Of Children and Angels 11

As they were moving out with the line of worshipers when the service ended, a young priest beckoned to them. They turned and followed him to one side of the entryway. He turned to face them with a gentle smile.
Preston was mildly surprised the man chose to address them in a very precise Dutch-flavored English. “Victory is not in what we win, but in our willingness to continue the battle until we die. Please don’t stop what you are doing. You brighten the light this world needs to see.”
With tears in her eyes, Angie stepped forward and took the priest by the hand and kissed it, and then hugged him. Preston settled for a warm handshake. Somehow, it seemed proper to copy the way Hendrik and Gary had done, using both hands.
As they turned to leave, the priest added, “Don’t be strangers. Our angels are all friends, so we should be, as well.”
Indeed, there were angels everywhere, it seemed.
(This ends Part 3; Part 4 is next.)