The Arcade

It only took about ten minutes to drive around the block to the far side of the Garden of Reflection, which was located in the farthest corner of the property on which St. Anthony’s was situated. Joe parked the Volvo across the street in the parking lot of a furniture store. He hoped it would help to hide his car.

They got out of the car and hurried across the street to the back entrance of the garden. Ducking through the gate, Cosmo and Joe walked in the direction of the statue of the Virgin Mary. It was located in a rose arbor on one side of the garden, partially obstructed from view by a semi-circular juniper hedge.

They found the arbor and sat on the benches provided for those who came to find peace in the shadow of The Blessed Mother. Joe checked his watch and said, “Well, it’s nearly eleven o’clock. He should be here any minute.”

“But dad – we didn’t tell him what time we’d be here, and he ‘poofed’ out before we could get a time out of him. How do we know when – or if – he’ll show up?”

Before Joe had a chance to respond, there was a rustle of leaves and shrubbery, whereupon Sal came through the opening in the far side of the hedge.

“Hello, boys!” He said brightly. “Glad you could make it! How was Mass?”

Cosmo and Joe looked at one another, and then Joe said, “Mass was fine. We were just discussing whether or not you were going to show up.”

Sitting down, Sal put his hand to his heart and replied, “I gave you my word I would be here. What makes you think I wouldn’t?”

It was Cosmo’s turn to speak. “Only that every time one or both of us is talking to you, you ‘poof’ out of the room the moment we turn our backs, usually leaving a whole load of questions unanswered.”

“That, and it’s just annoying.” Joe added.

“Well boys, I’m here now.” Sal said. “So – have you perfected your plan, Joey?”

Joe sighed at Sal’s use of his name, but decided against correcting him. “As a matter of fact I have, and it’s really very simple.”

Sal raised his eyebrows. “Simple? I like simple. I prefer simple. What is it?”

Conscious of both Cosmo’s eyes and Sal’s scrutinizing gaze, Joe cleared his throat and said, “Next Saturday evening, we have a little get-together at our house, at which time Cosmo basically spills the beans about his part in the motorcycle wreck.”

Sal looked at him and said, “That’s it? That is your big plan?”

“Yeah, dad – we’ve kinda decided that already.” Cosmo echoed.

Joe held up a hand. “I’m not finished. Like I said, Cosmo tells everyone his part in Theo’s wreck…” Looking directly at Sal, he continued “…and then he tells them about yours.”

Joe let the implication of what he had just said hang for a moment, and when the meaning of his words finally hit home, Cosmo and Sal starting protesting at the same time.

“Dad, you can’t be serious! Everyone will think…”

“Joey I absolutely forbid the notion! If people…”

“…I’m nuts! I’ll lose all my friends, and Holly…”

“…were to think that angels did such things as you’re implying…”

“…will lose all respect for me.”

“…they’d lose all respect for us.”

Joe looked from Cosmo to Sal, and back to Cosmo. When they had finished ranting, Joe said, “I wasn’t finished.”

“You mean to say that there’s more of this hare-brained idea?” Sal asked.

“Yeah,” Joe continued, “there is. After we drop the bomb, so to speak, on everyone Saturday night, you ‘poof’ in Sunday morning during Mass and let everyone in on it, and explain it to them the way you explained it to us – and you tell them everything. You can leave out the part about the joyride, of course.”

Sal looked from Joe to Cosmo. “What do you think of this ‘plan’, sonny?”

Cosmo was silent for a few moments, and then answered, “Well, normally I would back my dad on any play, but I have to admit – this makes me really nervous. Dad – are you sure about this? I mean, when this comes out, there is going to be fallout worse than anything Mount St. Helen burped up.”

Cosmo was referring to the eruption in the early Eighties of Mount St. Helen, which dropped thousands of tons of ash all over the northwestern United States.

Joe bowed his head and placed the tips of his fingers together. Looking back up, he said, “I’ve given quite a bit of thought to this, and I just don’t see any other way. I don’t know exactly how much trouble this is gonna create, but I’m sure it’ll be bad.”

Sighing, Joe continued, “I’m just as sure that there is more to all of this than any of us – including the angel, here – realize.” Joe jerked his thumb in Sal’s direction. “So I am gonna go with my gut on this, and trust that God works it all out.”

Sal looked at Cosmo and Joe for a long moment, and then said, “Count me in, Joey.”

Cosmo’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What do you mean, ‘Count me in’? Does that mean you’re gonna go along with my dad’s plan? No questions? No protest?”

“That’s exactly right, sonny. After hearing your dad put it that way, how could I resist?” Sal replied.

Cosmo wasn’t convinced. “So I tell everyone the truth, and you show up, back up our story, and then reveal who and what you really are – just like that?”

With a twinkle in his eye, Sal replied “Just like that.”

Turning to Joe, Cosmo said, “I’m not so sure I trust him, Dad.”

“Son,” Joe replied, “when have you ever known an angel to lie?”

“That’s just it,” countered Cosmo. “I’ve never known an angel.”

“I’m sure everything will work out fine, son – won’t it Sal?” Joe soothed. Looking up, he said, “Sal?”

Joe and Cosmo were alone.

Joe scowled, and then let out a sigh. “I hate it when he does that. I really do.”

Cosmo agreed. “Tell me about it.”

“C’mon.” Joe said. “Let’s get out of here so we can beat your mother home.”

“What about my ‘bloody nose’?” Cosmo asked.

“Walk yourself into your closet door a few times. That should do the trick.” Joe said with a chuckle.

“Funny, dad – reeeally funny.”

“Aren’t I, though? I even crack myself up.”

“Remember that when you’re entertaining the other geezers at the nursing home.” Cosmo countered.

“What? I live in a nursing home in the future?” Joe asked with alarm.

“I’ll make sure of it, now.” Cosmo said with a grin.

“Oh, ha-ha! So now who thinks he’s funny?” Joe said.

Their laughter followed them out of the garden and to their car, and as they passed by an older and stately maple tree, a figure hidden by shadow watched unnoticed as they passed by.

Whispering to itself, the figure said, “Stay strong, boys. You will need each other more than ever in the coming weeks, and more than that, stay strong in your faith.” Shedding a single tear, the figure added, “Please forgive me for what I must do. I hope you understand.”