Chapter 25 - Page 352 - Jim And Rhasha's Big Event

   Jim's spirit returned the morning greeting, as Jim had every morning, but she couldn't hear him.

   Everyone had heard about Jim's death. Silence hung over Angel Town. As the day went on, people gathered at the funeral home until it was full and people had to wait outside.

   "Swing low, sweet chariot," the people sang."Coming for to carry me home. Swing low, sweet chariot. Coming for to carry me home . . . "

   Inside the small chapel, a casket rested before ten rows of chairs. Rhasha sat in the center of the front row. Simbatu and Jackie sat on her left and Thasha and Thamish sat on her right side. Her brother Robbie sat on the floor in front of Rhasha and Thasha.

   Everyone except Rhasha and her family sang, "Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home . . . Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home."

   A strange feeling came over Rhasha that compelled her to look up. "Look, Mama!" she exclaimed.

   Thasha looked where Rhasha was pointing. "I don't see anything."

   "Look, Mama!" Rhasha blubbered, trying to talk and cry at the same time. "Don't you see it?"

   The Singing continued. "I looked over Jordon and what did I see. Coming for to carry me home. A band Of Angels, coming after me. Coming for to carry me home.

   "Rhasha, what do you see?" Thamish asked.

   "Papa," she said excitedly, "don't you see the angels?"

   Everything behind the casket was gone. The village was visible. The top of the chapel was gone. Rhasha could see the sky. No one could see the vision except Rhasha. The people continued to sing.

   "I don't see it, Rhasha," Thamish replied.

   Tears were running down Rhasha's cheeks. "Papa," she whimpered, "don't you see the angels coming down from heaven to get Jim? Look," she said, unable to control her tears, "they're putting a white robe on Jim!"