The Angel and the Shooting Star

It was upon that dull evening sky when the angel first saw the shooting star streaking across towards the beach.

Enthralled by its brilliant light and how it had lit up the entire sky, the angel decided she had to see for herself how a shooting star looks like.

How pretty a shooting star must be! How brightly its light must shine! With that thought in mind, she made her way towards the beach.

On the sandy shores of the beach, she first came across a little yellow starfish that was resting itself among the warm sand.

“Excused me,” enquired the angel. “Would you perchance be the shooting star that was flying above just moments ago?”

“Why, no.” came the reply. “I am just a simple yellow starfish, resting amongst the sand here whilst admiring the purple hue of the darkening sky. Won’t you join me?”

Disappointed, the angel shook her head and asked, “Would you happen to know where that shooting star flew to?”

Gesturing with all five of its little arms, the yellow starfish pointed off a little into the distance. With a tiny nod and a polite smile, the angel started off on her way. How eager she was to see this shooting star. How beautiful it would be.

Soon the angel saw a little light coming off from a pier by the beach.

It must be the light of that shooting star, thought the angel, and she made her way excitedly towards it.

Upon the pier, she came across an old man holding up a brightly lit lamp.

“Excused me,” started the angel. “Would what you are carrying perchance be the shooting star that was flying above just moments ago?”

“Goodness no.” said the old man. “This is simply a little lamp I had lit to attract the squids to the pier. How nice it would be to have some squid for supper tonight. Would you like to join me? They taste marvelous.”

Upset, the angel declined and asked, “Would you happen to know where that shooting star flew to?”

Holding up a little finger, the old man gestured off a little into the distance. With a slight bow and a quiet thank you, the angel started off on her way again.

However, the angel walked on and on. She walked till the sky grew dark and the moon came out to shine its light onto the waters beneath. She walked till she was breathless and her feet were tired. She walked till the animals were all fast asleep and the night grew still and quiet.

She walked till she came across a little black rock half embed in the sands, giving off a curious whiff of smoke.

Dejected, the angel looked down at the little black rock and spoke to herself, “You cannot be that shooting star, can you? The shooting star was so brilliant and bright, and you are but so dull and dark.”

Sighing and feeling so very tired from her long walk, the angel sat down beside the rock. Losing all hopes of finding her star, she began looking off into the distant sky, hoping to catch a glimpse of another shooting star.

This time, the angel thought to herself, were she to see another shooting star, she would be sure to find it.

Definitely.

Then with that little thought in mind, the angel began to wait,

and she waited,

and waited still...