Awe enveloped her. She stared up into the bright, caring face.
“Are you really my guardian angel?” she asked innocently.
“Yes,” he replied bluntly.
“So you’re going to protect me and take care of me?” she continued.
“Yes, you have to name me too.”
“Name you?” She asked confusedly
“Yes.”
She thought deeply about what his name should be. She looked up at his beautiful face; he had such a kind face. His baggy t shirt and jeans differed greatly from his proud and protective pose, his dark hair, shining eyes, and great unfurled wings.
The girl continued thinking, as only a five year old could. She delved into the complex workings of innocence and ignorance. She came up with one word. “Cabbage, your name will be Cabbage.”
A light laugh escaped his throat. This was definitely the strangest of all the names he’d ever been given. With an array of names such as Bob, Fred, Behgumfreh, and Angely; Cabbage was the one that would stand out in his mind for the rest of eternity. “Cabbage it is then.”
She smiled faintly, and suddenly turned around, assuming Cabbage would follow. He did. She plopped down into her seat at the kitchen table and picked up the periwinkle crayon she had laid down. Cabbage had a seat as well and watched.
“Color with me!” she cried suddenly, wanting her new friend to join her. Cabbage looked at her with mild surprise. Gently picking up a blue crayon, Cabbage began drawing on a clean sheet of paper. This is the first time a child had taken to him without any fear at all; he felt a new love and respect for this child, the child that would be his job to protect for several years to come. A dim smile alit on his face as he drew. He drew mountains, trees, stars, and children- the only kind of companionship he’d ever known. Tears silently slid down his face as the child hummed a simple tuneless melody and drew stick figures. He laid his head down on the table in his arms and cried quietly.
The girl looked up, “Cabbage? Cabbage what’s wrong? Don’t cry!” she squealed, worried.
Cabbage sat up, smiled, and lied, “I’m crying because I’m happy you’re my new friend.” In truth, he thought of the life ahead of her. Even he did not know what to expect, so vibrant and new. He picked up the stub of a blue crayon and drew a heart. He gave her the picture; she taped it to her wall; the stars and mountains and children always dancing forever around the heart. The picture stayed on her wall for many years.
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Cabbage had always been there; he’d never left her or betrayed her. He had been the one to hold her bicycle up when her parents let go of the seat. She knew he was there too, she always did. He had been there when she got her first kiss; he’d watched from the back of the movie theatre.
She knew she was never alone, and she smiled when she was caught talking to herself, because she really wasn’t; she was always talking to Cabbage.
Cabbage smiled too. He smiled for her wonderful life, he smiled for the safety and love she had, and he smiled when she smiled.
The years passed.
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She was eighteen now, eight more years than Cabbage had ever stayed with anyone. Tears stained her face and her eye makeup smudged every time she tried to wipe them away.
“Do you really have to leave? I thought you were supposed to protect me forever,” she sniffled. He looked deep into her eyes, trying to find some part of her that would understand. Cabbage held her comfortingly by the elbows.
“Adults fend for themselves. Your innocence was so beautiful, it stayed with you for so long, but the adult world has no guardians. Or angels,” he spoke softly, an apologizing tone stood out.
“I’ll miss you.”
He nodded and wiped away tears of his own. “I wish I could stay too; I didn’t think angels could love, but I was wrong, I love you.
He kissed her. It was the kiss of a lover, and of a friend. It was the kiss of a family member and the kiss of someone who wanted everything to be alright.
She stepped back and nodded. “I love you too,” she whispered, “Cabbage”
He smiled. “No one will ever name me again, for I have been named Cabbage. “
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On and on the children danced on the mountain shaded by trees. They danced beneath the stars. They danced for love and innocence. They danced for Cabbage.
.