The Bodyguard ("Limbo" story #84)

LIMBO
by Michael Kroetch

The bodyguard’s mother can see the writing on the wall. She knows which end is up. She’s not a fool. She thinks it’s a crying shame, but she also knows there’s only so much you can do. Only so much anyone can do, until, at a certain point—that’s it—you must cut off all ties with the person. No matter what the cost. Even if it means at lot to you to have the relationship and is something you get a lot out of in return for what you invest in it. At some point, when things get bad enough, you have to be willing to do the unthinkable. And she is.

And this is exactly what she says to Jesus where He hangs smiling on her wall. It’s not a warning, she tells Him. It’s an ultimatum. She doesn’t care if He is her Eternal Redeemer. She will not tolerate Him bad-mouthing her anymore about the engagement ring and its new problems with the police. Nor take any more guff or mashed potatoes about her developing friendship with the secret policeman. Her business is her buisness. She is giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s; giving to you, Jesus, what is yours; and keeping the rest to herself—thankyou very much! And she doesn’t care what Jesus may want to say about the ring, it IS hers now and that’s the end of the story. It’s why, even though Jesus is back up where He belongs on the two nails in her wall, He’s still in limbo covered with two layers of gold tinfoil. Punishment? Most certainly. And well deserved. Sure, she can’t see Him on account of the foil, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know the guy. He’s smiling under there. She knows He is. Just like always. How can anybody be expected to trust somebody who’s always got a grin going like they just swallowed five mango-peach cream pies? Eternal Redeemer or not, it’s more than she needs right now with everything else falling apart in her life and the yoga instructor saying maybe they should postpone the wedding a bit—at least until the police get everything with his brother sorted out.

Postpone the wedding? Of course she’d slammed the phone down on her Hindu. How could he even bring himself to say such a thing? Was he insane? Then she’d turned around and there was Jesus smiling at her from his pretty silver cross.