A Simple Case of Angels by Caroline Adderson

were some angels who decided they didn’t like living in h eaven and getting bossed around by God,” Nicola read. “They wanted to be the boss of themselves. So they started a war with the other angels. But the good angels won and kicked the bad ones out. The bad ones fell from heaven, and when they hit the very bottom, that became hell. The fallen angels turned into demons who only wanted to get back at the good angels. First they thought of starting another war, but they got a better idea. They decided to visit earth and mess people up.”
    â€œHow does that get back at the good angels?” Lindsay asked.
    Nicola lowered the paper. “I asked that, too. Because angels are on the side of people. The bad angels were actually pretty smart. If someone wanted to hurt me, the best way to do it would be to hurt June Bug. Because I love June Bug so much.”
    Nicola continued reading. “This was a long long time ago. There were only two people on earth then, Adam and Eve.”
    Mr. Milton, who had slowly crunched through all the treats in the container, lifted one finger in the air.
    â€œI think he wants to say something,” Lindsay said.
    Nicola looked up from the page again.
    â€œEntertain strangers,” Mr. Milton said.
    â€œDo not forget to entertain strangers,” Lindsay recited, “for by doing so some have entertained angels unawares.”
    Mr. Milton’s eyes flew open. For a moment something shone out of them that Nicola recognized. June Bug looked at her like that whenever Nicola shook the treat container. Jackson wore the same expression on Christmas morning. Jared did, too, every time the phone rang.
    What shone out of Mr. Milton’s eyes was hope.
    â€œBut what does it mean, Mr. Milton?” Lindsay asked.
    â€œHere,” he said, pointing to the bed. “Here — ”
    June Bug, who had been waiting patiently for a treat, now realized she wasn’t getting one. She decided to have some fun, which was the next best thing to a treat. She snatched the story out of Nicola’s hand and leapt to the floor.
    â€œNo, June Bug!” Nicola cried. “I’m not finished reading it!”
    Nicola made a grab for June Bug, who scooted under the bed. On her hands and knees, Nicola peered at her dog gleefully tearing the story to bits.
    â€œBad!” Nicola said. “Bad, bad June Bug!”
    * * *
    Really, until then, June Bug hadn’t been so bad. She’d scratched under some doors. She’d bitten Pierre’s nose. She’d licked out the mush bowls. Other than that, she’d almost been good.
    And so Nicola had almost forgotten about June Bug’s One More Chance.
    Until that night.
    After dinner, Nicola took a bath. Her parents made her, because of school the next day.
    What Nicola liked about taking a bath was how June Bug would sit patiently on the mat, waiting for her to step dripping from the tub. Then she would spring up and lovingly lick the water off Nicola’s legs with her tickly pink tongue.
    What Nicola hated was leaving her wet hair down. Poor June Bug had no braid to chew until the next day. And her brothers always teased her.
    â€œRatpunzel, Ratpunzel, let down your hair!” Jackson sang.
    â€œIt’s RA-punzel,” Nicola screeched.
    Jared said, “Oh, Lady Godiva. Where’s your horse?”
    Lady Godiva was a lady in a story who rode naked on a horse with only her long hair covering her private parts.
    â€œMo-o-o-o-m!” Nicola wailed.
    Mina was working on her crossword puzzle in the den. She glanced up, her eyes red from squinting at the tiny numbered boxes.
    â€œStop it, you two. Leave your sister alone.”
    In pajamas, wet hair in a towel turban, Nicola fled to the kitchen where she poured herself a bowl of cereal. She remembered how hungrily Mr. Milton had crunched June Bug’s treats. Did anyone in Shady Oaks Retirement Home get a snack before bed? Probably not.
    Then a