โMabel? Whatโs wrong? You sounded urgent on the phone and now you look as white as a ghost.โ
โSheila. Quick. Come in.โ Mabel ushered her sister into the hallway and quickly checked left and right up and down the street. She looked at the bus stop in front of the house. โWere you followed? Was anybody in the bus shelter?โ She closed and locked the door.
โEr…noโ Sheila replied.
โGood. Now, I want you to go into the front room, and donโt panic.โ
โCan I take my coat off?โ Sheila was starting to feel concerned.
โNo time. No time. In a minute.โ Mabel pointed to the living room door, which was closed, and gestured Sheila to walk through it.
Gingerly, Sheila pushed open the door and stepped through. Two armchairs were the first things to see in the room, and sat in one of them was George, fast asleep. A tray sat on the other chair, with a teapot, a jug of milk and three empty cups, and a small plate of biscuits. โWhatโs going on? Is George alright?โ Sheila looked back at Mabel, who continued to gesture her into the room. Sheila stepped into the centre of the room, looking at George. โIs George OK?โ She asked with a little more urgency.
โOh, heโs fine, Sheila!โ Mabel said, slightly exasperated. โThe sofa. Look at the sofa!โ
Sheila turned herself around and looked at the sleeping figure on the sofa, who was covered by a pale peach crocheted blanket. โOh, I like that blanket, Mabel.โ
โNever mind about that now, our Sheila. Look under her head.โ
Sheila looked at the way the young girl was propped up on the sofa. โWho is she?โ she asked, as she looked at the pillows behind her head. โThey donโt look too comfortable them, May. Why have you folded them like that?โ
โLook again.โ
Sheila noticed the feathers. โYou shouldโve said, May. I couldโve brought a couple of pillows if youโve only got these old ones.โ
โOoh, Sheila. Look! Sheโs an Angel. Theyโre her wings!โ
โDonโt be daft, Mabel. An Angel! Who is she?โ
โI donโt know. I thought with you working on the reception at the police station, you mightโve heard of any missing people or anything… or heard of anything fallinโ from the skies last night.โ
โFalling from the…?โ Sheila smiled. โMabel, I donโt work at the police station. I work on the reception at the plumbers across the road from the police station. I keep telling you that! Now, whatโs going on? Whoโs this girl, and why have you really asked me to come here at half eight all flustered?โ
โItโs her! She fell through our shed roof last night. Me and George managed to get her in here and onto the settee, and she went out like a light. Sheโs been like that ever since. And then heโ Mabel thumbed over to her husband, โfell asleep there shortly afterwards. I made us all tea, but itโs cold now. I can microwave it up if you want some.โ
โNo ta, Iโm fine…โ Sheila looked again at the figure on the sofa. โHowโs she an Angel? Sheโs just a girl.โ
โWell, them wings are stuck to her good and proper if she isnโt an Angel. They wonโt budge!โ Mabel explained. โI was hoping youโd have heard something about this.โ
โNo… well, I wouldnโt. Youโll have to โ does she need an ambulance?โ
โThere isnโt a mark on โer, sheโs just slept all the way through. She was groggy when we brought her in, but she walked OK.โ
โWalked?โ Sheila pondered. โMaybe her wings are broken.โ
โBroken?!โ Mabel brought her right hand over her mouth, shocked. โI hadnโt thought of that. And here was me tryinโ to pull โem off! Should I call a vet?โ
โA vet??!โ Sheila burst out laughing. โShe isnโt an animal.โ
โBut sheโs part bird. They may be able to help.โ
โMabel, sheโs a girl with glued on wings. Donโt be daft.โ
The girl on the sofa sat upright, and instantly starting flapping her wings ferociously, creating a strong wind in the room. She kicked the blanket to the floor, and leapt off the sofa.
โOoh, โeck!โ Mabel shouted, as she shut the door with a slam. The winged girl knocked a couple of ornaments off the mantel with her beating wings. โMe squirrels!โ
Also panicking, Sheila picked up one of the ornamental squirrels without thinking. โThey arenโt broken, May.โ She said. โWhat are they? Marble?โ
โSheila! We need to try anโ calm โer down. Sheโs going mad!โ
Sheila held up both her arms, palms facing the girl. โCalm down. Now calm down…โ she offered.
โAh do rat clackโ The girl screamed. โAH DO RAT CLACK!โ
โAh do rat clack, love!โ Mabel said in as soothing a voice she could muster.
โWhat the bloominโ…โ the commotion woke George. โMabel, get โer some bread! Quick!โ
โBread?โ
โBread Mabel! Now!โ
โGeorge Green, donโt you speak to me that way! Why bread?โ
Sheila raised and lowered her palms, hoping the girl would know she wanted to calm her and meant no harm. The girl sent another ornament crashing to the floor with her wing. โOh, that oneโs broke, Mabel!โ
โBread! She might be hungry.โ George shouted, and Mabel ran to the kitchen, returning a second later with a loaf. She handed it to George. George took out a slice and broke it into pieces, scattering it across the floor. Sheila joined Mabel inside the door.
โAh do rat clack!โ the girl said again.
โGeorge Green! She isnโt a bird!โ Mabel argued. โStop throwinโ โer bread!โ
The girl stopped flapping and sat herself cross-legged in the centre of the room.
โAh do rat clack!โ she said once more, looking at Mabel with a pleading look across her face. She picked up a piece of bread. George motioned to his mouth, suggesting she could eat it, which she did. And another. And then another.
โShe was only hungry, Mabel.โ George said, offering a full slice.
———-
This is the second instalment of my fan fiction tale based on the DC Comics character Dawnstar. The first part can be found here. Dawnstar was created by Paul Levitz and Mike Grell. All other characters are of my own creation.
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