Free Guardian by Joyce; Sweeney Page B

two things so I wait.
    â€œBut … even though I’m a priest, I’m just a human being, like you, Hunter. There are many, many stories like yours of Visitations and even help and rescue from angels. I believe at least some of them are true. Nothing like that has ever happened to me, and I wasn’t there when it happened to you. So I have to tell you in all humility … I don’t know what to think. I don’t know if you are wishing this into being or if an angel has singled you out for a special blessing. You’ll have to pray about it and decide for yourself.”
    I’m disappointed, but I have to like his honesty. “Isn’t there some kind of test you guys can do, to investigate?”
    He makes a face. “Well, kind of, but if we go down that road, Hunter, you’re going to have a whole crowd of people in your front yard wanting to be healed and helped by the ‘angel boy.’ You’ll be on the news. People will try to exploit you. I’m not speaking for the Church now, I’m just telling you man-to-man. If this is a genuine experience, it should be a private matter between you and God. You seem like a pretty smart kid. You can figure this out.”
    â€œMy whole life has changed since it happened. I used to be the biggest loser in the world and now I get everything I want.”
    â€œLet me ask you another question, Hunter. Are you in a position to do good?”
    â€œSir?”
    â€œI’m trying to make an explanation for myself of why this would happen. Maybe this angel is beckoning to you because you’re in a position to do some kind of good. Right some wrong, perhaps, or help someone less fortunate than yourself. If this were my situation, I’d be asking, Why is this happening to me?”
    Almost as if guided, my mind goes to Stephanie. “If I know of someone—and I think they’re—well—evil? Could it be that? Could it be that my angel wants me to fight the evil?”
    He frowns again. “You have to be very careful with this, Hunter. You have to pray very hard for guidance and you have to know the difference between your will and God’s will. If you have a power, or a gift of some kind, a lot of responsibility goes with it.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œLet’s pray together now.”
    I lower my eyes because I’m embarrassed.
    â€œFather, guide Hunter here to know your will and to clearly understand you. Protect him from false ideas and thoughts, and if you have chosen him for a special blessing, help him to understand what it is. If he needs your protection, please grant it to him in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
    I look up at him. “Come back and talk anytime you want to, Hunter. I think you should have someone to talk about this to. And also …” He actually blushes.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI want to know the outcome of this for myself. Okay?”
    I smile at him. “Okay.”
    I practically bump into walls on my way out of the church. I feel so weird. I really, really liked him and thought he handled my questions just right, but when he was praying, it was as if my whole mind went into white noise. I’m still in a daze as I walk into the street. My brain feels like a computer that got knocked off-line by a power surge.

Chapter 8
    When I get home, Stephanie is pitching a fit. Happily, she isn’t pitching it at me.
    â€œYes! You can go look it up right now and I’ll hold!” She paces up and down the room, her red nails clawed around the portable phone.
    I see that all three of my sisters have gathered just outside her pacing range and are staring at her anxiously, which makes me realize it isn’t some co-worker or client she’s mad at—it’s something to do with us.
    She lectures us while she’s on hold. “This is the way the world works, guys. If you take things lying down, people will screw