The Fedora Angels by Jon Moray
The Fedora Angels, Dominic, John, and Bernard congregated at a 50’s themed corner diner adorned with red seats and black and white checkerboard flooring. The celestial trio planted themselves at a booth that provided a busy vehicle infested intersection as a backdrop. The crackle of sizzling bacon, the belly-aching from the locals on stools at the counter about their home ball team that lost the night before, and a heavy set server cackling intermittently, all battled for supremacy of the acoustics in the room.
“It’s good we are able to taste food,” commented Dominic, the navy colored fedora wearer. He wore his hat cockeyed, almost covering one eye.
John snickered, “quite a perk, I admit,” he added. John sported a charcoal gray fedora with a thick midnight blue band.
Bernard was the quiet one of the bunch, donning the black cherry fedora, worn showing the crown of his head and acknowledging each comment with a nod and a tight-lipped grunt.
All three were dressed in suits and ties that complemented their hats.
“Have you decided on your plan of action for your subject,” asked John.
“Sara is her name. She happens to be our server. She lost her way. She’s a good person,” Dominic lamented.
“Well, I hope she finds her way, and quick. It’s been twenty minutes since we’ve ordered and I’m tired of looking at your ugly faces instead of a plate of bacon and eggs,” John complained.
Bernard stared ahead at nothing, gathering his thoughts to form a question. “How are you going to prevent her from ending her life?”
“I don’t know yet,” mumbled Dominic. He went on to explain that Sara had a handful of pain pills and a tall glass of vodka the night before and wrestled with consuming all of it before settling for crying herself to sleep. “All over a guy who broke her heart.”
“I was in a church choir and I still have a decent singing voice, maybe I can help?” John offered. Dominic and John negotiated a temporary trade of tasks. What are your subject’s demons?” asked Dominic.
“My subject is currently incapacitated. He is recovering from double bypass surgery. Consider my help an act of kindness,” John answered.
Bernard offered his talent was dancing.
Sarah finally made her way over to their table, disheveled, with stringy, unkempt blonde hair, and tears welling her eyes. “I’ve got to go,” she stammered, left her pad on the table, and hurried out the eating establishment.
The fedora angels followed after her and broke into song and dance as she walked two blocks to the bus stop.
“Sara, Sara, no time is a good time for goodbyes,” John sang the chorus from the 80s song by the group Starship. Bernard waltzed around her, snapping his fingers to keep the beat. Dominic did his best to assist in the impromptu entertainment with a low whistle.
“Leave me alone,” Sarah sniffed as she waited for the bus to arrive.
“Sara, smile. Oh, won’t you smile a while for me, Sara?” John crooned his rendition of the Hall & Oates hit song from the 70s. Sarah cracked a slight patronizing grin as she boarded the bus.
“We’ll see you tomorrow, Sarah. You owe us the pleasure of your customer service,” Dominic stated.
“Tomorrow, you’re only a day away,” John bid her adieu with the classic show tune “Tomorrow” from the Broadway musical Annie.
The trio waved as the bus pulled away with Sarah peeking back at them.
“Do you think it worked?” asked John.
“We’ll see tomorrow,” sang Dominic.
“So, there will be a tomorrow, for her?” asked Bernard.
Dominic flashed a wink for an assent. “She has always been inquisitive. I think our amusement piqued her interest, and I think your last song triggered a heartfelt memory for her.”
The next morning, the angels were at their perch, seated at the same booth as the day before. The ball team won the night prior, and the locals made sure the cherubs knew it.
Sarah reported to work, threw on her apron and made a beeline to the trio. “Just, who are you?” asked Sarah, tapping a pencil on her order pad.
“We’re guardian angels,” Dominic answered with a warm smile.
Sarah rolled her eyes and displayed a ‘why me’ look to the tiled ceiling.
“I happen to be your guardian angel, Sarah. My two buddy angels were along for the ride in the attempt to save your life,” Dominic explained.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Sarah huffed, with her arms crossed.
“I wasn’t kidding when I pushed your foot up when you were drowning in the deep end of the community pool when you were fourteen years old,” Dominic stated.
Sarah’s eyes widened the size of silver dollars. “I felt that sensation. That was you?”
Dominic acknowledged the feat with a tip of his fedora. “And your dearly departed dad sang ‘Tomorrow” every night when he tucked you into bed when you were little.”
Sarah sniffed back joyful tears and beamed a smile. “I have a guardian angel and he has friends that took the trouble to entertain me when I was at the end of my rope,” Sarah reflected, while surveying them.
“We did it because your life is precious and you are worth entertaining,” Dominic exclaimed, accompanied by agreeable nods from his two friends.
“Today is a great day,” Sarah cheered. “What can I get you gentlemen?”
* * * * THE END * * * *
Copyright Jon Moray 2026
Image Source: Brendan Stephens from Unsplash.com