Grigor

Grigor sat on a rock on the moon staring at the small blue planet it orbited. He bent forward, resting his chin in outstretched palms while his elbows poked at his knees.

He looked glum. It was not a good situation for a sometimes angel. Where was the optimism? Where was the joy? Where was the faith in the divine plan?

A light hearted friend landed beside him. Grigor looked at the new arrival. He had known his friend since his school days, although they hardly ever saw each other anymore.

"What's the matter Grigor?" asked his old friend. "You are usually so cheerful."

"It's them. The humans. Every time I whisper to this or that one in a position to do something to make things better or to prevent disaster, I am ignored or my suggestions are perverted."

  "I understand. I always knew what they were like. That's why I never liked them, even before they were created, back when they were blueprints. I saw the flaws in the plans. I argued against them from the start. I mean, I like gardens. I always have. I like looking at them. I like walking in them. I like growing fruit in them. When You Know Who made a garden on this planet, I was fine with it. All that plant and animal behavior to observe, it was much better than staring at barren rocks. Then, He has to go and put them there. What a dumbass. Sometimes I think He likes to watch things implode."

"Well,” said Grigor. “He did make supernovae and black holes. "

"There you go. Set up the dominoes so they can be knocked down. Watch the pretty patterns of destruction, then start over again, building another design that can rapidly disintegrate with the touch of a finger. That's what people are. The touch of His finger."

"He could use asteroids or other things," said Grigor.

"Of course he could,” said his old friend. “Don't you see it is more fun this way? One domino can start it on its own. Of its own ignorant volition, or knowingly, as if blowing raspberries at the rest of the planet."

Grigor laughed, "Are you sure you have nothing to do with it? You like tempting people. "

His old friend laughed back.

"You have a fundamental misunderstanding of temptation. I do not dangle a candy bar in front of a pre-diabetic and holler, "Come and get it!" Temptation is simpler, yet more subtle. It has an honesty and a purity to it. All I do is remind an individual who they really are, and what they really want. It should be no surprise that so many of them would sell out the rest of the world to get what they really want. Life is short for mortals. There is only so much time to feed those desires."

Grigor smiled at his friend. "That makes it sound like you are part of the problem."

"Maybe a tiny bit of it,” his friend agreed. “Really it is just them. It is the way they were designed. They will eat grass if they are starving, but they want to eat meat. They are predators. They hunger for the kill."

"I think most prefer going to a market nowadays."

"That only obscures it. The desire to kill is still there. They are like wolves, except wolves are honest about it. I won't say dogs, because most humans are not loyal enough to be dogs."

"I disagree,” Grigor said. “I can't explain my reasons. I just disagree."

"You are falling back on emotions that are not yours. You do not have a physical body. You are a creature of the spirit. Reason should guide you. "

"Reason does guide me."

"Giving everyone another chance time after time is not reason,” the old friend said. “It is not being reasonable either. It is utter foolishness. It is unreasonable for lack of sufficient thought by the planner."

"It is His way," said Grigor. He nodded his head towards the universe.

"This time around. It wasn't always this way. "

  "Why? Do you mean He can't mix it up? Why won’t you allow for Him to change if He wants to?"

"Why?” said the old friend. “He doesn't need to. He is all knowing and all powerful, right?"

"Therefore you deny Him the ability to change?” Grigor said. “That would be limiting His all powerful will."

"Look,” said the old friend. “I am glad to see you after so many centuries, but I can't stay here for long. I came here specifically to help you because you seemed in low spirits. I thought I could cheer you up, and if I couldn't, I thought I might be able to invite you to visit for a while. Taste the other side. Find out if you like it better."

"You have cheered me,” Grigor answered. “I don't know if that was your true intention. I can not accept your invitation to visit. That could be looked upon as a tad treasonous. Maybe we can do lunch sometime instead? Someplace on that planet down there or another."

"I could go for that,” said his old friend. “Neutral territory works well, so long as we can find a place that serves gluten free. I do not know why, but wheat no longer sits well in my intestines. Let me check my schedule to see when I am available. Things can get very hectic in hell."

  "I will wait to hear from you."

"What will you do now?" the old friend asked.

"I am thinking of whispering to several scientists about ingenious ways to reduce global warming."

  "Good luck with that,” said his old friend. “I suspect your efforts won't change anything unless people can make lots of money from your suggestions."

"I know it is a long shot,” said Grigor. “But I have to try. It is who I am. I try to do good. It is in my nature."

"Even when no good will come of it?"

"Even then."

They parted with promises to be in touch, one with white feathered wings, the other’s black and leathery.

It would take a while to find a restaurant that met both their tastes, but both enjoyed the reunion when it came.

Joseph Farley writes fiction and poetry. His stories have appeared recently in Alien Buddha Zine, Horror Sleaze Trash, Schlock! Webzine and other places. He has had a novel and four story collections published. His most recent story collections are Beware The Cartoonist and Nightmares And Hiccups.

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