Anthony and Archie, the twins, grew to be happy over the decade, as I grew to be more distance from the other angels.

I wasn't like other angels.

Usually during the day they'd leave me at home to oversee things. I watched Anthony and Archie learn about the world, and their mother try to keep the family together. Their mother, Linda, tried her best. It wasn't easy raising four children with an absent husband, but she managed.

All of them ended up getting rough jobs at factories. The job Anthony worked in his last life seemed like easy work compared to what Anthony was doing. Little children could reach into little places. They could crawl into holes too. Plus, they treated Anthony like he was expendable. Truly, he was. There were a billion more children looking for work. He was lucky to have the job he had, even if it was awful.

Archie did much of the same work. He was smaller than Anthony, so occasionally he brought home a few more cents because he could do more work. Understandably, Anthony was jealous, and I couldn't do much to stop it no matter what I whispered. It was hard to convince him not to be when I felt jealous as well, and it wasn't even me who was working.

I wanted better for Anthony.

Sundays were different though. They attended church every Sunday. Anthony sang with the choir when he got a bit older. He seemed happiest singing, and he wasn't too bad at it either. After church they all gathered at home and ate the nicest food they could manage for the week, even if that was a slice of toast and maybe some cheese. They were all thankful for what they had.

Sometimes Linda would have friends over. Those were the days I hoped other angels wouldn't come around. I'd listen to her gossip.

"I know it's not very Christan to spread rumors about my own child, but he's a little... How do I put this?"

That's how it would usually start out. Then all the other ladies would lean their heads in. One would ask, "Effeminate?"

Linda looked down. "Yes, perhaps that. I love him, and he's a good boy, and he loves God, but I wonder what growing up without a father has done to him. I know he's only ten years old, but I've got a feeling. Mother's intuition."

Oh only if she knew why he was like that.

Another lady would chime in with, "Maybe he'll be swayed in the right direction if you get another man to show him the way. You know Charlie ain't gonna come back. Anthony and Archie need somebody to be their father."

As to which Linda would respond with, "Well he might. You never know. He's off doing important stuff, I'm sure. I don't want him to come back and see that I've gotten with another guy while he was away. I can wait a little longer, can't I?"

Then all of them would mumble something like, "I guess. Take your time."

And that would be it. It bothered me that they would just mention Anthony and not bat an eyelash at his situation. It was all about Charlie; Charlie who wasn't there.

Never about Anthony.

During those conversations Anthony spent his time in his room. He spent his free time resting or practicing for choir. He didn't hear a word of it, at least not when he was ten years old. As a child he got to dream, and I heard his prayers.

"If I could ask for anything in the whole wide world, I'd ask for Daddy back. Yes sir, I'd ask for Daddy back," he prayed. He was on his knees at the foot of his bed. He chuckled a bit before continuing, "A new bike wouldn't be bad though. Maybe one for Archie, and Louise, and Steven, and Mama too because she deserves it most. But most of all I want us to be safe. I think Mama feels scared here. We don't live in a good place. Sometimes she talks about a colored lady just like us, Miss Nora, who is really smart and really nice and lives just fine. I hope she's well too. I believe that's all I've got for tonight, but I'm pretty grateful for everyday on Earth. In your son's name, amen."

It was almost hilarious watching Anthony pray like that, but I couldn't laugh. It was serious stuff to the humans, and the other angels were usually back by the time Anthony went to bed. And given that Anthony believed he wasn't Hell bound made the wound sting a bit more.

Plus, he always seemed to pray for Miss Nora. I wondered what he remembered, if anything at all. Maybe it was just coincidence.

Archie prayed mostly the same prayer, give or take a few words. After that all the children would break out into a fit of giggles. Then Linda would knock on the door and tell them to keep it down. They'd settle down for a few moments, but it was difficult to keep four children quiet all in the same room. And sometimes they were pretty funny too.

But none of the angels laughed. Right, they didn't feel joy like I did. I did what I could to keep my face straight, though sometimes a small sliver of a smile would poke through. They either didn't notice it, or gossiped about it when I wasn't around.

I just couldn't wait to get away from them.

I thought they were going to leave me alone, but the main mouth of the group, Cherron, said to me, "We'd like you to come with us today. It's about time for an angel's trip out. After all, you've been working so hard."

I had a bad feeling about it, but I agreed. It started with a simple stroll around the town. Other angels were walking the streets. Was this their idea of entertainment? If so, then I really wasn't like other angels. I was growing so far from my own kind.

The world was so grand, and we were marching in squares.

We did that till the people were released from work. Then we watched them scurry around town. Of course Anthony was off playing with his friends, that was nothing out of the ordinary. He rolled around in the dirt with them. They were play fighting from what I could tell. It was almost pitiful watching Anthony though. He wasn't particularly strong, and despite being taller than Archie, he was still relatively short compared to his peers, and his lankiness made him look awkward.

I thought to myself that he'd grow into himself, which in time he did. In time lots of things changed. But there was a day where I knew the things that mattered had changed.

It was about four years after that day out with the angels. Anthony was out of work early, and he wouldn't be returning back. He went home instead and cried in the closet. Hours later his mother returned home to find him. He refused to look at her when he mumbled, "I got fired. Mama, I got fired."

She pulled him into his arms and whispered, "Shh, it's alright Anthony. It happens. You just have to get back up and try again."

"But I didn't do anything wrong! I'm just too grown now, and there's a little white boy they're thinking of hiring."

Cruel humans being unfair again. I should have thought of that.

"Anthony, you know that the big bosses aren't too nice. You'll find something else to do. I'm sure. You're a hard working boy. You'll just need to find your way back on your feet."

He nodded a few times and then wiped his weary eyes. He smiled at her and said, "I'll do it. Mama, I'll do anything."

"I know you will. Everything will be alright. Say your prayers, and we'll be okay."

No praying could have helped Anthony at that point. He was only fourteen, and didn't deserve what he was about to receive.

Later that afternoon he got himself cleaned up and headed out. Almost every place he checked wouldn't hire a little black boy. He was about to give up when a man called out to him, "Hey boy! I got a job for you if you want it!"

The man gave me bad feelings-the kind of feelings that make your stomach churn and make your skin shiver. The man's angel shook her head at me. That was anything but a good sign. I whispered to Anthony, "Don't do it. Ignore him."

Anthony didn't listen. He went over to the man.

The man looked him over and said, "You look like a homophile. Are you?"

"Sir, God doesn't like homophiles."

The man then took out a wad of cash and asked, "Do you see this? Do you like this?"

Anthony looked over the money. "Yes sir, that's a whole lot of money."

"It could be yours. I run a place that could use a homophile, and you seem to be the only one around. Plus, you're young, and you'll grow to be good. You'll be paid more as you grow, compared to less at whatever you're doing now. Tell me your job, boy."

Anthony rubbed his foot in circles, making a ring on the ground.

"Hm?"

"I got fired from the factory today. It was my only job, and I do need the money."

The guy handed Anthony a card with an address on it.

"Just come here tonight. We'll get everything all worked out."

I looked up at the guys angel.

"What is it?"

She looked down at the ground. "It's a brothel. Save him before it's too late. Mine is already too far gone."

I wanted to drag Anthony away from the situation. I could have manifested. I could have manifested in my true form, and then everyone in the place would have turned to a pile of sand or a pillar of salt, including Anthony. I couldn't lose Anthony.

"I'll try my best," I responded before walking out with Anthony. He seemed satisfied. I knew that he couldn't read the card, and I'm sure that man knew that too. And I'm sure that man knew all the awful things that would happen to Anthony. I just had to wait.

I spent the rest of the day whispering to Anthony, begging him, pleading for him not to go. Yet again, he didn't listen. Why wouldn't he ever listen? I cried for a first time in a long time when he decided to leave. I couldn't decide, was it worth chasing him, even though it would be a rally for a worthless cause?

Of course it was. He was a kid. He was Anthony, nonetheless, but still he was a kid, and the soul is very different from the body.

I chased after him.

"Anthony! Stop it! Go home!"

He kept walking.

"You don't know what you're getting into!"

He looked down at the numbers on the card.

"Anthony!"

He looked up and glanced around.

Did he hear me? He couldn't have. Not like that. Not unless God was playing games; which was not beginning to sound all that odd.

"Please go home. Your mother is going to be worried. Please, please go home."

He kept walking. He walked straight to an alley way. As he approached the door I tried grabbing him. It didn't do much good. His arm slipped like sand through my fingers.

And with no hesitancy, he went inside.

I peaked in through the door. There were a few angels in corners, shielding their eyes away from the room. I couldn't blame them. That place was unlike the bar in the city. It was worse, much worse.

There were people all around. Most wore hardly anything. All of them were plastered with makeup. And then there was Anthony, about as out of place as I was.

"Go home Anthony," I begged, "Please go home."

The man from earlier spotted him. He walked over to him and grabbed his wrist.

"No!" I shouted, "Don't touch him!"

He was dragged away.

I ran out the door in the other direction. As soon as I hit the other side I fell to my knees.

"Why? He's just a kid! How dare you!" I shouted. I then felt the tension in my body relax. "How could you?"

I looked back at the door. He was still in there. Heaven knows what would have happened if I didn't manifest and go back in. But I know what actually happened.

I straightened my clothes out and walked to where Anthony was dragged. It turned out to be a sort of sorry looking office. Anthony was sitting in one chair, and the man in another.

"Are you hiring?" I asked. I then ran my hand through my hair.

The man took a drag from his cigarette. "Maybe. Depends."

"It's hard to find a... A man willing to play nontraditional rolls. You know the kind. I'm not a lady's fellow."

"Say, say I've got two of them."

I glanced down at Anthony. "What you have is a kid."

"Exactly. Some people are into that."

"Yes, and sometimes things happen to the employers of kids who are working as prostitutes. I doubt he even knows what he's about to be getting into, and he'd be no good at it."

Anthony looked up at me. "Mister I need a job."

"You don't need this one."

The man nodded and said, "He could learn. Customers want what they want, and as long as I'm making money, why should I care? And I could make extra money off of a virgin boy."

I tilted my head to the side and hummed, "But learning takes time, doesn't it? And don't I look young enough? And I've never had the experience of pleasure."

He looked me over. "I suppose you have your points made. How old are you?"

"Does it matter? It's obvious who in this room would be best, and I just got here. If you know what you're doing, boss man, you'll hire me."

He held out his hand. "You make a point. Lucky timing, you."

I shook his hand. "I'm always lucky, and with me here, you will be too."

Anthony asked, "But what about me?"

The man said, "I don't need you anymore. Go home, kid."

Good. Anthony was safe.

Me on the other hand didn't know the first thing about human indulgence. Immediately after Anthony walked out it occurred to me that I was doing something wrong.

It was worth it though. It was worth it for Anthony.

I was allowed to leave as long as I returned the next night. I didn't go back home with Anthony. There were things I needed to know, and I knew the place to ask.

Under the clock of darkness, I found myself knocking at Manaphel's door. Evanora answered.

"Oridon!"

She hugged me until I couldn't breathe. By the time she had let go everyone had crowded around the door.

Manaphel was back. She looked over me.

"You don't look too bad, Oridon."

I nodded and said, "Neither yourself."

"How's Anthony?"

I sat down and chuckled. "Anthony is... Awful actually. I believe I figured out the meaning of sacrifice."

Ariel asked, "What did you sacrifice?"

I grabbed a pillow. "Well, you see, I just got a job simply because I didn't want Anthony to have it."

Manaphel sat next to me. "That's a little rude. Did Anthony turn out to be a sour child or something?"

"No, he's money tempted though."

"I know. He kept trying to summon me—well not me exactly, but a demon—and I just haven't been responding and I know nobody else will."

Ariel pulled their knees up to their chest. "Do you think he knows?"

"No," I responded, "But he's very religious and it might be all he knows to do. I can guarantee The Big Man is toying with me at this point. That's why Anthony is trying to summon demons. However, there might be more to Anthony then what I know. I've let him live his life. I'm watching over five people at this point. It's a bad situation."

Ariel's eyes went wide. "Five? How'd you get five?"

"Irresponsible angels, that's how. They don't like me, and I don't like them. I'm too different now."

A book on the other side of the room flew open. Manaphel said, "He's summoning again. Wanna go with me, Oridon?"

I asked, "Is it possible to sell a soul twice?"

"Nah, I'll just tell him the good news, and that'll be it."

Evanora suggested, "Maybe he could sell you something else. I've met his mother in town I believe. She says he's a sweet kid, and very generous."

"Like what?"

Ariel glanced up at me as they said, "Make him promise to never love a man. It'll buy him more time."

I looked back at them. "Do you have a death wish, Ariel? And what about our plan?"

They wiggled their shoulders and closed their eyes. A smirk pulled across their face as they said, "It's not dying. It's living in Hell. I'm practically begging for it, but if I go, I want to go with style. I'm not going to be forgotten or remembered in vain. Be happy, Oridon."

"You're one crazy bastard," I whispered. I then looked back to Manaphel and said, "I suppose we can go then."

She stood up, and so did I.

"I'll be back," I said, and I meant it.

We then headed out. It was a nice night for a walk.

Manaphel treated along. She asked, "So what's the job?"

I rolled my eyes and chuckled, "At a brothel. Do you know anything?"

She looked me dead in the eye. "About sex?"

"Yeah."

"Absolutely not. It's disgusting. Ask P.I.T.A. or ask Ariel. I'm not the one to ask."

I nodded and said, "It seems very intimidating. I'm not too fond of the idea, especially with strangers, but I'm less fond of the idea of Anthony doing it."

"How old is Anthony?"

"Fourteen."

"That's sick! He's just a kid!"

"I know! He doesn't know the choices he's making and I'm having trouble influencing him."

Manaphel said, "Humans are sick people. Absolutely animals, if you ask me."

I waved my first finger at her. "That's what I said before I left."

"Well then our point stands."

"Except for when it doesn't. I left after I got in a little scuffle with Evanora about it. Evanora isn't an animal, and I don't think Anthony is either."

Manaphel crossed her arms and huffed, "Point made."

I suggested, "Maybe we shouldn't make broad statements."

"Didn't you make a broad statement before our fight? I'm not like other demons."

"Fair, fair. No more broad statements, only specifics."

"So you swear you won't stereotype me because I'm a demon?"

I nodded. "Swear it, specifically. You're you, and as much as you can't help it, I have to say, it might be good that you're you."

"You too," she said. She then continued to trot forward. We didn't speak much after that. Not till we reached where Anthony was standing in the road.

Manaphel greeted him by saying, "Hey there kid. Summoning demons?"

Anthony's eyes went wide. At first I assumed it was because he could tell Manaphel was a demon, but he surprised me by squealing, "There's the bastard that stole my job opportunity! He's a demon! Isn't he?"

Manaphel looked back at me. "Uh, no, he's an angel actually."

She then crouched down and looked Anthony in the eyes. "I'm the demon. What exactly were you thinking?"

Anthony huffed, "I want to sell my soul! I want money so we can be happy!"

"Cute. Too bad you've already sold it," she said. She then messed up his hair. "You seem like a softy. Compassionate as ever."

"I haven't sold my soul! You're the first one to show up. Take it!"

She chuckled a little before responding, "In your other life, kid. You've already lived once. See that angel behind you?"

Anthony nodded. He then looked at me.

"You sold your soul. You wanted to be loved, but he refused."

"Is that because he's a selfish, self centered bastard?"

"No, no," Manaphel said, "He did it because he doesn't want you to go to Hell. He's going to get in big trouble with God over the whole situation, and me and him and our friends are trying to delay that. See I'll let you have money and happiness and what ever else you want, if and only if, you do not fall in love with that angel."

Anthony said, "That's easy. He's a bastard. He stole my job. And guess what? Mama is glad because she doesn't like sluts!"

I raised my eyebrow and wiggled my head around a bit. "Your mother is a nice woman."

"How's he know that, demon lady?" Anthony asked.

Manaphel looked back at me. "Do you want to tell him?"

I walked closer and said, "I'm your guardian angel. I've been watching you, and your whole family as a matter of fact."

"Well that's gross," Anthony said, "Like really gross."

It was almost comical. I couldn't help myself. I responded, "No, it's a human thing. Almost everyone has one. However, what's gross is the job you were going to get. I saved you. Do you even know what they would have done to you?"

Anthony looked up at me. "No, but it was something God doesn't like too much apparently, and you're doing it so you're a bad angel. You're bad at what you do. Plus, you're a homophile."

I sighed, "You're not very good at listening. I did what I was naturally supposed to do, and you didn't listen to that little thing humans call intuition. And before you say it's because I'm a bad angel, please let yourself be joyed by me being fully aware of that, and that it wasn't my fault for you going there. God is playing with us like toys, especially you. He's testing your limits. He's seeing how far we can make it before you end up in Hell for eternity, and he finds the whole thing to be funny."

Anthony said, "That doesn't sound like God. That sounds mean and unloving."

Manaphel stood back up and said, "I know. I fell so my love could live forever. Falling for love seems like a silly thing, but it happens."

Anthony said, "Sounds like your issue. Maybe just don't love."

I crouched down. "You try that. See where it gets you. We'll know if you do."

Manaphel pulled out another contract. "This is will carry over with your soul. You get money and happiness and all that. The moment you do as much as confess any hint of love to anyone, then it all goes away. Got it?"

Anthony said, "Romantic love. That's what we're talking about, right?"

I grabbed the contract and Manaphel's pen. I then scribbled that in. "Yes, yes it's what we're talking about."

Manaphel asked, "Since when are you a part of this?"

I crossed my arms. "Since his soul entered the Earth, and since you decided on the first contract that my love was worth his soul."

"Then you sign it too."

I scribbled my name down on the paper. I then handed it back to her. She wrote her name down. She then gave it to Anthony.

Anthony looked at the paper. "I don't know how to spell my name."

"Scribble something and put some blood on it. Literally all I need is something saying you agreed to this."

He nodded and wrote an X on the paper. He then picked at his fingernail till it bled.

"Did you mean that about the blood thing?" I whispered to Manaphel.

She leaned closer to me. "No, I just thought it was funny. Sounds demonish."

"I thought we weren't speaking in broad statements."

"Not between each other, but he only knows demons in broad senses. It's hilarious."

I rolled my eyes. I then looked back at Anthony who was smearing his blood on the signature line.

"You done yet, kid?" Manaphel asked. She then looked over the paper.

"I'm done," Anthony said. He gave her the paper back.

She patted his shoulder. "Good. Don't go romancing. Good things will come your way soon."

She then started to walk away. I stayed there, and so did Anthony.

"How'd you learn to summon demons?"

Anthony said, "I found it in my cubby at the factory. It had my name on it, so I assumed it must be mine. Now it is for sure."

I nodded and asked, "What else did you find?"

"There was a box with all kinds of cool stuff like photographs and train tickets and feathers and a bread recipe. I brought it home. Why?"

"If we meet again when you're older, consider showing me. It's nothing you need to worry about now."

"Fine," he snapped, "I'll figure it out myself."

I turned away to follow Manaphel. "Sure. Give it a shot. Give it your best, Anthony."

I then caught up with her. We went home. I slept on the couch Anthony died on. He wasn't like that kid in his past life? Well, maybe when he was younger. He was just Anthony, and there wasn't much changing Anthony. If he was anything like his past life, then it would just take some growing up to change.

I just wanted him to be the same Anthony I knew. I cried that night over what I knew I couldn't have.