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I SQUEAL AT SANDALPHON, “My spirit guide? What?” I should probably give him a chance to explain before I get too freaked out.
“I'm sorry. I should have told you much sooner,” Sandalphon says. “The truth is, I was your primary spirit guide for the last seven years. I never told you because... being someone's spirit guide and instructor is unprecedented. I was afraid Michael would hear about it and invent some reason to punish me.”
Tilting my head, I ask, “Michael?”
“Archangel Michael. He's the highest ranking Archangel, and has been for centuries.”
“Okay.” That's all I say, because I'm not sure how to react to this fresh information. I don't know how I should feel. At first, I'm kind of mad, because this is the second big secret he's kept from me. At the same time, I'm also kind of flattered. “So... you've been with me since I was ten?”
“Yes.” Sandalphon's answer is followed by a wince. “I wasn't your only guide, but I checked on you as often as I could. I've watched you grow into a lovely young woman. I took away your pain when you were ill. I've dried your tears, introduced you to friends, and I even helped you plan your most recent birthday party.”
“You were the guide who helped me with that party?”
“I was. Sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? That party was awesome!” I exclaim. “I got to see my friends dressed up like hobbits. I turned Grandpa's shed into a hobbit house. I got to have one more kick-ass day before I died!”
“I wasn't apologizing for the party. I'm apologizing because I haven't been entirely honest with you.”
“I know. And I'm not mad, but no more secrets.” I wag a scolding finger under Sandalphon's chin. “If there's anything else I should know, tell me now.”
His next secret blows my mind harder than any of the previous ones.
“I have feelings for you.”
At first, I can't believe those words are coming from Sandalphon. I even look over my shoulder, thinking he must be talking to someone else. But no—he actually said it, and he actually said it to me.
“You...” That's the only word I can get out. You. Well done, Mikayla. You sound like a real genius.
“You needn't reply,” Sandalphon says. “I know I've probably overloaded you with information, so... for now, let's focus on the mission. Stand beside me, please. I want you to see what I'm doing.”
I tiptoe to Sandalphon and stand at his side, watching as he loads an app on his LightTab. I want to say something. I want to say I like him too, but I can't get the words out of my mouth. It'd be easier if he read my mind to find out the truth.
As a picture of a cartoon cat in a top hat flashes on his screen, Sandalphon says, “This app is called KittyGuide. Once you graduate from spirit school, you'll have access to it. On it, you'll find a list of guides who work exclusively with cats.”
“Seriously? Cats have guides too?”
“Oh, absolutely. There are guides for every animal you can think of. Since there are a great number of cats, as well as cat-loving people, KittyGuide is actually very popular. Normal guides sometimes work with animals, while animal guides always work with animals.”
A dozen possibilities pop into my head at once. Could I be a dog guide... or maybe a walrus guide? Oooo... or how about a fox guide? For some reason, I've always liked foxes.
“I'm going to contact the closest feline guide in this area,” Sander says. “Pay attention, Mikayla. At some point, you might need to use this too.”
Sander contacts the only cat guide within a ten mile radius. The guy who arrives looks vaguely familiar, as if I've seen him before, but I can't place his face. He has white, fluffy hair, a kitten on his shoulder, and possibly the bushiest mustache I've ever seen. When he introduces himself as Mark Twain, I scream.
“The Mark Twain?”
“Oh, yes.” Slipping a treat to the kitten on his shoulder, he adds, “And this is my adorable Miss Huckleberry.”
Mark Twain... is a cat guide. I'm so stunned by that, I momentarily forget about Sandalphon's spilled secrets.
The famous author says, “I never could resist a cat. They're the fluffiest, cleanest, funniest creatures in the world. They only like what they like, and they refuse to let anyone be the master of them.”
Neither Sandalphon nor I have a reply for that; in fact, my instructor changes the subject. “Mr. Twain, we were hoping you could help us with something. Willa, our charge, would like to adopt a cat. Do you know of any strays in the area?”
“Of course. There are always strays,” Twain says. “I assume you want one that is domesticated, not feral.”
My instructor replies, “Yes, that would be our preference.”
“Give me a moment,” Twain says, referring to his LightTab. “I have almost a hundred cats on my list, so...”
“You're the spirit guide of a hundred cats?” I shrill.
“I am, young lady. I also know all of their names, desires, and personal preferences. For example, Spaghettio loves turkey and despises belly rubs. Oscar, on the other hand, doesn't seem to mind a few strokes of his tummy, and turkey is his favorite.”
I feel like my mind has been blown by this entire conversation. There's only one thing I know for certain: Mark Twain really likes cats.
After a few minutes on his LightTab, Twain reports, “There's a calico named Joey, less than two miles from this house. Seventeen days ago, his owner died of a heart attack. The owner's son inherited everything his father had, including his old man's many cats. Unfortunately, Joey is the only cat who has survived.”
“How did the other kitties die?” I ask.
“Unfortunately, Bella and Domino were hit by cars. Marco starved.”
Twain sends us a map, which I load onto my LightTab. He expects to find Joey somewhere in the vicinity of his old house.
Twain asks. “Would you like my help to find him?”
I would have taken all the help we can get, but Sandalphon replies, “No, I think we can handle it on our own.”
“Good. I would expect no less of an Archangel.” I think Mark Twain is smiling, but half his lips are hidden under his bushy mustache. “However, should you get stumped, you're more than welcome to contact me again. Farewell.”
A split-second later, Mark Twain disappears, and Sandalphon says, “One of us should locate the cat, while one of us should work on getting Willa out of the house. Which job appeals to you?”
I take a moment to think it over, because both jobs sound difficult. The cat could be hard to find, while Willa looks married to her bed. I'm a decent map reader, so I reply, “I'll... try to find the cat.”
“Good. I'll warp you to Joey's general vicinity. As soon as you find him, contact me on the LightTab.”
Sandalphon takes me to a generic residential neighborhood, where every house looks the same, and every lawn is painstakingly manicured. In the soft glow of twilight, I can barely make out the street sign on the corner.
“As I said, when you find Joey, contact me immediately,” Sandalphon says. “While we're separated, I'll try to give Willa the motivation she needs. It's good that I have this job, because I might give her a little energy boost.”
“You can do that?” I wait for his nod, then I follow with a, “Cool.”
Sandalphon leaves, so I start scouring the neighborhood. Inspired by the mention of an energy boost, I manifest a Red Bull. I go up and down the sidewalks, shouting, “Kitty, kitty, kitty!” between sips of my drink.
For well over ten minutes, I don't see any sign of a cat. Would Sandalphon have been better at this? Probably. I'm sure he would do everything better than me.
Sandalphon sends a two word message: “Any luck?”
“Not yet.” I feel so bad about my lack of success, I can barely command my thumbs to type my reply. “Any luck getting Willa out of the house?”
Sandalphon's reply makes me feel even more like a failure. “Yes. She's getting her shoes on right now. She prefers taking walks at night, when traffic is less dense.”
Crap. What if Willa reaches the neighborhood before I've located her feline companion? I'm about to throw in the towel when I hear the unmistakable yowl of a nearby cat. After a quick scan of the area, I see a pair of glowing eyes under an SUV.
“Joey?” I call to him. “Joey, is that you?” I think he can see me, because he looks intrigued, but he doesn't come out of his hiding place to greet me. Twain mentioned that Joey was a calico, right? This cat looks like he has the spotted coat of a typical calico, but I don't know for sure.
“Joeeeey!” I use a singsong voice, and at the same time, I type a message to Sandalphon.
“I think I found Joey.”
He replies, “Good, send me your location. Push the little blue button on the bottom right corner of your LightTab.”
I follow his instructions and wait for Joey to respond to my voice. He doesn't. He keeps staring at me with his big, yellow eyes.
“Kiiiittty!” I call out to him. “Kiiitty... come here! Come here, baby! Come here!”
Sandalphon suddenly appears at my side, catching me in the middle of my embarrassing baby talk. “Well done, Mikayla,” he praises me. “Miss Newton appears to be on her way, and when she arrives, we must encourage little Joey to come out of hiding.”
“He's not responding to me,” I say. “Maybe he'll respond to you?”
“I do have a some influence on animals, especially when my wings are out. I'll wait until Miss Newton gets a bit closer.”
We have to wait another ten minutes before Sander can test his skills.
Sander. When the wrong name pops into my head, I chastise myself. It's going to be a long time before I can fully break that habit.
Sandalphon's wings expand with a flutter, capturing the kitty's interest. Willa is at the end of the block, heading in our direction. It's either now or never.
“Come out of hiding, Joey!” Sandalphon encourages the cat. “There is a young woman heading in this direction. When you see her, you must follow her home!”
“Can the cat understand you?” I ask.
“Maybe. Perhaps he understands the sentiment, not the words.”
I crouch down to get a better look at the cowering kitty. Feeling motivated by Sandalphon's attempt to lure out the cat, I shout, “This girl is your person! If you follow her home, you won't regret it!”
Joey seems reluctant at first, but he eventually abandons his hiding place to meet Willa, who stops to acknowledge the approaching cat. He rubs against her legs and wraps her in his tail, purring all the while.
Willa asks the cat, “Where did you come from? You don't look like you have a collar. Do you belong to anybody?”
“Yes, he does. He belongs to you,” Sandalphon says. “Turn around and head home, and you'll have yourself a new friend.”
Sandalphon is good at getting through to people. He's way better than me. Willa says goodbye to the cat and heads in the opposite direction, back to her house. Joey follows at a distance, keeping his eyes on her the entire time. He's probably the cutest stalker in the world, and when Willa realizes she has a follower, she bursts out laughing.
“What are you doing, kitty?” Willa exclaims. “Are you coming home with me?”
Joey sticks to her like a shadow. The only time he pauses is when Willa reaches a crowded street, but even that doesn't stop him. A pair of cars come to a screeching halt when they see the reluctant cat crossing the road.
Willa tells the cat. “You're so silly! You can't come with me. Don't you have another place to go?”
Sandalphon answers her question. “No, he does not have a home. Therefore, you must adopt him. You have no complaints, I hope?”
Joey follows Willa for over a mile, and when they reach her house, he jumps inside and sniffs around her living room. He leaps into a cardboard box, looking pretty pleased with himself. He should be pleased. That one-mile trek was very intrepid of him.
Willa seems happy to accept her fate as a cat mom. In fact, just a few minutes later, she walks to the nearest grocery store to buy litter and food.
I whisper to Sandalphon. “I guess that's it, then. It looks like Willa has a cat.”
“I suppose she does.” Sandalphon tosses a smile in my direction, but it looks weak and sad. Before I can reply, I hear a voice in my head. At first, I don't know if it's mine or his. It sounds like my own voice, but the thought is definitely not mine.
Mikey doesn't return my feelings. If she did, she would have said something by now.
I've had accidental manifestations and accidental warps, but this is the first time I've had accidental telepathy. I'm glad I did, because now I know what to do.
“Sandalphon... do you want to go out sometime?”
A part of me is stunned by my boldness. I've never even hit on a guy before, let alone, asked one out. I have no regrets, though, because I make his smile grow.
“I would be honored, Mikayla,” Sandalphon replies. “Honored... and incredibly lucky.”