The Angel, the Devil, and the Old Woman

It was a good day to begin.

The sun was shining. The road was wide. My life’s journey lay ahead and I could not wait. I said my goodbyes and took off without a backward glance.

I half walked, half ran in my excitement. I wanted to be farther and I wanted to get there faster!

Soon it was getting dark, and my parents’ house disappeared from view. The summer heat dissipated with the sunset.

I kept on marching, impatient to get somewhere interesting. I wanted my real life to finally begin!

It was then, that the Devil pulled up in a black Bugatti. His red horns were small, drowning in the mop of shaggy black hair. His yellow eyes reached deep into my soul. I felt the pull. I came closer..

“Hop in!” He said “You’ve got a long road ahead. Let me give you a ride..”

I looked in and saw a very beautiful woman and a very handsome man, smiling at me from the back seat. They were pouring the champagne into three long flutes.

“This one’s for you.”

Their white teeth glowed in the dark.

I got in and the car took off speeding. We almost ran over an old woman, who was picking the flowers on the side of the road.

She got sprayed with the dust, and I felt a bit queasy. The devil cackled with satisfaction.

Soon, I forgot all about the old woman.

I found myself at a pool party. It was the biggest pool I have ever seen. The water was crystal clear and blinking rhythmically with the rainbow colors of the reflected party lights. It was full of beautiful people.

And I was one of them.

The more I drank, the more beautiful I became..

We all danced on the water, like a huge glass dance floor. The devil danced with us.

Suddenly the music stopped. The lights went out.

There was an almost perfect silence, except for a faint crackling sound behind me.

And my heartbeat.

I slowly turned to look around.

The devil and his Bugatti were gone..I was surrounded by the cardboard cut outs of the beautiful people.

Behind them stood a big cardboard mansion. I noticed it was on fire, just as the smoke hit my nostrils.

Where’s the pool? My eyes searched for some source of water to put the flames out. All I could see was an olympic size sandbox at the spot where the pool used to be.

“Hello?” My pulse quickened. “Anybody there?!”

Suddenly I felt very thirsty. The fire was closing in. Coughing and wheezing, I could taste ash in my mouth.

I’m going to die!

I started to pray.

“DO YOU REPENT?”

What?

“DO YOU REPENT?” The booming voice repeated.

“Oh God! Yes! Yes! I repent!” I yelled in a hoarse voice

My throat was burning from the smoke. The thirst was getting unbearable.

“O.K.” The voice boomed “THIS ONCE. I WILL SEND HELP.”

An Angel suddenly appeared and hovered over my head.

“Hold on to my feet!” He ordered and I grabbed both his ankles as hard as I could.

We flew over the desert and back toward the road.

I saw the old woman still gathering flowers below us.

“Who is she?” I asked

“She is taking her time.” The Angel answered “She’s..”

He didn’t finish, but instead dropped me off in the middle of the road. Way ahead of the old woman.

“Remember to stay on the road. Follow the signs. You and only you are responsible for the rest of your journey!”

I nodded eagerly, grateful for another chance.

“And don’t dawdle! You’ve wasted too much time already.” He added and disappeared.

Heeding The Angel’s words, I set out at a brisk pace.

There was a long road ahead, but I knew my direction now! And I stayed focused throughout my journey, never to be sidetracked again.

It wasn’t for the lack of trying on the Devil’s part.

I saw him in his Bugatti, time and again. At times he just sped by me, but every so often he would stop to offer me another ride.

Having learned my lesson well, I always sent him on his way alone.

Walking got harder as the time passed. With each new day, the road seemed more uphill, and my knees stiffer. I have also accumulated some possessions along the way. Carrying them all with me was a challenge, but I persevered.

I kept meeting new people. Lovers, friends, enemies. Sometimes it was hard to tell them apart.

Sometimes we walked together, sometimes I walked alone, but I never dared to stop.

Or leave the road again..

More time passed. I was getting slower. Encumbered by my growing age and possessions.

I walked with a limp now.

One day I realized it was fall again. The days were getting shorter.

Then the snow fell.

I was bone tired, my feet hurt from the cold, when the Angel appeared before me again.

He didn’t have to say it. I knew my journey has come to an end.

“You did well, he said. Better than the last time.”

“What do you mean, the last time?”

He ignored my question and motioned at all the possessions I carried:

“Leave everything. It’s time to start over.”

The Angel then picked me up, but this time he cradled me in his arms like a newborn baby.

We flew backwards over the road..

“Wait! Wait!” I wanted to say, but only a baby cry came out of my mouth.

We flew over the old woman again.

She was sitting by the stream, singing and weaving flowers into a wreath.

“What about her?!” I thought. “Why does she get to stay?”

The Angel’s irritated voice boomed straight into my mind:

“She’s not in our system!!”