The Jazz Bar Angel

Dalton Capote is a washed up, writer's block riddled, alcoholic writer who spends his days drinking at a local bar until he meets someone who could just help him in his dilemma.

The Jazz Bar Angel 

To any writers who have suffered from writer’s block and those who need an angel.

Dalton Capote walked to the usual jazz bar in an attempt to score some more cheap booze. Writer’s block to him was a b***h. So he often drank himself into a stupor there and this night was no exception. So he walked inside and took his seat. The usual bartender, Joe, attended to him. 

“ What’s it tonight? Mr. Capote. “ Joe asked 

“ Jim Bean, please. “ Dalton said 

Joe went over and poured him the Jim Bean. Dalton left him three dollars in advance and Joe took it. The musician began to play as another walked in, he was dressed in a black trench coat and was taller and slimmer than most of the drinkers there. Dalton had never seen him before until today. The trench coat man then sat down right next down to him. Dalton smiled and turned to look at him. 

“ Your new, what’s your name? “ Dalton asked

“ Gabriel. “ the man said, sounding rather blunt and uninterested 

“ What’re you doing here? “ Dalton asked “ your wife leave you or something? “ 

“ No. “ Gabriel said “ I’m on business. “ 

“ Who the hell comes to Oklahoma City for business? “ Dalton laughed, whilst taking another sip. 

“ Well my business is more, out of this world. “ Gabriel said

Dalton laughed again “ All right, if that’s what you do, then what do you do? “ 

Gabriel sighed and said “ I’m an angel. “ 

Dalton smiled and said “ An angel? Ha, never was a believer in them. “ 

“ Well you should. “ Gabriel said 

“ Its pretty hard when the man sitting next to you claims he’s the archangel Gabriel. “ Dalton said 

“ You have an extensive knowledge of angels for someone who doesn’t believe in them. “ Gabriel said

“ I was raised a Catholic, my friend. “ Dalton said “ you learn it like school. “ 

“ Well, I guess we’re both at a loss. “ Gabriel said callously 

Dalton smiled “ I didn’t know that angels were such a******s. “ 

Gabriel replied “ And I didn’t know humans were so destructive, Dalton. I guess we’re both disappointed, friend. “ 

Dalton smiled until he realized that Gabriel called him by name. 

“ What did you say? “ Dalton asked 

“ I said… “ Gabriel began 

“ No, no, no, I mean my name, did you call me by name? “ Dalton asked 

Gabriel smiled “ And you didn’t believe me when I said I was an angel. “ 

Dalton got angry “ What are you doing here, really? How do you know my name? You don’t even know me. “ 

“ I told you I’m an angel. “ Gabriel said 

“ Yes, but what do you know if you know my fricking name? “ Dalton asked 

Gabriel sighed and turned to his direction “ I know your a talented writer. I know you come here to deal with your writer’s block. You work at The Daily Oklahoman. I know you hate your boss. I know you love to do what you do. “ 

Dalton was stunned and only got more angry “ You a cop? Phil put you up for this? You IRS? Who are you? What do you want here? “ 

Gabriel sighed again “ because of that man there. “ He said, pointing at the man who looked very drunk on the right table. 

“ What’s he got to do with you? “ Dalton asked 

“ The man’s name is Wilson Samuel. He’s 49, he’s an alcoholic, and he’s gonna die in… “ Gabriel checked the watch on his right wrist. “ 10 minutes. “ 

Dalton smiled again “ I thought that another angel’s job. I thought you tell people that they’re gonna have a messiah or something. “ 

“ It is. “ Gabriel said “ but the guy was off today that was doing this. So I have to do it. “ 

“ Sounds chipper. “ Dalton said, sarcastically 

“ Oh no worries, it is. “ Gabriel said, more sarcastic 

He then checked his watch “ Excuse me. “ 

The man sitting there, as predicted, began to have spasms and he then fell over and died. Joe ran over to go see the man but then Gabriel walked over and had a short conversation with Joe before he then walked over and sat down next to Dalton again. 

“ What’d you say? “ Dalton asked 

“ I said I’ll call an ambulance. “ Gabriel said 

“ Then call an ambulance. “ Dalton said 

“ No, I don’t think you understand what’s going on right now. No one can see us having this conversation. We’re just sitting here having drinks. That man over there I’m supposed to lead him to heaven or hell. “ 

“ Where’s he going? “ Dalton asked 

“ He was a hard lined atheist. Where do you think he’d be going? “ Gabriel asked

Dalton sat aback and Gabriel got up and left some cash. 

“ How are you gonna lead him back. You know? To the afterlife. “ Dalton said 

“ That’s knowledge is not for the human mind. “ Gabriel said “ That is, unless you wanna die. “ 

“ No. “ Dalton said “ No, I don’t wanna die. “ 

“ Good. “ Gabriel said “ you still have work to do, Dalton. I’ll see you around. “ 

Gabriel then got up and then left the bar. Dalton was shell shocked. 

“ I still have work to do? What the frick does that mean? “ Dalton thought

He then walked over to Joe and then asked “ Did you see that man there? “ 

“ Yes, he’s a very nice man. He called the ambulance for Mr. Samuel. Very unfortunate he died. “ Joe said 

“ Did I talk to him? Did you see me talk to him? “ Dalton asked 

“ No. “ Joe said “ You two were just having drinks. “ 

Dalton started to freak out and then he left the jazz bar. His conversation with Gabriel stuck in his head. Dalton even began to believe that Gabriel was who he said he was. Dalton didn’t even sleep that night as he couldn’t stop thinking of what Gabriel had told him. The next day was the same, he couldn’t work on his article, even after he got a complaint from his boss. He decided to go to the bar again to see if he could find Gabriel. When he got there, he indeed found Gabriel. He was sitting at the same spot he did when Dalton talked to him last. Dalton went over and sat next to him. 

“ You again. “ Gabriel said 

“ Yeah, it’s me. “ Dalton replied “ What are you doing here? “ 

“ The guy had another off day. “ Gabriel said 

“ Who’s it this time? “ Dalton asked “ Is it me? “ 

Gabriel snorted “ No. I told you still had work to do. “ 

Dalton’s smile faltered and said “ what did you mean by that? I need to know. “ 

Gabriel turned and smiled “ I mean you still have reason. To be here, anyway. “ 

Dalton then asked “ could you tell when I was gonna die? “ 

“ No, it doesn’t work like that. When it happens, it happens. It’s either me or Michael who takes you to wherever your gonna go. “ Gabriel said “ Plus, I believe more in living your life to the fullest. “ 

Gabriel then got up and saw another person, a woman this time, have a heart attack and then die on the spot. 

Gabriel checked his watch and said “ Right on time. “ 

Gabriel walked over and examined the body. He closed his eyes for several minutes and then said something before he came back. He then picked up his trench coat and was about to leave when Dalton stopped him. 

“ Will I get out of this writer’s block? “ he asked, desperate

Gabriel put his hand on Dalton’s shoulder and said “ you’ll get out of it, I’ll say that, maybe sooner than you think. Goodbye Dalton. “ 

Gabriel then took off and left. Dalton didn’t even get any drinks, got up, and left. When he walked out, he began to wander around. He once again pondered what Gabriel was speaking of. He then saw two ladies speaking at a park to each other while watching kids play on the playground. Right then, he smiled and began to run to his home. He got back to his house and began to write. He laughed in joy as he began to write his story. 

Dalton Capote began to believe in angels more. 

Author's Note

This story was written as I was suffering from depression and anxiety, which I take medicine for now. It was to deal with it.