Gary Schmidt

“Maybe angels aren’t always meant to stop bad things.”

“So what good are they?”

“To be with us when bad things happen.”

Joseph looked at him.

“Then where the hell were they?” he said.

Christmas is the season for miracles, you know. Sometimes they come big and loud, I guess—but I’ve never seen one of those. I think probably most miracles are a lot smaller, and sort of still, and so quiet, you could miss them.

I didn’t miss this one.

“Where the hell were they?”