A Guardian Angel and the Dog

Description

This is a guardian angel short story about a clumsy protector and the dog that will not leave him alone. It is an angel and dog story of loyalty, comedy, and the strange bond that builds between the two while the human remains unaware.

A Guardian Angel and the Dog

The night was quiet. The woman had already gone to bed, the soft light in her window fading. He stayed close, keeping watch, the fob glowing faintly against his chest. The street was calm, the air cool, and for once, nothing moved.

Except for the dog.

The dog padded out from the shadows, tail wagging. His tongue lolled as he came straight toward the angel with a bark that was way too loud for midnight.

“Not now,” the angel muttered, trying to wave him off.

The dog only wagged harder, bouncing in circles, then jumped straight into him. The angel stumbled back against a lamppost, arms flailing. The fob slipped out of his grip, swinging wildly as the dog tried to lick his face.

“I love dogs,” the angel groaned, pushing the wet nose away, “but not this one.”

The dog barked, ears perked, then shoved his head under the angel’s arm as if demanding to be hugged. The angel tried to step aside, but the dog stuck to him like glue, circling, wagging, pawing. Every attempt to shoo him off only made the dog more excited.

“You are going to blow my cover,” the angel said, pointing at the dark windows. “If she sees me, it will not be because of you.”

The dog barked again and lunged for the chain. His teeth closed on the fob, and with a quick shake of his head, he yanked it right off. The angel froze as the dog trotted proudly in a circle, the glowing stone dangling from his mouth like a prize.

“Drop it,” the angel hissed.

The dog wagged, sat down, and stared at him with wide eyes, tail thumping. The glow lit his muzzle as drool slid off the chain.

“Drop it,” the angel repeated.

The dog only wagged harder, clearly enjoying himself. He flopped onto his side, paws up, rolling in the grass with the fob still clenched in his teeth.

The angel ran a hand down his face. “I guard souls, not chew toys.”

He crouched down and reached out, but the dog rolled again, tail wagging in a blur, staying just out of reach. Every time the angel lunged, the dog rolled to the other side. It was like a game. The angel’s knees hit the ground, his robe tore at the edge, and mud smeared across his sleeve.

“Give it back,” he said, voice flat.

The dog barked, then finally dropped the fob with a wet plop into the angel’s hand. The stone dripped with drool, glowing brighter as if laughing along with the dog.

The angel sighed and wiped it off on his sleeve. “You are going to get me reassigned.”

The dog didn’t care. He jumped straight into the angel’s chest, knocking him back onto the grass. The angel landed hard, air leaving his lungs. The dog sat proudly on top of him, tongue hanging out, eyes shining with pure joy.

“You win,” the angel muttered, staring up at the night sky with the dog sprawled across him. “Happy now?”

The dog barked once and curled up right where he was, heavy against the angel’s ribs. The angel lay there, pinned under fur and warmth, fob pressed tight against his chest, glowing steady.

After a long moment, he lifted his hand and rested it on the dog’s back. “I guess you are on my side after all.”

The dog sighed and closed his eyes, content. The angel stayed still, staring at the stars. His charge was safe inside, never knowing the chaos her dog brought to his nights. He would never admit it, but the dog’s constant faith was almost comforting.

Almost.

Author’s Note: This short story is part of my upcoming novella Bound By The Fob: The Link Between an Angel and His Charge. You can read it on its own, or alongside my other short stories, A Guardian Angel and His Charge and A Guardian Angel’s Fight, for a fuller picture of the angel, his human, and the strange battles that follow them. Thanks for reading and supporting my work here on Vocal.