Every place has a guardian

Since moving to the city Peninnah had forced herself to walk. Now, a year later she found that she could take long walks during the early afternoon when the streets were busy and she could be among people. This afternoon she had turned toward Central Park. She had Agatha in a shoulder bag that her Sunday school group had purchased as a Valentine’s gift. The bag was emblazoned with the Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon because, as the children had told her, they knew she would want anything spent to go to a good cause. Saving lives was one she approved of. In fact, she thought much of her work was life saving even when it was just a moment speaking with someone. All interactions had the potential to improve the life of another.

With that thought still in her mind Peninnah sat on a bench and let Agatha out of her bag. The eager dog bounded several feet away yapping. Peninnah tossed the ball but her mind was elsewhere. She had been in the United States for sometime now. Most of her life was spent wandering. To find a post was a careful job and until Julien’s she had not found a place she belonged. That did not mean she pasted the chance to fulfill her duty.

The day she remembered had passed several years now and surely for those around her it was a lifetime ago. For Peninnah it was as fresh as yesterday. It was a park not unlike this one but in a different city. It was west of here and colder than it was today. She was walking in the midmorning toward the train station to take a trip back east. In the park she saw a man with a crowd about him. At first she had not understood but meaning came quickly.

He was young and his arm was missing but in the other he held a gun. He was not threatening the crowd. The gun was held to his own head as he cried. The words made no sense but that did not remove him from her desire to aid him. Peninnah passed through the crowd to the front. No one moved out of fear or the desire to not be involved. She did not understand but stepped foreward anyway.

“Don’t.” He seemed oddly more fearful than angry. He was sad, not dangerous. Peninnah’s heart went out to him.

“I will not harm you.” Peninnah slowed and lowered her head piece to show her face. “I’ve come to help.”

Fear, terror like Peninnah had rarely felt poured off of him. With those feelings came images of foliage and war. She understood now. “You’re safe.”

He backed away and Penninah stayed in place. “Please. I will not harm you.”

He watched her uncertain more of those behind her than the woman who claimed to be there to aid him. “Give me the gun.”

She held out her hand and took another step forward. He didn’t move this time. “I will help you but you must trust me.”

Peninnah took a different tactic when there was no response. She opened her heart to him and let him feel what she was. His resolve faltered as she came closer. “Put the gun down.” She asked one more time.

This time he dropped the gun and as she approached he fell into her sobbing. She could see in his heart and mind. He had seen horrors in the life that few others would be able to imagine. She wrapped her arms around him and sank to the ground with the man who had only moments before held a gun to his head.

“It will get better with time. There are many who still have faith in you.”

Peninnah had remembered him many times since that day. She wondered if he had ever found the help that he needed. There was no way she could know. Peninnah had memories but she never had asked his name.

Her thoughts were interrupted by as sharp yip and a tug on the sleeve. Forgetting the past she picked up the ball and tossed it for her dog. Perhaps someday she would see him again.


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