Made to Shine

Made to Shine Chapter 2

Chapter 2

As the bakery was closing, Emily went through her normal routine. She closed the blinds and began cleaning and singing.

"I don't know how to say exactly how I feel.

And I can't begin to tell you what your love has meant.

I'm lost for words.

Is there a way to show the passion in my heart.

Can I express how truly great I think you are?

You're my dearest friend.

Lord this is my desire to pour my love on you..."

As she sang, just like any other day, around 6:05 PM, the sidewalk began to get crowded with pedestrians gathering to listen to the angelic singing. Emily was unaware of the growing crowd or that anyone could hear her. She was alone and began to let the song roll out of her with a power that she could never explain. To look at her in her 5' 2" skinny frame, auburn hair that fell to the middle of her back. No one would think that this amazing voice would come from her.

Ben's Mom had asked him to run to the square to pick up a few things from the drug store on the corner. As he got close to the square, he noticed the crowd on the block by the bakery. He went in to get the items on his mom's list wondering what was attracting the crowd. When he was finished, he hopped on his bike and was about to head back towards home. But, he decided that he was going to ride by the block the bakery was on to see why there was a crowd. As he approached the block, he got off his bike and began to hear the sound of an angel. He stood there mesmerized by the voice and the melody that he heard...

"Like oil upon your feet

Like wine for you to drink

Life water from my heart

I pour my love on you

With praises like the perfume

I lavish mine on you

Till every drop is gone

I pour my love on you..."

Ben had to find out where this was coming from. It was unlike anything he had ever heard before. He looked in the alley next to the bakery. He listened in the windows of the apartments, walking slowly under the open windows. It had to be a stereo he thought. As he passed the bakery one more time in hopes of finding the angel to this voice. The voice suddenly stopped. Ben hopped back on his bike and rode three blocks to his house.

Later that night, Ben could not rest. The singing kept going through his mind. Was that a recording? There was no music, just a voice. Where was it coming from?

"Hey Mom, I will be back in a little while. I am going to the square." Ben yelled as he was heading out the door.

He hopped on his bike and started peddling towards the square. As he approached the bakery, he noticed someone sitting at one of the tables in front of the shop. He rode his bike over and leaned it against one of the trees that lined Grand Avenue. He stood there for a moment looking at Emily. She was cute, but nothing special about her. Her auburn hair was braided and fell to the middle of her back. She had her head buried in a book. Ben tried to remember the last time he saw her without her face buried in something...a locker, a book, her backpack. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen her without a shield. "I don't mean to bother you, but my I join you?"

"Yeah, I guess so." Emily said with only a quick glance up, then back to her book. What is it with these football jerks? Why don't they just leave me alone?

"What are you doing sitting out here alone?" Ben asked.

Emily held up her book. "Reading," she said without looking up at him. Remembering the night before when Tim stopped by, she picked up her coffee and moved it away from Ben.

They sat there in silence for a few minutes and Emily could not take it anymore. "Did you come to harass me like your friend last night? If so, let's get it over with so I can get back to my book."

"No! I am sorry someone harassed you. I have no intention of doing that."

Emily began reading again. Ben just sat there in silence hoping to hear the angel sing again.

Then why is he here? Why is he sitting here with me? He could be sitting with any girl in town...why is he sitting at my table? Emily tried to hide her nervousness. She took a bite of one of her cookies and without looking up, she slid the other one on the table over to Ben.

"Thank you." Ben said. "What are you reading?"

"C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" Emily said.

Ben could not understand why this girl would not look at him. He knew he was attractive, everyone told him so.

Why is he here Emily wondered. He was the hottest guy in school. His curly blonde hair was loose and hanging gently around his head like a halo. His crystal blue eyes were sparkling like a pool at sunset.

"Look," Emily looked up at him as he said, "I am sorry about my friends. I am not like them. Thank you for the cookie Emily. I will leave you alone."

"Wait," Emily said with shock on her face. "What did you call me?"

"Emily. Isn't that your name?" WOW! She was finally looking up at me. She should not hide her eyes. The green was like a grassy knoll on a spring day. How the blades of grass sparkle in the sunlight after a spring rain.

"Yeah, but you guys never call me that."

"Well, like I was saying, I am not one of those guys."

Emily chewed on the side of her lip. Maybe there was one nice guy at Taylor High. "You never told me. Why you are here?"

"I came to hear the angel sing. But, I guess she is not singing tonight." Emily looked at him with a puzzled look. He continued, "I was by earlier today and I heard the angel singing and I thought she might be singing tonight."

"I don't know what you are talking about. I have lived here my whole life and I have never heard an angel sing."

"Well, it must have been a recording. Someone playing their stereo loud... It was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard." Ben said staring off into space. "I had to come back to see if I could hear it again."

"Sorry, all we have here are pastries and bread. I can offer you a brownie or a cupcake, but we do not sing for our customers." She said with a grin.

WOW! Ben thought, when she smiles, she is a different person. "You know, you should smile more. You are really pretty when you smile."

"So, I look hideous when I don't? Never mind. I need to head inside." As she started to pick up her stuff to head inside.

"See you at school Emily. And thanks again for the cookie and company! I had a nice time."

"Sorry you did not hear your angel. When you do, let me know, I would like to hear it."

"It's a date." Ben said as he stood to hop on his bike and pedal home.

That night, Ben dreamed of the angel. She was hidden within a puffy cloud and he could not see anything but her silhouette, but he could hear her. She was singing a sweet melody and her voice was amazing. Her voice was calling to him with each song. He tried to find her in the clouds, but she was illusive and he could not find her no matter how hard he tried.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me....

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now, I see..."