She Talks To Angels

“You did it?” Novak’s voice was soft, reverent.

“Hey, I can do anything.” Bam grinned. Novak was clutching the napkin with a phone number and address scrawled on it. There was one name written above it in loopy handwriting.

Mercy Maguire. She dotted her the ‘I’ with a star. It was wonderful. He wanted to hug the little thing to his chest.

“When do I get to see her?” he demanded.

“She said to call her sometime tomorrow; she’s in college and gets out at three. So anytime

after that and she’ll answer her cell.”

**

“Hello?” her voice was questioning, curious. Like she was never even sure who in their right mind would be calling her.

“Mercy?”

“Yes?”

“How are you?”

“Who is this?” he heard something that was like a car rushing by. Where was she? Was she walking? Didn’t she have a car.

“This is um, Novak. Brandon Novak. I’m…Bam’s friend. He said you were going on a date with me?”

“Oh, right.” He felt relieved. “What were you thinking of?”

“Do you have a car? I mean, can you meet me for dinner somewhere?”

There was an uncomfortable pause.

“I don’t drive, but um, I can take a bus or something.” She offered. Novak went quiet.

“I could come get you.”

“No!” she said, too fast. “Don’t. Don’t.”

“Why not?”

“I’d just… Rather you didn’t. Is all.”

“Oh,” Novak bit his lower lip. Bam came in and rolled his eyes as he saw the napkin on the table. He snatched the phone out of Novak’s hand.

“Mercy? It’s Bam. Yeah, hi.” He was quiet for a moment. “I know. Listen, I have an idea. Why don’t you both do dinner here? Yeah,” he was smiling. “You’re right, it will be. Okay. Bye.” He hung up.

“We’re eating here?” Novak looked disappointed.

“That’s the only way I can keep my promise to her. So yes, yes you are eating here.”

“Oh,” that certainly put a damper on his plans to put the moves on her. Bam just ruffled his hair and walked out.