An Angel In My Life

The Man Out the Corner of My Eye

"Pick a card any card!" My voice boomed over the shopping center. The man in front of me picked a card, with a nervous hand. His eyes pointed with uncertainty. His body language told me it was a Heart. His breath told me it was the Ace. As the man hesitantly put back the card, I spoke once more.

"So your card is now in the pile. But where? Is it this one... No.... It is this one right. But wait no." I said once more, aiming my hand towards the sky. The atmosphere in the center at the moment was phenomenal. Everyone followed my movements. Throwing the cards up in the air and watched them for a moment. Every one stood back. Moving my hand in a stop gesture all the cards froze in the air. None of them moving. All the people were mesmerized. Looking at the man, I spoke again.

"Now when the cards have all dropped, one will stand." Waving my hand in a cut it out movement all the cards dropped. Looking around I could see the shocked faces of the people from Glasgow. The man who had chose the card had his eyes fixed on a card. That one single card was stood upright. That one card was the Ace of Hearts. Waltzing over to the card I plucked it up off the floor. Twirling it in my hand, I showed the man and he started to clap.

"Now this, this is your card." I announced, everybody erupted into cheers and the sound of coins being dropped could be heard. Looking towards my case I could see people dropping coins. This is good today. Defiantly more than yesterday. Hopefully it will be enough for him today.

"Thank you fellow Caledonian's! And I will see you tomorrow!" I yelled as I ran to my case. Looking at it it had to be at least fifty pounds. I hope it is anyway. I can't do another day of his beating. I won't be able to withstand it. A flash of black broke my view. Only there for a second then it was gone. A man stood around the corner, his pale skin contrasting with the darkness of his clothes. As soon as I caught sight of him... He was gone.

*she walks around doing some more card tricks and all.*

A light knock was all that could be heard as she came through the door. Setting down her bag and her case she tipptoed through the house. Hoping, just hoping he wouldn't be home. But luck was not on her side as he was all she heard.

"Fuck sake, your just as bad as a clype. What are ya a bad in da bine. Fook off ok I ainy talkin' to ya no more!" A yell came from the living room. Seconds later a man stormed out, his eyes rimed red, his height towering over me. Oh this is my brother...

"Did you get my fucking money bitch?" His booming voice over powered my ears. Flinching I nodded and pointed to the case.  He pushed me out of the way and reached for the case. Looking into the living room, I noticed he had his 'friends' over again. They all were chatting away and smoking. It was probably weed. My brother looked over to me scowling.

"Get back outside you are not coming back in until you make at least another fifty quid!" He spat and threw the case to me. What am I going to do? Should... should I sing? I have never really sung in public before. But I can't be seen doing the smart tricks over and over. Walking to my room, I grabbed the cream coloured guitar. The guitar it's self looked beaten and worn. Scrapes and chunks have been taken from it but it worked fine. Heading out of the house I walked to the high street. People I knew walked past, friends, teachers, old crushes. None of them noticed me. People bumped into me, yet it felt like I was in an empty street. Setting up in front of the busiest shop I could see, I slung my guitar over my chest. Strumming a few strings I took a deep breath.

" I don't know if you can see," people looked over as I sung as loud as I could with out shouting.

"The changes that have come over me

In these last few days I've been afraid

That I might drift away," I sung with even more heart. It felt like I was just in my room. My guitar vibrating from the cords, my words coming out so easily.

"I've been telling old stories, singing songs

That make me think about where I've come from,

That's the reason why I seem

So far away today," By the point I had looked up a small croud had gathered around my small space. Girls and boys, men and women.

"Let me tell you that I love you,

That I think about you all the time,

Caledonia, you're calling me, now I'm going home," The crowd had started to sway with the music. This was a song nearly all of had grown up with. A lad about my age had grabbed his guitar and headed across the road. He walked in my direction, his jade green eyes buring into me.

"But if I should become a stranger,

Know that it would make me more than sad,

Caledonia's been everything I've ever had," Singing on I looked around, the crowd had let the lad though and he set up next to me. He placed a microphone in front of him, just between us. All the girls my age started to fan girl and this is when I started to think. Who is he? I have never seen him before. But before I could start to sing once more, the boy started to sing.

"Now I have moved and I've kept on moving,

Proved the points that I needed proving,

Lost the friends that I needed losing,

Found others on the way," His voice came out smooth, but you could tell he wasn't from here. He glanced around and strumed his guitar. All the girls were more interested in him than me. His money pot was so much fuller than mine. Did he just come over to steal my audience.

"I have kissed the fellas and left them crying,

Stolen dreams, yes, there's no denying,

I have traveled hard, sometimes with conscience flying,

Somewhere with the wind," He sang, his voice was strong. He made eye contact with me and nodded. Does he want me to sing too? Oh my well why not. Strumming my guitar I joined in.

" Now I'm sitting here before the fire,

The empty room, the forest choir,

The flames have cooled, don't get any higher," He sang, his voice was mesmerizing.

"They've withered, now they've gone,

But I'm steady thinking, my way is clear,

And I know what I will do tomorrow,

When hands have shaken, the kisses float,

Then I will disappear," As I finished off he hummed into the microphone. His guitar sounding more professional than mine. His eyes had closed and he hummed along as I sang the last wee chorus.

"Caledonia's been everything I've ever had,

Caledonia's been everything I've ever had,

Caledonia's been everything I've ever had," I finished of and stopped playing , everyone cheered and threw money into the pots. They were getting over full. As the people started to walk away, I looked over to thank the guy, but no one was there. No microphone, no person. The money pot had been placed in my case with a letter.

'Keep it you earned it'  It had no name,nothing to tell me who it was. There was no sign of him. He was just gone.

????? Pov:

The girl was looking around, her face was confused and worried. I left the moemy I had gotten her, I am so lucky I haven't been caught yet. If Levi finds out I am in the human world, helping one of them, I will be exiled. The girl lifted the pot of money that I had left and counted it. It had just over fifty pounds. That's what she needed. She looked around and went into the shop behind her. I walked across the street and sat by her case to make sure nobody touched it. I made sure though that when she came I was invisible to humans. She came out with a bunch of blankets and food. But why? She walked down the ally next to the shop. A few people sat there, grimey clothes , sleeping in boxes. She gave them all a blanket and food. But I don't understand if she was going to get in trouble because she doesn't have enough money, why did she give half of it away? She seemed like she knew she would get beat, but she still helped them. I need to know this girl so much more. Her gingerly brown hair, blew in her face, her grey eyes were always alrert . Her figure looked like it was porcelain, but she takes those beatings every day. I don't even know her name. But I need to know this girl.