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I DON'T THINK THE SOLUTION to this problem will come to me while Chris is distracting me with his presence, so I return to Miss Donaldson on my own. This mission is certainly... unique. It's rare to find a charge with a wish that's physically impossible, but I have to find a way to make it work. When I boasted about seventy-five years of successful missions, it was no lie. If I failed a mission now, I would be thoroughly humiliated.
I could perform a miracle. Archangels can do that, but genuine miracles are usually frowned on by the Council—unless you get a majority vote. I doubt they would approve my miracle, seeing as I'm already on probation. Haniel, Azrael, Sandalphon and Raguel would side with me, but the rest would vote with Archangel Michael, and I know he would vote against me. If I performed the miracle without getting it approved, I can't even guess what my punishment would be. I'm already on thin ice, so I shouldn't test my luck.
Anna Donaldson is a true beauty, through and through. She has a golden aura, which says a lot about her. Very few people are pure gold, which is indicative of a good heart and charitable nature. I feel drawn to her—I don't want to look away. Her hair reminds me of a sunset in early evening, when the sky is first kissed by shades of red. She's so lovely, but I see sadness in her eyes. I consider myself an empath, and I sense there's a hidden piece of her that's profoundly lonely, even though she's surrounded by friends.
It takes me a moment to learn her friends' names. The brunette is Sarah, the blonde is Cathy, and they've assembled at a diner to celebrate their upcoming graduation. Sarah is the vexsome young lady who babbled about her romantic exploits at the prom. Unbeknownst to them, they have a visitor at their table. I'm their silent, invisible observer.
I glance around the diner, reacquainting myself with an era I haven't visited in some time. The song Big Girls Don't Cry is blaring on the jukebox, and the checkered tiles on the floor are typical of the time period. From our table, I can see the street and the cars rushing by. I've never been a big fan of motor vehicles, but I prefer them in this era. They had a very unique look.
“So, Harry and I had our first date yesterday,” Sarah says. “We went to the drive-in movie theatre, and... well, let's just say, things got a little more intimate than I expected.”
Cathy gasps at the news. “You two didn't go all the way, did you?”
“No, silly. It would be too soon for that!” Blushing, Sarah reveals, “I might've put my tongue in his mouth, though.”
I've never been kissed. That's what Anna's thinking, but she doesn't reveal it to her friends. I often hear the thoughts of humans and spirits, and it's usually unintentional. When you're an advanced telepath, the thoughts of others tend to flood your mind.
The ladies' sandwiches and milkshakes arrive, delivered by a tall woman with horn-rimmed glasses and a beehive hairstyle. Feeling a bit jealous, I manifest a chocolate milkshake and continue to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“We need to find a boyfriend for Anna,” Sarah suddenly decides. “She can not graduate from high school when she's never been kissed! That's just... sad.”
Anna rejects her friend's remark. “That's not true! I... I've been kissed before!”
“Oh, really?” Sarah raises an incredulous brow. “Who?”
“I was kissed by... Peter. In the second grade,” Anna says. “Also, Ronald Thomas kissed me behind the bleachers once.”
She's lying, and I think her friends know it too.
“If that happened, I think you would've told me before,” Sarah claims. “I've been your friend forever. You tell me everything.”
“Well, I really did kiss Ronald,” Anna insists, burying herself deeper in the lie. “He told me he had feelings for me, and before I knew it, his lips were on mine.”
“If that's true, I'm really surprised you didn't tell me sooner,” Sarah says. “In fact... I might even be a little bit offended.”
While the girls discuss the young men they have or haven't kissed, my thoughts drift elsewhere. It's been a long time since I've taken on a mission that seems impossible. I want to make Anna happy, and I want my student to succeed, but I honestly have no idea how I'm supposed to make this happen.
Dancing. It's such a trivial thing, but it might be my downfall. If I could, I'd sweep her into my arms and lead her in a waltz. But I can't—not without a miracle.
Between sips of her milkshake, Sarah squeals, “Ahhh, I love this song!”
It takes me a moment to recognize the song. When you've heard countless songs throughout countless decades, it's hard to keep them straight. Over the ages, I've listened to everything from Bach to Elvis to Jimi Hendrix. My head is a compendium of musical knowledge.
The song on the jukebox is “Dream Lover” by Bobby Darin.
“This song was on the radio the first time Harry kissed me,” Sarah says. “It was so romantic.”
I have little interest in hearing about Sarah's romantic exploits, but the lyrics get me thinking. There might be a way to get Anna on her feet, but I haven't attempted anything like this in at least a thousand years. If I'm going to pull this off, I'm going to need some guidance.
“I hope he makes you happy,” Anna says. “Harry, I mean. I hope he treats you better than he treated Susan.”
“Please don't tell me you actually feel sorry for her!” Sarah whines.
“No, I just... I don't want to see you get hurt,” Anna says. “He seems to have a new girlfriend all the time, so...”
“Harry really likes me!” Sarah declares her beau's feelings in such a shrill voice, it makes me wonder why Anna keeps her as a friend. “He does! It'll be different this time. You're only doubting him because you're jealous.”
A gasping Anna protests, “I am not!”
“If you say so...”
The girls finish their milkshakes in silence, giving me a precious moment with my thoughts.
Anna is going to get her dance. I'm determined to make it happen.
And she's going to dance with me.