HOW I CAME TO WRITE THIS STORY": Patti Abbott

"THE ANGEL DEEB"
from Deadly Treats.

As some of you may remember, on our trip to Paris in May 2010 I was quite taken by this vision across the street. Wings of some sort were propped in the window and I did a flash piece about it, but it influenced a longer story even more.

When Theresa Weir invited me to submit a story to a collection she was putting together, the entire story fell quickly into place. It was to be a Halloween story for a volume she was then calling BATS IN THE BELFRY. At the time, she planned to publish it herself, probably as an e-book

I wanted my story to be reminiscent of THE METAMORPHOSIS, but lighter in tone. I soon came up with the idea of the idea of wings appearing suddenly on the shoulders of a pickpocket.

I don’t know why I was so reluctant to tell him (a doctor). Was it fear of what he might tell me or embarrassment at my…problem’s… oddity? For several weeks, I’d noticed a growth on both sides of my upper back. Felt it more than saw it, of course, because it was in one of those places hard to spot—even in a mirror.

“I seem to have some sort of… enlargement.” The word growth seemed laden with implications I didn’t want to introduce into our conversation.

My hope with the story was to make it believable but magical at the same time. So Deeb's interaction would be with a little girl.

“What’s your name anyway?”
“Deeb,” I said, without thinking.
“That’s a funny name for a guardian angel. I suppose I can get used to it though.”
“Sure, call me Deeb.” What did it matter if we never met again?
“You can call me Princess Isabella.” I nodded. “And next time you come, try and remember to bring me a greeting gift.”
I nodded again. “I’d better be off.”
“I especially like barrettes if you can’t think of something.”

I had a lot of fun writing this story. And I am happy to have it included in this terrific collection.