THE SENTINEL 

By Tessa Harvey

    Tears streamed down Eliza's face as she answered the door, but she felt too broken to care. To her surprise it was the matron, Hazel Edwards standing on her grey doorstep in the gathering dark. Eliza had been avoiding her for almost three months and moved to reflexively close the door.
    But this calm, sure older lady was also crying. Wordlessly, Eliza motioned her to come in, and they hugged, for they had both lost a son. What good was anger and blame.
    Hugging Eliza, the slightly older woman said "we really need to pray. There is no other way!"

-------------------------

    The man had pushed Theodor roughly into an old, racketty vehicle. It smelled of sweat and old stale food and spilled drinks. The boy thought of his plateau and the little black and grey bats clustered close. But now, self-retreating was no longer working. A silly thought came into his head. How do bats go to the toilet upside down? He half-giggled and was slapped hard. But light was shining into his darkness.
    He remembered the big angels catching him and beyond a beautiful man looking at him with deep fathomless love......

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