Chapter 5 005

"How mama? I can't help them..."

"Hush. You can. But to help them you must first help yourself, Kristopher. You must live. You are a very special boy...the gods have chosen you to help them. You are their guardian angel Kit. Without you, they will never find their way to the other side...they will never be at peace."

"But I don't understand mama...how can I help them? I can't even see them...what can I do to help?"

"But you CAN see them...just open your eyes and open your heart...help them understand that death is not bad...it is rest...it is all part of life, my darling, and clinging to those we've lost will do no good. Everything has an ending Kristopher, just as every cloud has a silver lining..." She smiled warmly at him and Kit saw light pouring from her eyes. She looked like an angel.

"Where will you go mama?" he asked weakly.

Jeanette smiled brightly and looked towards the sky. "Just as you will be their angel here on land, I will be their angel of the sky. I will watch over them, just as I will watch over you...I will always be around, even if you cannot see me." Jeanette looked towards the sky once more and nodded softly, as if to someone unseen. "Now, my darling, no more questions. I haven't long before I must go."

Kit swallowed hard and stared up into his mother's beautiful, glowing face. In all his life, she'd never looked so serene and happy. There were no cuts or bruises on her face or arms or legs; there was no fear in her eyes, just breathtaking, golden light; and strangely, it felt really good to know she was finally free, finally at peace within.

"Now come, my darling, we have an appointment we must not miss." She said.

Kit furrowed his brow, not understanding her meaning and Jeanette laughed. "Come..." she stood up and held out her hand for him to take. She was warm to the touch, which surprised Kit. He'd always thought ghosts were cold.

"Where are we going?" He asked.

"I want you to meet a friend of mine...someone who will help you understand what it is you must do."

"Why can't you stay and help instead?" he said, feeling strangely weightless as he began to climb down the straw bales.

"Because I have work to do my darling...besides...my friend is much better acquainted with being dead than I...he will know exactly what it is you're to do."

Kit held his mother's hand and laughed as she began to skip by his side. The night air was cool and everything seemed light and suspended, as though it was all a strange dream. He hoped he wouldn't wake up.

Kit began to forget about everything and became captivated by his mother, twirling and skipping in the starlight. Jeanette danced like a ballerina. Her feet tapped and pattered on the stone beneath them, her arms and hands slicing the air like ribbons. Her hair glinted and swayed, her body leaped in unheard rhythms.

Finally, as she began to slow, Kit's attention was diverted to the fence, now barely six feet in front of them. Specks of light like fireflies fluttered in the air, pulsing, and grouping together to form a strange, undetermined shape. Kit squinted, trying to make out their pattern.

"Mama...look..." He breathed.

"Hush." She whispered gently, still swaying left to right, her eyes closed and a smile lighting her face. "Think happy my darling...think of the sunset in the mountains...think of the squirrel in the garden at home...and of love...think of love above all else."

Kit did as his mother told him and thought. He focused on his mother, watching her face, thinking how beautiful she was and how much he loved her. She opened one eye and smiled at him, then let her gaze rove. "Look Kristopher...it's working...you're bringing him through."

"Bringing who..." Kit gasped as he turned to see what she was looking at. Where the fireflies had been just moments before, now stood a man...he a strong, worn-looking face and greying, hazel-colored hair. His eyes were almost black, yet somehow, it seemed like they were made of light, just like his mother's.

"Hello Kristopher," he said softly, offering his hand for Kit to shake. His voice was deep and soothing. It filled the kit's head with warm fuzz. "My name is Jonathan. I've been sent to help you on your new path."

Kit didn't know what to say. He wasn't sure he could speak. He reached out and shook the man's huge hand. "Hi." He muttered.

"I cannot stay, I'm so sorry...I would love to chat, but...the boss is calling and we must hurry." Jonathan smiled warmly. "I will be back in a few days Kit when we will have much more time to talk. I just thought I should introduce myself before I start rudely popping in and out of your life. Jeanette?"

Kit had absolutely no idea what this man was on about, but hearing that his mother was due to leave, he panicked and turned to her. He threw his arms around her waist and held her tightly, not wanting to let her go.

"Eh, come now, my darling...do not fear...mama has to leave, is all...come...you may not feel it now, but you're very close to death my love and I cannot let that be." Jeanette took him by the hand and led him back across the yard. "However, I have such a clever boy...because of all the places he could have gone, Kristopher Alden managed to find a house lacking in children. You know why?"

Kit shook his head. "Because the nice people who live here cannot have children of their own. They would very much like to adopt a child...one in need of love and shelter and a warm bed to sleep in...and you, my darling, happen to be the most perfect child in the entire world."

His mother had led him to the front of the farmhouse, where wide wooden steps led up to a large veranda. Little purple and blue flowers were blossoming in pots outside. A straw mat lay in front of the screen door, bearing the words 'welcome home'. Although scared, Kit couldn't help but be reassured by his mother's smile.

"They will look after you, I promise...now...come and hold me, I must go..." she beckoned, her arms open as she knelt beside him.

"No mama, please..." Kit begged, clutching at her with all his might. Tears sprang to his eyes. Jeanette had to fight back her own, choking down her pain until she was gone.

"Yes, my love...I must..."

"Jeanette, we must leave now...there's no more time," Jonathan said from across the yard, his voice carrying across the silent air.

"Be good Kristopher..." Jeanette said, feeling her body go light. Kit gasped, seeing his mother becoming transparent in front of him, her body breaking up into a little fleck of blinding light. "Remember...life isn't always easy, my love, but it's the greatest of all adventures...it must be lived to the full!" she called. "I love you with all of my heart, darling! Never forget!"

And with that, the light faded and she was gone.

Suddenly, all his exhaustion and hunger came flooding back. Kit saw spots of white appear in his vision as his knees buckled beneath him. Gasping, Kit fell to the floor with a heavy thud and began to wretch bile onto the veranda.

Lights came on beyond the screen door, though Kit was barely aware of any of it.

"Who is it, Bill? What's out there?" a woman's worried voice sounded faintly.

"I don't know. Stay there, Maggie...Jesus Christ! It's a boy!" Bill gasped.

And that was how it had all begun.