Angel and the Assassin: Be Brave

Santa
    Claus smile without the beard. “What did you get him?”
    “Birthday?” Angel said. “He had a birthday?”
    “He didn‟t tell you? Typical. Kael was thirty-three on February second.”
    “That was weeks ago. Why didn‟t he tell me?”
    “That‟s Kael for you. He hates a fuss.”
    Remembering the parcel that had arrived in the mail about that time, Angel
    smacked his forehead with the heel of his hand. “Duh! He got something from
    Sharon a few weeks ago. I never put two and two together.”
    In the backseat, the two girls hit their heads and shouted, “Duh!”
    “Anyway, how‟s school going? Can you get all your GCSEs in one year, do you
    think?” Freddie asked.
    “I didn‟t start until six weeks into term, but I seem to be doing well. Daddy
    tutors me all the time.”
    “The drill sergeant.” Freddie laughed.
    Angel smiled at the girls, who were still smacking their foreheads. “Tell you
    what, Freddie. Let‟s surprise him with a birthday dinner. Can you and your family
    come on Saturday?”

    Angel and the Assassin: Be Brave

    59

    Freddie looked doubtful, but in a comic way. “Oh, you‟re taking your life in
    your hands springing a surprise on Saunders. He‟ll have your guts for garters.”
    “I‟ll take the risk.” Angel laughed, happy that he could do something special
    for Daddy. “I‟ll cook. I‟m getting really good. And I‟ll bake a cake. But how can we
    keep him out of the flat while I prepare everything?”
    “We‟ll work something out. What‟s your mobile number?” Freddie wrote it
    down while Angel looked over at Jack, whose body language was saying hurry up.
    “He should have told me,” Angel said.
    “Kael Saunders doesn‟t have ordinary things like birthdays. He always
    thought he was tougher than everyone else.” Freddie‟s voice was filled with
    affection. “We‟ll make him have a good time.”
    Angel laughed. “I‟d better go. Talk to you later.” But before he could walk
    away, Zoe demanded a kiss and Amelia joined until they were screaming in the
    backseat.
    “They love you, Angel,” Freddie said. “They talk about you all the time.”
    Angel opened the back door and leaned in. Amelia was nearer and grabbed his
    face to kiss him. “Me first,” Zoe screamed and reached out to whack her sister. “Zoe,
    no!” Freddie tried to lean over the seat but couldn‟t maneuver his rotund body into
    the right position. Angel grabbed her wrist just in time. “Zoe,” he said in
    disappointed tone. She hung her head but smiled when Angel kissed her cheek. “I‟ve
    got a job for you girls. Between now and Saturday, you have to make a beautiful
    birthday card for Uncle Kael. A great big one. Okay?”
    “Okay,” they agreed.
    He ducked out of the car and ran back to Jack, calling, “Keep it weird, girls.”
    “Keep it weird!” they yelled back, imitating Angel‟s accent.
    At home Angel ordered pizza, and Jack put the music up loud. They were
    dancing in the living room when they heard banging on the front door. Angel ran
    along the hall to look through the peephole with Jack behind him. “It‟s the lady
    from down the hall.” He opened the door.
    Mrs. Chalmers was caked in makeup and dressed up as if she was going to a
    party. “If you don‟t turn the music down, I shall have to complain to the
    management.”
    “Is there something you‟d like us to play?” Jack burst out laughing. “Do you
    want some rap?”
    “Don‟t be impudent, young man,” she said.
    Angel shoved him inside and stepped into the corridor. “Jack, turn the music
    down.” Daddy would smack him hard if he caught him being rude to a neighbor.
    “I‟m really sorry, ma‟am. We were just dancing and goofing around. I didn‟t realize
    how loud it was.”
    “Well, you cannot disturb the peace,” she said, her anger deflating at his polite
    tone. “Is your father home?” She looked round him into the flat.

    60
    Fyn Alexander

    Your father ? “He‟s away on business. Just for a night or two.” Daddy always
    says, tell nobody our business.
    “I see. Why do you have an American accent?” She looked him up and down as
    if he were an alien.
    “My mom is American,” he said vaguely. “Good evening, ma‟am. Sorry we
    bothered you.” He stepped inside and closed the door. Jack was not in the living
    room when he returned, and Angel found him in the dungeon.
    “This room is totally sick, but how come everything‟s so clean and perfect? Not
    just the dungeon