Tally and the Angel by Eleanor Dixon #Extract
When Tally discovers her pendant is home to the Angel
Jophiel, she knows life will never be same again. But what good is an angel who
won’t appear in front of others? Especially when she needs to convince her
friend Balvan she knows where the kidnapped children of India are being held.
Will Jophiel help Tally and Balvan escape the kidnappers’ clutches, or will
they all perish?
Tally has discovered that inside the pendant that had belonged to her mother, lives the Angel Jophiel, but she still has so much to learn about him.
Extract
Immediately after lunch, Tally raced upstairs. She needed to start packing if they were leaving the day after tomorrow. She’d never packed a case all on her own. She remembered the trip they had all made to Cornwall last summer when Mum had let her help with the suitcases. “That’s the best way to learn,” Mum had said.
Tally felt the tears threaten. “Don’t think, don’t think,” she said aloud. “I wonder if Jophiel is still here?” She made a sweep of the room. A moment ago it had been empty, but now the angel was floating by the window, his gigantic wings brushing the ceiling and his white robes rippling. Tally had to look up to his face. She couldn’t make out the features clearly. He shimmered so brightly, she had to lower her gaze.
“I am always with you,” was his reply. “I am bound to the pendant, not the last place in which you saw me.”
“Sorry,” Tally muttered. “I just didn’t know whether you were here all the time or if I had to call you.”
“But you did call me. You said my name out loud. Did you want something in particular?”
How could she explain? She just wanted to know he was there. He made her want to sing! Even dance! How could she tell him that looking at him was like looking at her mum, her dad, her cats – every single thing that she’d ever loved? Like looking at love itself! No, she couldn’t say any of those things, because she was also a teeny weeny bit scared of him.
“N-no. Nothing really,” she stammered, and she bent to drag her suitcase from under her bed. Better to get on with it and show Dad she could be grown up.
She frowned at her wardrobe. What should she take? It would be hot in India so that was a bonus – she wouldn’t need winter clothes and summer ones took up much less space. She’d be able to take more.
Tally started dumping her clothes on the bed until there wasn’t an inch of duvet visible. When she couldn’t think of anything else she might need, she began putting things in the case, rolling and folding, layering and piling, the way Mum had shown her. Then stuffing and pushing and getting extremely cross when the lid wouldn’t close. She tried again. And again. Why, oh why couldn’t she fit everything in? Almost screaming with frustration, she flung the contents of the case onto the floor.
Then she looked round furtively. Was that angel watching her bad behaviour?
Yes, he was! And… he was laughing at her. Her temper overflowed.
“Why are you laughing at me? Don’t laugh!” Tally shouted. “I hate packing. I can’t fit everything in. I don’t want to go!”
Jophiel continued to smile.
“Don’t look at me like that! Why don’t you do something to help?”
“I am not a genie, Tally,” the angel retorted, his smile going out like a light. “I don’t grant wishes or do magic tricks.” His tone softened. “I am here to guide you, child. So, let me help you help yourself; get a pin.”
“What sort of pin?”
“Just a dressmaker’s pin.”
“Do I look like someone who makes their own clothes?” Tally snapped back, still smarting.
“Maybe not.” Jophiel smiled. “But your mother used to, and there are plenty in her sewing drawer.”
About the Author
My school life was spent in a girls’ boarding-school specialising in classical ballet and on leaving I danced professionally, touring Europe, for 4 years. After that I ran my own ballet school in Athens, Greece and simultaneously volunteered as a veterinary nurse, as my love of animals is the driving force in my life. I returned to England with my horse and my cat, and now live on a smallholding in Shropshire with various farm animals and a constant stream of pets.
I started writing while in Greece and completed a Creative Writing Course with the Writers’ Bureau. The same year, I won an annual competition in the Writing Magazine for an adult Fairy Story.
On my return to England, I wrote two children’s books, but my new life, caring for Highland Cattle, sheep, hens and pets, coupled with extensive global travel, meant that writing for publication took a back seat. I continued my love of writing with a daily journal and amusing travel blogs of each trip.
I am now writing full time and TALLY AND THE ANGEL is the first of a planned series. Their next adventure takes place in Canada, in North Yukon and the third in Japan. I intend them to have adventures in Greece, Egypt, Peru, Africa – anywhere I have been, really.
My first book THE GRACEFUL GHOST is shortlisted for the UK Selfies 2021 Award.
You can follow Eleanor here: Facebook | Instagram | Website
Book link: Amazon UK | Amazon US
Thanks to Eleanor and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for the extract and a place on the tour.
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