An Unlikely Angel

By J.T. Evergreen

The first story is about Ted McQuire who, after being dumped by his lover, encounters Father Frederick while traveling to Chicago. Father Freddie gives Ted a golden cross encrusted with emeralds and suggests he go to confession. Ted goes to confession and meets Father Daniel. Together they assist Claudette who is pregnant and in despair find solutions and a happy ending.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.T. Evergreen
• Release date: Oct 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463331811

J.T. Evergreen

OCCUPATION - Retired from the grind. Reflecting on successes, failures, and regrets. Exploring new aspects of self, writing that book which will get me an Oscar, staying out of trouble - well, small amounts of trouble are ok. Bringing joy into people's lives with random acts of kindness - the ones who aren't expecting it are the best. Cheering up check-out clerks at WalMart.ABOUT ME - Alone in blessed singleness. Wicked sense of humor, enjoy my own company, glad I'm not young any longer. I do miss the intimacy of being in love. A good catch . . . at least I think so. Enjoy the possibilities of every moment, an imagination that won't quite, a master weaver - give away everything I make, excellent portrait painter, a national treasure - though no one agrees with me, a good listener, intuitive, a good conversationalist, avoid boredom and boring people at all costs - that's a career all by itself.INTERESTS - Intelligent conversation: hard to come by these days, metaphysics, mysticism, my pups - Charlie, Max, and Bailey, seeing the funny side of life, going to Macy's at Christmas time - kicking Santa and punching an Elf. If I had a singing voice, which I don't, I would sing all of the time, wherever I was - even in WalMart. Wouldn't that be enchanting? When I receive the Oscar for the book I'm writing, I will have some baritone sing On A Clear Day, and I will lip sync his voice. It will wow the audience.PUBLICATIONS – Short Stories to celebrate the NEW YEAR - 23 delightful short stories; Alone at the Beach 25 short stories to keep you company, Home Alone, 8 Great Stories to keep you company, Born in the Twilight, Injun Summer, This’nThat, Short Stories for a Summer’s Day. Holiday Short Stories, With All My Love, Father Frederick Monahan, Shangri la, Stepping Stones to God, I’m Gay Mother – Get Over it, The Olde Book Shoppe, Naked Before God, The Italian Call Boy, The Silence of Healing, Death of a Pope, The Best Short Stories Ever, and My Love Affair with Father Tomas McTavish, working on a new character, Father Gibbon with Sister Mary Magda in TheAdventure of Father Gibbon with Sister M. Magda - it's about murder. I get choked up when I re-read some of my sentimental stories. I’m told that’s a sign of being a good writer.LOVES - Color and lots of it, strawberry jam, hiking up Yosemite Falls, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, sourdough bread, only made in San Francisco. Hearst Castle, Big Sur, sea air, Adams peanut butter, chocolate milk, rainy days, canaries singing, chocolate chip cookies my mother made, Greek yogurt with honey - oh, yum. Laughter. I make it a point of doing this many times a day.HATES - Stupidity, insensitivity, bad table manners - come on, how difficult is it to hold a fork properly - it's not a shovel for God's sake. Snow, ice, slush, freeway traffic, lima beans - what was God thinking, sleepless nights, people who are late, texting - it's a cop-out, tobacco, alcohol, red meat,FAVORITE BOOKS - The Spiritual Journey of Joel S. Goldsmith, How to Win Friends and Influence People - I collect this book and give them to people I hate - there's a waiting list.FAVORITE MUSIC – Let's Talk Dirty to the Animals – Gilda Radner - funny lady;; Joplin’s Peachrine, Ahmad Jamal - Country Tour - the absolute best jazz - never tire of it. Someone Waits for You – Carly Simons, Helen Kane singing Button Up Your Overcoat and I Want to Be Bad – I relate to the lyrics. And the Tenor who sang Springtime for Hitler in the Zero Mostel version of The Producers. No one seems to know who he is. What a voice.FAVORITE FILMS – The Celluloid Closet, Witness for the Prosecution, It Could Happen to You, Maltese Falcon, Inherit the Wind, 12 Angry Men, Harold and Maude, Murder on the Orient Express, Hope and Glory, Sorry Wrong Number, Speed, Practical Magic, Apollo 13, Where the Red Fern Grows, The original Producers - touch me, hold me - Estelle was terrific, and Zero - what can I say.FAVORITE TV SHOWS - I don't watch TV any more, but when I did . . . 2-1/2 men - when it was good. Everybody loves Raymond - some great writers; best sight gagsFAVORITE QUOTES – The poetry in writing is the illusion it creates: by me. Lord Chesterfield: “Sex: the pleasure is momentary, the position ridiculous, and the expense damnable.” The saddest words of tongue or pen are these - It might have been - indeed they are. If you want to make a success out of old age, you better start now: my mother when I was 15. On a clear day, you really can see forever - you just have to look. I may be rancid butter, but I'm on your side of the bread. Inherit the Wind.FAMILY – A father who was emotionally absent, a mother who provided all the necessities of life and nothing more. An older brother who is a classic socio-psychopath and made my childhood a misery. I hide from everything just to survive. My right of passage came when I was 18 and joined the Naval Air Reserves. In boot camp I hide in the back row the first day, and guess whose name they called to be the Company Commander – me. But it was the best thing that could have happened and I bless that moment. I had to lead those 50 plus men and boys for 90 days. The night of graduation we drilled in front of the audience and it was perfect. The guys carried me from the hangar in triumph. I came out of the shadows that summer and never went back. I'm a louse when it comes to cleaning house, too many other more enjoyable things to do.“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor WitShall lure it back to cancel half a Line,Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”Omar Khayyam

Book preview

Prologue

FREDERICK MATHEW MONAHAN*

May 1, 1876 – April 15, 1912

Father Frederick gazed into the clear brilliant midnight sky. The distress rockets had finally stopped. Then the lights of the dying ship flickered and went out. Their absence accentuated the beauty of the night sky encompassing Father Frederick as he opened his heart and soul, embracing the beauty of God's creation. He had done everything possible to help others escape the unfolding tragedy. Now it was time for him to reach out and embrace the God to whom he had dedicated his life.

The screams of the dying passengers became softer to his ears. There was nothing he could do except wait. He no longer wondered how or why this nightmare was happening. Soon it would end and he would be gone from this vale-of-tears.

Father Frederick was not afraid. He knew he was safe within the everlasting loving arms of the God he had grown to know, understand, and love with every fiber of his being.

The final death groans of the mighty ship rose as it began its final voyage. At 2:20 a.m. in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912, the RMS Titanic slipped beneath the waves of the Atlantic Ocean and passed from the registry of the White Star Line.

A rush of cold ocean water washed over Father Frederick as he was pulled beneath the surface of the ocean. His consciousness dimmed as he experienced a euphoric splendor which embraced him in a brilliant light, and then there was nothing.

When consciousness returned, Father Frederick found himself floating above the wreckage of the ship that had sunk. Daylight was edging over the horizon silhouetting images of small boats visible in the distance. Survivors, he imagined.

Frederick sought refuge in thoughts of his mentor, Father Benedict. With a rush of air he found himself drifting high over land. The tower of the old monastery, where he spent many years becoming a priest, came into view. Father Benedict was more than a mentor, he was Frederick's spiritual father. There was nowhere else he wished to be than in Father Benedict's presence.

He drifted down, settling in the monastery stable area. Father Benedict was tending his beloved horses. He turned and looked at Frederick and smiled, Freddie! Frederick's heart leaped. He heard his name called but did not see Father Benedict's lips move. What is it, my son? Frederick could hear the words, though there was no sound, and once again Father Benedict's lips did not move.

Father, I'm dead, he thought.

Yes, I know, but now you are really alive. A loving smile came across Father Benedict's face.

During the course of their conversation, Father Benedict instructed Frederick on the power of concentrated thought which would be the only tool he had to work with from now on. It was then that Frederick came to the decision of staying on the material plane and continuing his work as a Priest, a servant of God, helping those who were helpless. Father Benedict agreed with him. He emphasized the importance of learning how to materialize and dematerialize in his quest to serve others.

Father Benedict blessed Frederick. And now my son, your path is clear. Your choice to stay on this physical plane and assist those in crisis will be a reward far greater than any you could experience on the heaven planes.

And so, Father Frederick Mathew Monahan ventured forth, returning to the vale-of-tears he thought he would be leaving. His heart ached for the fulfillment he would experience in touching the lives of so many souls around the world.

Fini

*Father Monahan, aka Freddie, is a character appearing in many of the stories by JT Evergreen. Freddie also takes on the character of Morris Liebemacher, proprietor of The Olde Book Shoppe and its many tales.

And now . . .

Chapter One

As told by Ted McGuire

The window shade flapping against the window pane drew me painfully back to consciousness. A gentle breeze caressed my naked body which I had neglected to cover with a blanket when I crawled into bed a few hours earlier. I hate window shades. I hate my life. When I closed my eyes I hoped I would never