In seconds she was asleep.

Father Radley came back into the living room with a tray in his hands. On it was a steaming bowl of soup and 2 slices of bread and butter alongside a cup of warm milk. He stopped short at the sight of the girl sleeping soundly, then turned about and took the tray back into the kitchen. She could eat later.

Anya opened her eyes slowly. She was in a single bed in a small room. There was a nightlight burning on the white bedside table and heavy velvet curtains at the window. Laid over the bottom of the bed was a child’s bathrobe in pink. Anya climbed out of bed and donned the bathrobe, the opened the bedroom door and peeked out into the hall. At one end was a set of stairs leading downstairs from where the wonderful aroma of Bacon was drifting. She walked towards the stairs and heard Father Radleys voice humming to himself as he cooked.

Father Radley turned as he heard a noise at the Kitchen door and smiled as Anya appeared dressed in the Bathrobe he’d found in a box of Donations given to him by Ms Jones. It was a little long for her, but at least it was warmer than what she’d been wearing yesterday.
“Merry Christmas Anya” he smiled gently.
“Merry Christmas” she replied shyly.
“Would you like some breakfast?” he asked her, then grinned at her enthusiastic response.
Anya sat at the table as Father Radley placed a plate in front of her containing Sausages, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs and Baked Beans. Anya attacked the food in front of her like she’d never been fed, which Father Radley suspected was probably close to the truth. He was looking forward to meeting Anya’s Aunt Holly, and seeing what she had to say for herself.

After breakfast, Father Radley insisted that Anya have a bath. It was time she got rid of the dirt and grime she’d picked up being on the streets. He ran a bath for her and she washed her hair and body whilst he washed the breakfast dishes. When she came back downstairs she looked like a completely different young girl. Her skin was flawless, she looked like a pale english rose. Her hair was dark and long, falling well down her back in soft waves, and her eyes were a beautiful dark brown. She was wearing a pair of Jeans that fit perfectly, and a warm black sweater, found once again out of Ms Jones’ donation box. Father Radley smiled and said
“I bet that feels better”.
Anya nodded, then smiled softly and replied
“Yes it does, I can’t remember when I last had a bath. Thankyou for everything”
“You don’t have to thank me Anya, I’m just happy I can help” replied Father Radley.
“Now, I have Mrs Willis coming over for Christmas Dinner today, she’s my housekeeper and I called her and asked her to come over and stay with you while I go and pay a visit to your aunt, is that okay?” he asked
Anya looked frightened.
“It’s okay Anya, she’ll look after you, and I promise you won’t have to go back to your aunt if you don’t want to” he told her gently.
Reluctantly Anya nodded.
“Good girl, now can you give me your Aunt’s full name and address please? It’s time I paid her a visit” Said Father Radley.

Father Radley stood outside the run down house and checked the address against the piece of paper on which he’d written down the address Anya had given him. The house was in a bad state of repair, broken toys and cigarette butts littered the front yard, There was a bike with one wheel leaning against the house, and in a corner was a dog kennel that was open to the elements. A dog was chained up and lay wearily in the kennel. Squaring his shoulders, Father Radley walked up to the front door and knocked firmly. After a minute or two a woman answered. She was a thick heavyset woman with too much makeup on, and peroxide dyed blonde hair. A cigarette hung out of her red painted lips.
“Mrs Bradshaw?” Asked Father Radley.
“Yeh, who’re you and whaddya want” she said rudely.
“My name is Father Radley, I’m here about Anya” he replied grimly.
Mrs Bradshaw surveyed him for a moment the stood back
“Yer better come in then” she said and turned, heading down the hall.

Father Radley followed Mrs Bradshaw down the hall and into the kitchen. The squalor and stench hit him like a runaway truck. Dirty dishes were piled on every surface, and mouldy food lay everywhere. The trash can was overflowing and flies were buzzing around the top of it. On one counter sat a small television currently playing a music video, and at the table sat a boy of no more than 14 smoking a cigarette. Mrs Bradshaw sat herself down and said to the youth
“Out paul”
“Muuuum” whined Paul.
” I said OUT yer gobby little shyte” snarled Mrs Bradshaw.
Paul glared at his Mother for a moment, then stubbed the cigarette out and slunk from the room.
“So, where’s Anya?” asked Mrs Bradshaw
“Right now, she’s at my home” replied Father Radley quietly.
“She’s been living rough for a while, ever since she ran away from here, which was when exactly?” he asked.
Mrs Bradshaw shook a fresh cigarette out of the pack on the table and lit it, blowing out a stream of smoke before replying.
” ’bout six weeks ago now, I were glad to be rid of er too, insolent little snot she was”
Father Radley didn’t reply and Mrs Bradshaw looked at him then continued
“She refused to do the little bit of cleanin an cookin I asked her to do, an she were unkind to the others”
“Mrs Bradshaw, Anya is nine years old, you cannot expect a child of that age to do cooking and cleaning” replied Father Radley. He was liking this woman less and less, and could plainly see why Anya had been so desperate to get away from her.
“And to make a child of her age sleep in the dog kennel is just cruel and unbelievacly so at that” he added.
Mrs Bradshaw smirked
“She told you bout that did she? Well she shoulda done as she were told then shouldn’t she” she said smugly.
Father Radley never knew how he managed to keep his anger in check, but he did so, and said
“Well, as it’s plain you don’t want Anya back, and god forbid, she certainly doesn’t want to return here, I suggest you go to Social Services after the holidays and sign away all responsibility for her. I shall inform them in the meantime of Anya’s whereabouts”
“An what if I dun want to?” asked Mrs Bradshaw smirking again.
“Then I shall personally see to it that you spend next Christmas behind bars for Child Abuse and Neglect Mrs Bradshaw” repled Father Radley leaning forward.
Mrs Bradshaw’s mouth dropped open in shock.
“Are you threatenin me Father” she asked, placing heavy emphasis on the word Father.
“That’s exactly what I’m doing Mrs Bradshaw” he replied in a steely voice.
Mrs Bradshaw turned pale, and the fingers holding the cigarette trembled slightly.

Father Radley never told Anya what transpired between himself and her Aunt Holly. He only said that she didn’t have to go back to her Aunt and was to stay with him in the meantime. Anya’s gratitude and thanks meant the world to him. He was already becoming attached to this little girl. After the holidays he got in touch with Social Services and explained Anya’s situation to them. They sent a Social Worker out and they discussed the situation in great detail. Towards the end of the meeting the Social Worker asked if there was anything else Father Radley would like to ask. Father Radley took a deep breath and said
“Yes, I would like to adopt Anya as my own child.”

Anya stood in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom. She was ten years old and she’d come a long way in the year since Father Radley had found her curled up asleep on a pew in the church. It was Christmas Eve of 1996 and Anya was going to say a few words to the congregation tonight. She was very nervous, she knew some of her friends from school would be there. A knock sounded on the door followed by Father Radley’s voice calling
“Anya, are you ready?”
“Yes I am” she called back smiling
Father Radley opened the door and smiled.
“You look wonderful dear” he told her. She was wearing a red dress with a flared skirt, white ankle socks and black shoes, A black cardigan completed the outfit, and her hair was caught in two braids finished with red ribbons. Anya smiled
“So do you” she told him.

Together they went downstairs and entered the church. Anya grabbed a seat in the front pew whilst Father Radley went to open the doors and greet the congregation. When the congregation had settled Father Radley took up his stance on the alter and said to everyone
“Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s good to see you all here tonight. We shall have the usual Prayers and Choir singing, but a certain young lady would like to say a few words first. Anya, would you come up here please?”
Anya walked up the steps and turned to face the congregation. Her voice trembled a bit on her first few words, then grew stronger as she became more confident.
“My mommy used to tell me that there were angels in the sky. She and I would look out of the window at night and she would point out big shining stars and tell me they were angels. She said that there were angels down here on earth too. She said that if you were ever in need of an angel one would come along and help you out. I never knew whether to believe her or not, I mean I’d never seen any angels before”
This was said with childish innocence, but some members of the congregation laughed gently. Anya continued
“Last Christmas, I was cold and wet. I was living on the streets because my Aunt didn’t want me to live with her, and she didn’t treat me very well. So I ran away. On Christmas Eve, I found this Church, and slipped inside to warm up a bit. The Choir was singing and they sounded so beautiful, the best thing I’d ever heard. I fell asleep on the pew, and that’s when Father Radley found me. For the first time in my life since my mommy died, I knew that what she said was true. Angels DO live here on earth. I found one. Father Radley is my Angel. I call him my Father Angel, or more simply, Daddy”

Father Radleys eyes filled and overflowed with tears, and Anya stood beaming, as for the first time ever in Father Radley’s little Church, the whole congregation got to it’s feet and applauded for this child and her Father Angel, her Daddy