Sticks and Stones

by Alexie Aaron

  Mia wiped her eyes.

  Cid slid into a chair behind them. “I got pictures of the boys and the birds. I think Burt sent a photo of the birds to Angelo to send to Victor and Enos.”

  “Mia can’t talk. She’s crying,” Ted said.

  Mia sniffed and wiped her eyes with Ted’s sleeve. “Sorry, I’m just so touched.”

  The parents sat down and waited for the judges. Acalan walked up and took the microphone.

  “Hello, welcome to the first annual Heroes and Princesses in the Park. I would like to thank Susan Braverman, Amy Fairfield, Deb Booker, and Ace Hardware for sponsoring the event. I’m Acalan Cabello, and I’ve been a resident here since I was these little guys’ age. We will start with the older age groups. The prize for best group goes to…”

  The prizes were handed out for best group, best duo, and best boy and best girl in each age group. Acalan asked each child who they were and who inspired their choice. When it was time for the five-year-olds, the best duo went to Brian and Noah. They walked up and smiled and received their prize. Brian waved at his family. Noah took a deep theatrical bow.

  “We’ve saved the best for last,” Acalan started. “I’d like Sheriff Braverman to come up here and give out the prizes.”

  Tom smiled. You could hear Susan cheering for her son, which caused Tom to blush. He looked down at Varden and then out into the audience at the Martins. He swallowed hard.

  Acalan brought up the best girl under four. She was dressed as Ariel, the Disney Princess. She carried her tail. She received lots of ahs from the audience as she skipped across the stage. “What’s your name?”

  “Zoey Brimmer.”

  “And who are you dressed as?”

  “Ariel,” the little girl said and started to sing “Under the Sea.”

  Acalan lifted her up so the people in the back could see her. “Isn’t she marvelous?”

  There was a round of applause, and the girl danced off the stage.

  “Next, best group under four. Robbie, Riley, Nora, Liam, and Aiden.”

  The birds swept up on the stage. They danced around, showing off their parents’ hard work.

  “Can I have one of you answer some questions?” Acalan requested.

  Robbie Fairfield walked up. Acalan squatted and held the microphone and asked, “Who are you supposed to be?”

  “One of the three people wearing bird costumes who rescued us when the bad man was shooting in the school. They arrived wearing their Comic-Con costumes. One of their names is Enos, the big one’s name is Victor, and the lady is Varden’s mommy.”

  “Varden’s mommy is Mia Martin,” Acalan explained. “I think I saw her here. Come on, stand up, Mia.”

  Mia stood up and waved. The crowd clapped, and she sat down beet-red.

  Tom gave each child their prize.

  Acalan waved Varden up. “We have one last prize to hand out. This is for best boy under four. His costume caught our eye because he wasn’t in your standard superhero costume. As you can see, he is dressed very special. Look at the gold star he is wearing on his chest. Varden, tell me, who are you supposed to be?” Acalan asked.

  “I’m Sheriff Tom Braverman.”

  Acalan waited until all the murmurs of how cute and one oh my from Susan died down before he asked, “Why is Sheriff Braverman your hero?”

  “Because when we were in trouble at the preschool, he got there fast. And when my mommy found out he was there, she knew that everything was going to be okay. She didn’t need to fight the bad man because Sheriff Braverman was there. He’s my hero because he sent the right people in to do the right thing to keep us and our teachers safe. He used his head, and that’s why he’s my hero.”

  The crowd stood up and cheered. Tom picked up Varden. Varden kissed the side of Tom’s face. Pictures were snapped. Tom set Varden down, shook his hand, and handed him his prize. Varden climbed down the stairs and ran down the aisle to show Mia and Ted his prize.

  “Thank you all for participating,” Acalan said. “There are refreshments in the tent and games set up at the east end of the park. Enjoy!”

  Nanny Berta sat at a picnic table. The twins were settled, and she had used her last tissue dabbing her eyes. She had seen the little birds walk by and knew who they were supposed to be. It had gone against the Birdmen’s credo to accept any reward for what they were born to do, but this acknowledgement by the children was an honor that she knew Victor, Enos, and Mia would feel forever. Lazar walked up with two caramel apples. He handed her one.

  “Thank you,” she said. “You wouldn’t have a handkerchief, would you?”

  Lazar handed her his.

  “Thank goodness, if I had to blot my eyes with a diaper, I would be the laughingstock of all the nannies.”

  “Here they come,” Lazar said.

  Brian and Varden ran up and settled themselves at the table. Mia set down their plates of snacks, and Ted put down the drink boxes.

  “You look like you have double pinkeye,” Lazar said to Mia.

  “Leave the girl alone,” Nanny scolded.

  Mia stuck out her tongue at Lazar as she was hugged by Nanny Berta.

  “Where’s your girlfriend?” Mia asked.

  “Robin took Dieter, her brother David, and Mark over to get a pizza. Where’s Cid?”

  “He ran into Rand Templeton,” Ted said. “Last we saw, he was stammering an invitation when she grabbed and kissed him.”

  “Right on the mouth. Yuck,” Brian said.

  Grandma Z walked over, hanging on to the arm of her grandson. They greeted her, and she sat down next to the boys. Varden fed her a cupcake.

  “Lazar, Martins, I’d like you to come over and see some paintings I just finished,” Acalan said. “Three are commissions, and one I did just for the hell… heck of it.”

  “Sure. Just as soon as the kids finish,” Mia said.

  “I will watch the children with my new friend Roberta,” Grandma Z declared. “You go.”

  Ted timed his steps so Lazar could comfortably walk with them. They crossed the street, and Acalan opened the shop.

  “The paintings are upstairs. Wait until I get the lights on,” he instructed.

  “You said these were commissions?” Mia said.

  “Yes, business has been booming. Paula is working full time now.”

  Lazar moved carefully up the stairs to the studio. Mia stood behind him, just in case he needed extra balancing. Ted followed them up.

  “Stand there,” Acalan ordered. “This was commissioned by the Fairfield family.” Acalan pulled the sheet off the canvas, and Mia stumbled backwards. Ted caught her. Acalan had depicted her handing Robbie out the window to Victor. Enos stood comforting another child.

  “It’s beautiful,” Lazar said. “Does it have a title?”

  “I call it Protect the Nest.”

  Mia turned to Ted and cried. Ted comforted his wife.

  “You better show us the rest before she boogers up my jersey,” Ted warned.

  “This was commissioned from the Bravermans. I believe they are giving it to you for Christmas.”

  Mia turned around to see what had to be Tom’s hands pinning his star on Varden’s T-shirt. “I call it Passing the Star.”

  Mia put her hand on her heart.

  “This is my commission for the HSG,” Acalan said, pulling off the sheet from the largest canvas. “I had to change the wings. They wanted blue ones. They also wanted Mia depicted as close to a gargoyle as possible.”

  The painting had Mia staring down from a wall with a look on her face that could either be a challenge or a scowl. The claws reflected the glint of ice white in the pupils in the sapphire blue of her eyes. Acalan had painted her body the color of the wings. There were a lot of curves and skin showing.

  “Whoa,” Ted said.

  “I’m never going to be able to look a building in the façade again,” Mia said. “But the painting is beautiful. You’re a wonderf
ul artist.”

  “Now this is done from my memory,” Acalan said as he pulled off the last sheet.

  Ted put an arm around Mia, and Lazar grabbed her hand as they looked at the emotional work.

  It was of two children of upper elementary age. There was Mia, with a swollen lip, bruised and dirty. She was sitting back to back with Acalan, his fist swollen as was his eye. Both kids were smiling. “I call this Sticks and Stones.”

  ***

  Glossary

  PEEPS: Paranormal Entity Exposure Partners.

  Dupree, Mike: Founding partner of PEEPs and on-camera personality.

  Garrett, Cid: Contractor, investigator, cameraman, and technician.

  Hicks, Burt: Founding partner of PEEPs, lead investigator, and cameraman.

  Jake: Ghost, research and computers.

  Martin, Mia Cooper: Sensitive, lead investigator, and security. Ted’s wife and Brian, Varden, and Dieter Martin’s mother. Healer of angels.

  Martin, Ted: Lead technician, computers, and communications. Mia’s husband and Brian, Varden, and Dieter Martin’s father. Technical genius.

  Stavros, Audrey: Researcher and investigator, married to Orion Stavros, mother of Luke Stavros.

  Murphy, Stephen: Ghost, translator, and security.

  Recurring Characters:

  Abigor, Duke of Hades: Fallen angel, commander of 60 legions of demons.

  Aldridge, Ethan: Teenage paintball-gang member who was sentenced to a juvenile detention facility for his part in coercing Rory Kline and the deaths of Jason Jones and Keith Summerfield. Aided in bringing Blair Summerfield to justice.

  Ahlberg, Varden: Part of Angelo’s birdman guard, brother of Victor, killed in the battle of the witch trees.

  Ahlberg, Victor: Warrior flock general, brother of the fallen Varden.

  Altair: Fallen archangel. Also known as Wyatt Wayne.

  Aosoth: Fallen. A dark female force in the pantheon of the

  Order of the Nine Angels. Mia killed her in Given Enough Rope.

  Armstrong, Meg: Mike’s first serious girlfriend. The Siege.

  Azrael: Archangel of Death.

  Babcia aka Sophia: Very powerful Crone witch. Lazar Popov’s Polish grandmother.

  Baxter: Wizard, doctor, paranormal Psychiatrist, friend of Quentin.

  Booker, Deb: Best friend of Susan Braverman and manager of the Ace Hardware store.

  Bouché, Guillaume: Beverly Cooper’s deceased Hattian magician lover. Sabine Norwood’s father.

  Bouvier, Beth: One-time PEEP, Beth worked with Roumain to control Ted in order to destroy his marriage with Mia. After she joined with the Cynosura to destroy the Martins. She is a dark witch.

  Braverman, Don: Tom’s father and Susan’s husband.

  Braverman, Susan: Mega Chicago Bears fan, housewife, Tom Braverman’s mother and the Martin’s babysitter.

  Braverman, Tom: Acting Sheriff, school friend of Mia. Murphy brought him back to life, inadvertently giving him the sight.

  Cabello, Acalan: Artist, painter, seer of angels, Mia’s childhood school friend.

  Cabello, Zarita aka Grandma Z: Grandmother of Acalan and shop assistant.

  Carmichael, Andy: Assistant manager of the Big Bear Cemetery, formally the night watchman.

  Cerise, Tauni: Nurse and friend of Sabine Norwood and her triplets.

  Chambers, Vince: Deputy for the Big Bear Lake County Sheriff’s department.

  Cooper, Amanda: Mia’s mother. Sociologist. Died in A Daughter of Nyx.

  Cooper, Beverly: Very talented sensitive. Was assumed to be an aunt to Mia Martin, mother of Sabine Norwood, sister of Charles Cooper, and associate of Father Santos and Gerald Shem.

  Cooper, Dr. Charles: Mia’s father. Archaeologist.

  Countess: Very powerful ghost who rules the Big Bear Lake Cemetery.

  Deschamps, Maurice: Ghost husband of the Countess, a notorious ghost who had designs on Mia as a child and as an adult.

  Dis Pater: Roman god of the underworld. Protects the graves of the paupers with his horde of di inferi.

  Ed, aka He-who-walks-through-time: Superhuman, Judy’s partner.

  Enos: Young birdman in his twenties, Danish orphan, adopted by Victor.

  Ester: Acalan’s guardian angel.

  Gabriel: Archangel general who doesn’t like Mia.

  Hogan, Scott: Big Bear Lake History teacher. Former alum from Burt’s college, who Burt investigated poltergeists in Scott’s frat house.

  Holden, Jessie: Cross over character from Cid Garrett P.I.. Contractor specializing in pre-Civil war roof structures.

  Idra: Head Gray Lady after Elizabeth left. Healer of birdmen.

  Jefferies, Alan: Lawyer for PEEPs and the Martins.

  Joel: A ghost who personally haunted Mike Dupree since he was a young boy. Appeared in Homecoming Peeps Lite 3.2.

  Judy, aka Refugia: Birdwoman, former Gray Lady, independent healer, and Ed’s partner.

  Komal: Master of bilocation. Lives in spirit form on a hidden island in Lake Michigan.

  Krouse, Robin: Oboe player, sister to David Krouse (Linebacker on Dieter’s FB team) girlfriend of Lazar.

  Lane-Cordoba, Lisa: Vengeful, tormenting woman who went to school with Mia.

  Leighton, Mark: Teenager who can see angels. Son of a veteran with Locked-in Syndrome.

  Lensic: Azrael’s assistant. Manager of the Light. Book of Souls.

  Lucifer: Fallen archangel in charge of Hell.

  Maggie Mae: Mixed-breed dog of PEEPs who can see ghosts.

  Margaret Mary, aka M&Ms: Feisty nurse at Green Ridge Hospital.

  Martin, Brian: The Chosen One. Son of Mia and Ted Martin.

  Martin, Dieter: Teenage attrpeur-âme (a catcher of souls) from Nigeria, adopted son of Mia and Ted Martin.

  Martin, Genevieve: Twin daughter of Mia and Ted Martin.

  Martin, Maeve: Twin daughter of Mia and Ted Martin.

  Martin, Varden: Son of Mia and Ted Martin. Carries the soul of dead birdman Varden, Victor’s brother.

  Martin, Whitney: Former Deputy Sheriff, Mia’s high school crush and ex-boyfriend. He runs a special paranormal investigative group for the FBI.

  Mbengar: High demon. Not controlled by Hell. Noble, sometimes acts as arbitrator between the fallen and the demons. First mentioned in Given Enough Rope.

  Mendelssohn, Ralph: Musical stage designer, Mia’s godfather, married to Bernard Wesley.

  Michael, aka Saint Michael: Prince of Angels, leader of angel winged army, Mia’s boss.

  Michaels, Angelo: Birdman and associate of Father Santos. Lead warrior and librarian for the Brotherhood of the Wing, Commander of the Excelsior flock.

  Mirror: The healing archangel Raphael’s minion. Her specialty is impersonation. First seen in Crossroads.

  Miss Susie: Preschool teacher for the 4yr old preschool class in Big Bear Lake.

  Murphy, Chastity: Deceased wife of Stephen Murphy.

  Nanny Berta: Birdwoman caregiver of children. Introduced in Sideshow.

  Neyer, Émile: Patriarch of the Sanctuary and Mia Martin’s grandfather.

  Nicholai: Birdman. Mia’s trainer. Warrior flock commander.

  Noah: Brian’s artistic preschool friend. Affectionately known as camouflaged, tissue-paper-licking Noah.

  Norwood, Sabine: Sensitive, clairvoyant, and medium, associate of Father Santos, widow, adopted cousin of Mia, and mother of triplets.

  O’Brien, Gates: Mike Dupree’s girlfriend and stunt woman for Wheels Up. First seen in Sideshow.

  Popov, Lazar: One legged veteran hired on as a farm manager for the Martins.

  Popov, Magda: Lazar’s mother and Babcia’s daughter.

  Popov, Grzegorz: Lazar’s father. Farmer.

  Raphael: Archangel of Healing. Specialty is the mind. Green aura.

  Renee, Dash: Owner of the 88 Keys and hairdresser.

  Reynolds, Quentin: Mia’s half uncle, son of her grandmother Frederi
cka and a fallen angel, Nephilim.

  Roumain, Judge: Judge of Purgatory.

  Santos, Father (Paolo): Roman Catholic priest, exorcist, mind reader, and leader of a professional group of paranormal investigators.

  Sariel: Archangel, Mia’s guardian angel.

  Seth: Young Birdman in his twenties, adopted by Victor.

  Shem, Gerald: Associate of Father Santos, businessman who trades in favors, Beverly Cooper’s paramour.

  Soren: Elder and judge of the Brotherhood of the Wing.

  Stavros, Luke: Son of Audrey and Orion. First angel to be born on earth.

  Stavros, Orion: Birdman, scribe, researcher, field medic, Mia’s grandfather, Angelo Michaels’s friend, and Audrey’s husband. Father of Luke.

  Sticks: Heroic demon from New Orleans. Mia mistakenly was engaged to him for a short time.

  Takemi: Crossroads demon.

  Templeton, Rand aka Old lady Templeton: Cid’s girlfriend and dynamic high school teacher and organic farmer.

  Walters, Dr.: Chief of medicine for Green Ridge Hospital. He’s handled Mia and PEEPs unusual injuries and isn’t afraid of a paranormal situation but rather not know the source.

  Wayne, Wyatt: Demon, also known as Altair.

  Wesley, Dr. Bernard: Director of the Culture Department of Chicago’s Field Museum, friend of Father Santos, Mia’s godfather, and married to Ralph Mendelssohn.

  Wilson, Arlo: Australian host of Wheels Up and adventure series that contract PEEPs to work with them on Sideshow.

  Terms:

  Apport: To produce an object without any apparent physical means.

  Attrpeur-âme: A catcher of souls.

  Between, The: A dimension between what the human eye can see and navigate.

  Bilocation (bilocator, bilocating): The movement of the soul out of the body. See OOB.

  Council of Women: A group of spirits and living women who govern ghosts.

  Cynosura: A cult of wealthy people who operate under the guise of bringing enlightenment to all but, in reality, want to enslave all for the benefit of furthering their agendas.

  Dark Vault: Vault where information, relics, and entities of Dark Magic are contained.