Our Handsome Savior
With the kids and parents making soft summer noises around us, Chelsea and I and her dog Phoebe walked through the park, squealing and laughing and barking. Our sounds were much louder than everyone else's combined. We got some strange looks -- but we were best friends with no worries. We didn't bother to think about it.
I had opened my mouth to reply to Chelsea's jab about my latest crush when I spotted the same black car circling around to pass us again. My eyes went wide. "Chels, look. Slowly!"
She casually turned her head and got the same startled expression. "I keep seeing that car! Creeper. Probably thinks I'm hot."
"What-everrr," I said, trying to hide my growing unease. Phoebe pressed against Chelsea's legs and snarled in the direction of the car.
"It's all right!" a man's voice drifted to us from the vehicle. We instinctively drew together. The passenger window rolled down, and an attractive young man's faced appeared. He smiled at us. "I'm going to save you."
"What?" Chelsea asked, disbelief making her sound like a jerk. "What are you talking about?"
"I won't hurt you," he said. The car pulled to a stop, and the driver got out, leaning one arm on the roof of the car. He winked at us, then started to walk off.
Chelsea and I exchanged a look. When we turned to stare at the stranger again, he had vanished.
We kept walking around the park, but our enthusiasm was tempered by the weird experience. About half an hour later, we'd both tired of the ceaseless bird song, and headed home.
Suddenly, Phoebe started barking wildly, dragging so hard on the leash her yips were warped. Chelsea let out a few choice words at both her dog and the squirrel Phoebe was dead set on chasing. I couldn't help but laugh as Chelsea was dragged forward on the dog's wild chase.
Then it wasn't funny anymore.
The squirrel paused under a parked car, then darted across the busy street. Phoebe continued to give chase.
"Chelsea!" I screamed, doubling my speed. I managed to grab hold of her waist, but the dog was just too strong. She yanked us to the middle of the road.
Time slowed down. My hair flying around my face, I turned to see the car the squirrel had paused under. It was the man's black car. He was standing outside the car, the same way he'd been when he'd spoken to us.
He winked again, very slowly, and with a knowing smile.
The squeal of tires jolted me out of my trance. A blue mini van was bearing down on us, the driver waving furiously for us to get out of the way.
I closed my eyes and braced myself against Chelsea. She was screaming, but it was distant and reedy, and all I could think about was what it would feel like to die.
At the last possible second, the van swerved. I heard it, and felt it pass, not even an inch from my left foot.
As the sound of the tires faded away, I felt a wet tongue on my face and opened my eyes to see Phoebe's mournful eyes apologizing for her misdeed.
Every part of me trembling, I stood and leaned on Chelsea for support. I turned to find the man.
He was gone.
To this day, we still speak in reverent voices about our handsome savior. We are convinced that somehow, he saved us.
Maybe he was the most attractive guardian angel in heaven.
