The Arcade
Chapter 22

Crossing his arms over his chest, Cosmo said “So let me get this straight – you’re suggesting that I just tell everyone that I was brought back from the year 2012, because some old guy dressed like a janitor-”

“Maintenance man” corrected Sal.

“Fine, ‘maintenance man’ – because some old-“

“I’m not that old” protested Sal.

Cosmo stopped and looked at him. “Are you going to let me finish or not?”

“Are you going to get your facts straight?” countered Sal.

“Huh? What facts? You’re a maintenance man – fine. As far as ‘old’ goes, you are old – at least compared to us.”

Sal shifted in his seat. “Here are the facts, sonny: I am an angel. I have always been an angel. I am age-less. Insofar as my appearance to you is concerned, I prefer to be identified as a ‘maintenance man’. After all – it is my task to maintain the two of you. It is what a Guardian does.”

Cosmo closed his eyes and, scrubbing his face with one hand, took a deep breath. “Okay, Sal, okay. You still haven’t answered my question.”

“Which was – what, exactly?” Sal asked absently.

“What am I supposed to tell people??” Cosmo was beginning to lose his patience.

At this point, Joe weighed in. “Here’s the problem, as I see it – Cosmo is going to have to own up to sabotaging Theo’s motorcycle, and when he does, everyone is gonna want to know why. He can’t just tell people that an angel of God told him that it was necessary in order to save Theo’s life – let alone fix the aforementioned angel’s goof.”

Sal frowned at that last part. “Humph.”

“So,” Joe continued “the question of what explanation to give to justify Cosmo’s actions still exists.”

Joe looked at Sal.

Cosmo looked at Sal.

Sal flinched. “What?”

Joe sat on the end of Cosmo’s bed and smiled at Sal. “I have an idea, which I think you are perfectly suited to help us with.”

Sal frowned. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“Probably not – but you owe us a favor Sal, and my idea will serve more than one purpose.”

Sal groaned, then slumped in his chair. “Alright…let’s have it.”

Joe replied “Not yet. I need some time to work out the details, and we’ve been up here yakking long enough. Rosie’s gonna start wondering if I got lost.” Joe thought for a moment. “Tell ya what – Sunday is only two days away. After we get home from Mass, I’ll make some excuse to Rosie why Cosmo and I need to leave…”

Picking up on his dad’s idea, Cosmo finished the thought “…and you can meet us back at St. Anthony’s in the Garden of Reflection!” Looking at Joe, he added “Great idea, dad!”

“Gee – thanks, son.” Joe answered dryly.

Joe continued “Anyway, sound like a plan to you?”

Sal thought about it for a moment, then replied “It’s a date. I’ll meet you by the Statue of the Blessed Mother.”

Joe nodded, then he and Cosmo turned to leave. Before getting to the door, he turned back to ask “What’s a good time for you, Sal?” His words died on his lips.

The chair was empty.

Turning back to Cosmo, he asked “Does he always do that?”

Cosmo peered around his father’s shoulder in to the empty room. “Yeah. Annoying, isn’t it?”

Rosemary met the two just as they got to the bottom of the stairs. Looking at Joe, she said “I was beginning to wonder what had happened to you.”

Joe kissed his wife on the forehead. “You really are a worry-wart, honey. Cosmo and I were just talking. You know – father/son stuff.”

Rosemary rolled her eyes. “Oh, brother. Not that again! Look – I know I may be a little naïve, but give me a little credit, for pity’s sake. There’s nothing at all wrong with my hearing, you know.”

Cosmo gave his father a brief look of panic, and Joe warily asked “What do you mean, honey? What exactly did you hear?”

“Look, if the two of you want to talk about video games and computers that’s fine. All I’m saying is that you don’t have to sneak upstairs to do it.” Rosemary walked away shaking her head, curls bouncing. “Honestly. It’s not like you’re making secret plans or anything.”

Cosmo looked up at Joe, who simply shrugged.

“Well,” began Cosmo “I’m going to have one last cup of cocoa, and then I am turning in for keeps. I always get a little jangled by his visits, and tonight really took the trophy.”

Joe scrubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “Yeah, I gotta hand it to him. I expected a lot of explanations – but ‘angel’ wasn’t one of ’em.”

“Nope, never saw that one comin’.” Cosmo said with a shake of his head.

“Alright, son. Well – you go on and get your cocoa, I guess. I’ll see you in the morning.” As Cosmo was returning from the kitchen with his mug, Joe ruffled his son’s hair. “Sleep well buddy.”

“You too, dad. I love you.”

“Love you too, kiddo.”

Cosmo leaned around the wall into the hallway and, raising his voice, called to his mother “Good night mom, I love you!”

“I love you too, Stinky! Sleep well!”

Looking at his dad, he said “Ya know, I used to hate it when she called me that. Now I can’t imagine what it would be like if she didn’t.”

Joe smiled. “Second chances are like that, Cosmo. They give us renewed perspective – and sometimes a little wisdom.”

Cosmo gave his dad a brief hug. “Yeah. Sometimes we get lucky. ’Night, dad.”

“’Night, son.”

Cosmo plodded up the stairs to his room, and sat on his bed sipping his cocoa. While he let the warmth of the cocoa seep into his body, he pondered all that he had heard that evening. The conversation he and his father had with Sal certainly was an eye-opener.

Of all the things he could have imagined, Sal’s little revelation wasn’t on that list. Besides, weren’t angels supposed to have wings, and halos and stuff? Setting the empty mug on his nightstand, Cosmo shucked off his shoes. After undressing down to his t-shirt and boxers, he slipped under the his comforter.

With his hands behind his head, he looked up into the darkness. As sleep began to overtake him, he though to himself What a day...