Celia and Eva part 2

Eva’s relationship with Celia Murphy continued to improve: she was someone who really understood Eva, to the point where they sometimes shared an innate telepathy. On one occasion Celia was working in Crystal City when she received a phone message: “Celia, I’m in Alexandria and I am at the store that I know you really like. If you want to see me, come to Alexandria. I have my bike.” Why hadn’t Eva told her what store? Alexandria was huge – how would she find her? But she decided to set off anyway, driving to the Zipia fashion store. When she arrived, there was Eva, standing outside the store with her bike. When she saw Celia her mouth fell open: “How did you find me?”

Celia and Johan

Celia and Johan

It was not particularly “cool” for young people to talk about religious matters, but Eva and Celia’s spirituality brought them closer together. Eva asked Celia to write down the lyrics to ‘Morning Has Broken’, Cat Stevens’ arrangement of the 1931 hymn by Eleanor Farjeon. “You’d better have the words right,” Eva said, “because God is listening too.” The girls took their religion seriously, but they didn’t let it spoil their sense of humour. Driving along one sunny afternoon and belting out a beautiful hymn, a noisy lorry overtook them, ruining the song. They didn’t miss a beat: “Asshole!”

Eva sometimes compared her childhood friend Celia Murphy with Jesus because she had often helped her without ever asking for anything in return. The two were on the same spiritual level. Eva loved talking about angels and she hadn’t shied away from the fact that in order to become an angel herself she must leave the earth first. Like everyone else, Celia found it very difficult to watch Eva during her last struggle and she felt the need to comfort her vulnerable friend with words from the Bible. Celia chose a reading from the book of Psalms, Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Celia at The Bayou

Celia at The Bayou

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