Interview with Jarom: An Ambrosia-Making Cherub

Jarom is a young cherub whose heavenly experience comes primarily from the Order of Ambrosia rather than combat, prophecy, or world-ending conspiracies. When he is assigned to Xandir, the most dangerous destroying angel available, his cheerful assumptions about celestial life meet the much rougher realities of Earth.

Originally published January 19, 2012. Substantially revised and expanded July 2026.

A Conversation with Jarom

Interviewer: Today we have Jarom the cherub with us. He looks a little overwhelmed. What is the matter? Have you never seen a city before?

Jarom: Not an earthly one. It is a little…dingy.

Interviewer: What did you expect? Do angels not look down with celestial periscopes?

Jarom: We can. I simply never wanted to. Heaven has better scenery.

Streets of Gold and Saints Peter

Interviewer: Are the streets in heaven really paved with gold?

Jarom: Gold? Perhaps for a garbage can. We have much better materials than gold.

Interviewer: What about Saint Peter? Does he sit at the gates waiting for everyone? That sounds like a monotonous assignment.

Jarom: It would be more accurate to refer to the Saints Peter.

Interviewer: I do not understand.

Jarom: The Saint Peter you are thinking of only works some shifts. Anyone named Peter may be recruited to help. Most newcomers are too overwhelmed to notice the difference.

The Order of Ambrosia

Interviewer: What was your job in heaven? Did you work for Cupid?

Jarom: Heavens, no. Cupid may look cuddly, but never call him cute. Those heart-tipped arrows are sharp. I worked in the ambrosia business.

Interviewer: Tell us about ambrosia.

Jarom: It is the best food in heaven or on Earth. Manna comes close. Sometimes we combine the two and make ambrosia-filled manna. Literally a match made in heaven.

Interviewer: Would you share the recipe? It sounds like something that could win a baking contest.

Jarom: I wish I could. Sharing heavenly secrets with mortals is a banishable offense. If I gave you a taste, I might have to kill you.

Interviewer: A pastry to die for. Now you are being cruel.

Jarom: I am sorry. One angel who revealed too many secrets was sentenced to serve as a destroying angel for thousands of years. I cannot imagine anything worse.

A Cherub’s Pet Peeve

Interviewer: Do angels have pet peeves?

Jarom: Certainly. Mine is when people say “cherubs.” The plural is “cherubim.” Please tell your friends.

Interviewer: Is there anything else you can tell us about heaven?

Jarom: Only that it is worth it. I miss it terribly, and I would do almost anything to return. Something tells me there is a rocky road ahead first.

Interviewer: Thank you, Jarom. There you have it: there are pastries in heaven, Saint Peter may have substitutes, and the proper plural is cherubim.

Why Jarom Matters

Jarom’s innocence gives the reader a way to learn the rules of the celestial world without receiving a formal lecture. His assumptions are funny, but they also make the danger more immediate. Xandir knows how badly heavenly law can punish a mistake. Jarom is only beginning to understand what his assignment may cost.

He also gives Xandir someone to protect, teach, resent, and eventually value. The contrast between the experienced destroying angel and the ambrosia-making apprentice creates much of the novel’s humor and heart.

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