Annie and Penny Book Deux Deux

Chapter 4
Gabriel Vs Natasha

Chapter Description: "In this corner, wearing the red and blue trunks..."

Annie finished up in the kitchen by laying the dinner table out with a quick meal of spicy meatloaf, green beans, mashed potatoes, and gravy. She hoped that Penny would still be old enough to enjoy it, but knew in a pinch that she could always mash it all together and spoon feed it to her. The latter thought brought a motherly warmth to her heart.

Entering the living room she spotted Natasha on the couch and 2-year-old Annie with her body poking out of the peter pan collar of her shirt hanging off her waist like an oversize dress while pounding Natasha’s knees with baby blows and total frustration radiating off her body in waves.

She rushed in and grabbed the toddler, held an index finger up to Natasha, and swept her out of the room in one fast motion adjourning to Annie’s bedroom for an impromptu conference. Once there, she got caught up in their current situation, diapered Annie with an extra soaker pad, and found a onesie with a business suit imprinted on it to clothe her with.

“Got to look your best, right?” she asked.

“I don’t think I look very intimidating in this thing, but maybe my cuteness will garner a few points” replied Penny.

Annie said a quick prayer for Penny before grabbing her up and proceeding downstairs to confront Natasha with the back of her mind roiling with thoughts and ideas of what she might do to help the situation turn out for the better.

As they hit the foot of the stairs, a bright light appeared briefly and the angel Gabriel appeared from it. Dressed in a fine Brooks Brothers suit with a dark red and blue tie, he looked resplendent with matching silver cuff links of cherubim adorning his sleeves. Well-polished Oxfam shoes enclosed his feet giving him the humble look of a well-respected lawyer.

“I believe you all know why I’m here, so I won’t bother you with the details” looking to Natasha he said, “Cough up the contract, I need to study it in-depth and see what we’re dealing with.” Turning to Annie and Penny, he said “No objections, Penny! It’s a fool that has themselves as their own council, after all. I like the onesie, by the way, very professional!” and ended with a wink and an amused smile in Penny’s direction.

Natasha produced the contract. It was a leather-bound, standard book-sized and about 3 inches thick with very thin pages. “You kept all that in your head while negotiating with Natasha, Penny? I’m very impressed!” breathed an awe-struck Annie.

“Yeah, for all the good it did me! I admit I thought I could out-negotiate Natasha, but I really bit off way more than I can chew” sighed Annie. Her admittance of humility caused Gabriel to smile a bit more widely. “It’s one of the reasons humanity was put on earth, little Annie,” Gabriel affectionately booped her nose “since you’ve already learned and are reflecting on it, we’re working to give you a little break. We can’t do much about your current age, you’ll be stuck at it for a while, so enjoy it while we work things out.”

With a light whoosh of air, Gabriel disappeared taking the book with him.

“Well, I’m for dinner! How about you my dear?” asked Annie to Penny. Charitably, she turned to Natasha and offered the same. “Do demon kings eat, I wonder? It’s just meatloaf, a meager meal, but a sustaining one nonetheless.”

To both their surprise, Natasha accepted.

At the dinner table, Annie fed Penny who enjoyed the meal and even play-acted a little by making “num-num” sounds. Annie delighted in this.