The Bodyguard ("FLickering" story #68)

FLICKERING
by Michael Kroetch

The bodyguard’s mother has her ring. Diamond, of course. Almost as big as a nickle. Might be bigger, she thinks, if she were younger. But she doesn’t complain. It’s not her way. Especially not about this. Not when she considers its source. Better to keep away from that. She doesn’t want people knowing anything about her Hindu’s brother or what he does for a living. Quite obviously, she has not invited the man to the wedding or made any effort to meet him in the flesh. But she has shown the flickering ring to Jesus. She put it up to His face so He could see it better from where He hangs by the two nails in her kitchen.

“Forever,” that’s what the advertisement said. Looking at the ring, she isn’t completely sure. Her Hindu didn’t want her to have it before the ceremony. Silly man. He did not understand. Not even after she explained several times she wanted Jesus to see it. However, in the end he’d let her take it and assured her that his brother would not be the wiser.

“Forever,” what is that? Her Hindu thinks he may come back as a bug. She lets him believe this. For now. It’s easier. She knows Jesus understands. It’s there in His eyes. And she can tell the redeemer knows a good stone when He sees it. That, too, is in His eyes. She hasn’t shown the ring to anyone else. She’s made no mention of it. Not to anyone where she works. Not to her neighbors. Not even to the man who sells her the laundry detergent which keeps everything so clean. It’s true, yes, she was briefly tempted to reveal her secret to that man.

But right before she did—as her items for purchase scooted along on the belt toward the man’s scanner—she’d felt something of the hunter flicker on his lips. Her Hindu’s lips never get wet with such danger. Which is good. Still, somehow, the flicker did something to her. She’s not sure what, but she knows she won’t go to any other checkout stand.

She doesn’t tell Jesus about the flickering man and his lips. Jesus can be such an idiot. And so nosey. It’s why she decided it was better to just flash the ring in His face and leave it at that. Jesus doesn’t need to know where the ring money came from. Nobody does.