Divine Assistance

Meet the Shepards Part 2

The inside of the Shepards' home is just what I expected. Big, homey, classically designed, and full of homecoming furniture right out of the 1950s. There are a lot of photos of them, especially of Collin. He is practically the entire world to Martha and Charlie. In fact, he seems to be their only child, which is a surprise. Since angels never age, it isn't uncommon for them to have many children. Hundreds, even. And since Heaven technically is an ever-growing, infinite realm with no end in sight, there is no need to worry about things like population control.

I wonder why they only have Collin?

"Please make yourself at home, Bee!" Martha says with enthusiasm as she flies to the kitchen. "I'll get the snacks and drinks!"

Collin guides me to their red couch while his father sits next to a big comfy chair.

"So, Bee. Our boy here says that you are quite the party animal. In fact, you seem to be big on those?"

I chuckle. "Well, I am the queen of parties. I do all kinds. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holidays, big successful events, sex—I mean—social gatherings, and even funerals if someone wants that kind of thing."

Most of the time those kinds of parties are for people who are glad the person is dead. Abusive parents. Political enemies. I even hosted Hitler's Second Death Party when he came to Hell and got absolutely skullfucked with angel ammunition from some very angry sinners who died because of him. The things they did to that corpse were kinda disturbing, but then again, it was Hitler.

"Bee has a thing where she gives a random kid in her ring a free birthday at her manor every month," Collin says with a smile as I blush with a shrug.

I like kids. Seeing them happy on the day they have their birthday? It's special.

"Oh, that's so sweet!" Mrs. Shepard says as she floats in with a tray of crackers, cheese, veggies, and some sliced meats. Putting them down, she hands us plates as she heads back into the kitchen before returning with fresh-brewed iced lemonade.

"What are birthdays like for demons?"

"They vary based on ring, demon race, and culture, but we treasure them a lot," I explain while taking some of the snacks and biting into them. Mmmm. These are good. "Survival in Hell is a big thing. You never know when you're going to get killed, so we see them as a sign that we survived another year to grow old."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Mr. Shepard says with a sigh as he sips his tea. "Here in Heaven, we just celebrate special numbers like one hundred or one thousand. I can't remember the last time any angel died in our area from... well... anything."

"But I think it's good to remember every year you survive, no matter how young or old," Mrs. Shepard replies with a sweet smile. "I remember Collin's 5th Birthday. We gave him his first tricycle. He would run around on that thing as if he was Gabriel himself."

"Until I got made fun of for being given a pink one," Collin grumbles, which nearly makes me spit out my drink.

"Pink is a nice color, sweetie," his mother huffs.

"It's a girl's color!" he argues.

"You got photos?" I ask as he glares at me with a look of betrayal.

"Sorry, I promised Collin no baby photos today," Mrs. Shepard answers before she sips her tea and winks. "Save that for the second visit."

"Please don't show her the first Halloween ones," Collin begs as he covers his face to hide his growing red cheeks.

"Oh, get used to it, son. Besides, you'll do it when you have kids of your own," Mr. Shepard chuckles as he snacks on some cheese.

I blush at the thought. It is way too early to think of something like that.