Man with wings
Paul looked out of a window. He raised his hand against the summer sun. It was brightly shining and there were no clouds. The soil was dry and everyone in the village was praying for some rain. Suddenly something dropped on the glass of the window. Paul in surprise made one step backwards. It was raining. He should be happy, but he was just staring out on the rain. The heavy drops were falling on the thirsty ground and from the distance he heard loud, cheerful shouting. He couldn´t move. He feels something strange - some unknown feeling. It was just all really odd.
“Oi! Why are you just standing here?! It is raining! Can´t you see? Go and take the tub under the gutter. We are out of rainy water. Quick!”
Paul looked on his lovely wife with the strange gaze.
“What is happening to you? Are you all right? Since this hot weather came, you are still very silent. Can´t you hear me?”
Paul smiled on his wife.
“It´s all right. Davina, everything is all right. Just need little bit of... fresh air. Huh, leave it. I´m going for the tub...”
Paul opened the front door and sun shined on him. No rain. He closed and opened the door again, but nothing changed. Sun was shining and there was no sign of rain. Looking on the ground Paul went through the gate on the street. He was about to go into the pub when some big shadow appeared above him. He slowly moved his head and nearly got a heart attack. First of all he saw one pair of good looking boots, two legs and body in expensive suit and old face full of wrinkles. The head was crowned with big mane of grey hair. For a second Paul thought that man had silver hair, but that was only rays of the sun. Secondly he realised that the old man, looking like his grandpa, had huge, gray wings. Paul suddenly couldn´t walk. He was frightened and surprised. The old man landed on the pavement and smiled. In this smile was everything: apology, kindness, sadness, shame and even a fear. But Paul wasn´t feared anymore. He was full of emotions. He mostly felt anger, but curiosity won the fight inside his heart.
“Are you an angel?” Paul asked the man.
“Maybe,” old man smiled.
“Are you even real?”
“I´m as real as you are in that moment,” answered old man, “but what about you?”
“Do you mean this is only a dream?”
“Does it feel like a dream? Can you feel something? Can you feel pain for example?”
“I think... if this is a dream, there´s no wonder of feeling any pain.”
“OK. Let´s try it...”
“What...” Paul wanted to ask, but there was no space for talking. BANG! Old man´s fist was faster than would one think and Paul was suddenly on the ground. Maybe he thought that there will be no pain, but his nose hurt him really badly. And it was REAL. Paul stood up and shouted:”Why did you do that?! And I thought you are a good one!”
Old man was just smiling.
“Oh, I hate this kind of smile. Stop smiling! You´ve just punched me in the face! What for?!”
“You were wrong. That was just the evidence that everything is real. And now I need a glass of fresh water and pack of ice. You have so hard face. Are you made from stone?” he laughed.
Paul didn´t really understand what´s happening. He turned and ran into the house. Davina was in the kitchen. Paul grabbed her and shook with her.
“Davina, there´s the angel out there! In front of our house! And he hit me in the face!”
“You were in the pub, weren´t you? I told you not to drink till the sun comes down!”
“But it´s true! You must believe me!”
“Oh, don´t be stupid! And, please, stop saying these silly things in front of vicar. Please, Mr Saint, do excuse my husband. I think he drank too much.”
“Priest. Good. Mr Saint! There is the angel! He is real! I swear!”
“Oh, my dear son. There couldn´t be something like the angel. I´m sure, it was just some hallucination.”
“If I may interrupt you...” suddenly another voice said, ” I AM real.”
Everybody looked at the old man with a pair of grey wings.
“I told you. It´s truth!” Paul exclaimed.
“It can´t be,” priest mumbled.
“But I´m here. Living and flying!” laughed the man floating in the air.
Priest silently stood up. Looking over flying man he walked through the kitchen. Suddenly he smiled and shouted at man: “Liar! You are not the angel. Don´t try to persuade me. I am sure. Now stop flying and tell truth to these poor people.”
Old man landed and said: “I am who I am and nobody can call me a liar.”
“I see. But I know everything about the Factory. Since you are not interested in the truth I must say you goodbye.”
“Oh! It was my pleasure,” old man smiled,” ´cause you are the cleverest of all.”
“No, I´m not. I have just lots of experiences.”
“I understand. Goodbye then.” old man laughed and priest leave them alone.
“What the hell was he talking about?” asked Paul.
“Just leave it. It´s nothing. But I think we can make a deal.”
“What deal?”
“Business of course. You will show me to the people, let´s say, twice a week. I will live in your house during the weekends. And, most important thing, you will charge people 10 € to look at me.”
“Why?” Davine asked, “Why are we supposed to do this?”
“Money, of course. All life is one big deal. Money is making life better. Without it, I´m nothing. I´m you! Don´t you want to be like me? Being successful and rich people?”
“Of course we do.”
“OK.I knew you are smart. I liked you from the very beginning. Well, now, I have to do some work. You two! Be useful and tell people that I´m here.”
“And what will you do?” Paul wandered eating some bread he found on the shelf.
“I must go for some more RedBulls. I won´t be long. Don´t be afraid. I will be back. Do what I said and everything is gonna be OK.” said the old man and flew away.
“Some more what?!” Paul shouted swallowing the last leave of bread.
“Gotcha!” came a laughing voice from long distance.
“When he will come back, I will kill him! Do you hear me? You´ll get what for! I swear! You old bastard! You will got first-handed experience of what it´s like when you are lying!”