The Celestial Gate by Avital Dicker (red white royal blue txt) 📗

do, everyone’s afraid of Me.” He sighed in frustration and flipped over on a cloud.

“Sorry. Can I hug you?” Anise finally managed to whisper.

God smiled with joy and opened the teddy bear’s furry arms to her. “Sure, I’d love that,” He said and folded her into His arms. Anise wanted to stay exactly like that, embraced by God, forever and ever. A sensation that couldn’t be described in words spread through her body.

“Thank you,” she whispered into the soft, silky fur.

“And thank you!” God answered, gently caressing her hair. “I really needed that. Even God needs a good hug every now and then.”

Anise nodded, still stunned. This was not how she’d imagined her meeting with God. Not as a teddy bear, of all things.

God held her hand softly. “What do you say? Shall we go meet your friends and have that conversation you so badly want to have with me?” He asked softly.

Anise nodded again.

“After all, you’ve come such a long way to see me,” He said with a smile and winked at her.

A fraction of a second later, she and the teddy bear were standing back with the gang. “Much better than flying, no?” God giggled. “Saves a lot of time and you don’t have to worry about the flight crashing,” reminding Anise again that God could see everything, including her fears.

Enochio, still grumpy on one of the clouds, raised himself on an elbow and sent her a reprimanding look. “Well thank you so very much for deigning to come back,” he fumed. “And what’s the deal with the teddy bear? Where did you get it?” Anise opened her mouth to answer, but Enochio wasn’t done. “Not that I care. You can’t take it with you in any case. Also, I’m taking you back home right now. This whole farce has gone on for far too long.” He concluded by folding his arms resolutely over his chest.

God jumped on His furry legs and dropped into a cross-legged position on a cloud. Bits of cloud flew every which way, scattered by His weight. “I’ve noticed you’re always on edge,” he said to Enochio in a friendly fashion.

Enochio stared back, enraged. “Oh ho! Another one who thinks he’s God,” he muttered.

The teddy bear laughed. “Please to meet you. I’m God,” He said, holding out His hand to the angel, “and I like to spring surprises. It’s a lot of fun.”

“God looks nothing like this,” Yam said dismissively.

“How about this?” God asked and He turned into a giraffe.

“Yes! I remember that you love giraffes,” said God and laughed seeing Yam’s jaw drop.

“I don’t understand why I’m always supposed to inspire awe,” He said, once more becoming a cloud. “Awe is in the heart. And, besides, I prefer love,” he laughed.

Enochio, stunned, sat back down on the cloud. His eyes had never been open that wide. Just then, Rae elegantly landed on a cloud and Mor got off her back, bubbling with enthusiasm. “I have to get my hands on a pair of wings,” he said excitedly.

“Ow!” the cloud shrank. “You’ve made it a habit to step all over me,” He said, filling out once again.

“It’s because the clouds are everywhere. Nobody can see You,” Anise explained. She was trying to get used to God’s presence, even though He was different from anything she’d ever imagined.

“Hmm. You’re right,” God agreed, whereupon a blue head with heavy white hair and a beard appeared before them in the air.

“Who’s that?” a confused Mor wanted to know.

“God,” everyone answered together. Except for Rae, who fainted.

God carefully lifted Rae and cradled her in His arms. “You know, the creatures on Rae’s planet complain far less than they do on yours. I have to say, they also hardly ever hurt one another,” God sighed. “On the other hand, she, too, came with a wish.”

A large white sofa hovered in the air and landed on a nearby cloud. God gently placed Rae on it. “Hmm. Not enough room,” He muttered. “Please, have a seat,” He said, motioning to the soft armchairs grouped near the just-appeared sofa and taking one Himself.

God wagged a playful blue finger in front of Mor’s face. “You imagined me looking like a demon,” He laughed out loud.

“But a good demon!” Mor, seeing Anise’s disapproving look, felt the need to defend himself. “I mean, look at that lovely beard.”

“Anise, everyone sees me differently. There’s no right or wrong answer. That’s the whole beauty,” God said, resting back in His chair. “All right, my friends. I have to say that I’m enjoying this break, but I am insanely busy. Handling heaven is way too much for just one God. So let’s get to it,” He said, scratching His forehead. “I really wish I could advertise for another God,” He laughed again. “Tell me – feel like eating something? Because, frankly, I’m hungry.”

“You eat?” Mor was stunned.

“Of course,” God answered. “I mean, I don’t have to eat, but it is one of life’s greatest pleasures, isn’t it?”

From above came a soft rain of sweets. Colorful candies dropped right into a mound of whipped cream and a chocolate fountain spilled into a pool of marshmallows.

“You’re…” Yam started to speak, but immediately changed his mind and fell silent.

“Not anything like you imagined,” God completed Yam’s sentence for him, putting a small marshmallow into his mouth. “Yes. The truth is that talk is mostly about how scary I am. Now, tell me, am I scary?” He asked seriously, picking up a chocolate soufflé. “People use my name a whole lot, without – may I add – permission, and describe me in totally false ways,” He said. “I mean, I thought about suing. Imagine all the clerics – rabbis, sheiks, priests, pastors – being sued for slander. And maybe also war crimes,” He thought for a moment. “It drives me out of my mind that they use my name without knowing who I am. And every religion thinks it knows best. I mean, really now,” God ended, suddenly looking sad.

“Tell me honestly.