CHILDREN AND THEIR IMAGINARY FRIENDS, two read-aloud stories

Disclaimer: The stories on this site are fiction; data and other information provided here is 'For informational purposes only.

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Children and their Imaginary Friends, Two Read-aloud Stories for Children

By Great-grandpa Meyer Moldeven

In their early years, children may create imaginary friends with whom they play. The friend is often a partner in an adventure as well as someone with whom to talk to and just do things.

If you are a grandparent, think back to when your children, now parents, were young and romped in nearby fields or the back yard with their imagined personal playmate: a frontiersman, cowboy pardner, homemaker, makeup artist, or other companion who was always steadfast and alongside. They climbed trees together, ran and jumped, sat side by side in a swing, shared meals or moved miniature furniture about in a dollhouse.

Inevitably, the time arrived to replace the friend of imagination with the realities of growing up. The steadfast companions gradually became memories – that rarely faded, entirely.

Recalling a once favorite imaginary friend might serve a parent, grandparent, or any adult as welcome memories of childhood. The recollection might encourage him or her to create a story to share with students in a classroom ‘show-and-tell’, grandchildren and youngsters generally. The youngsters, in their turn, take the story along with them into adulthood to pass along to their own progeny.

This is a story in two versions: In the first the central character is four-year old Tricia, and the second is about a boy of the same age. His name is David. Each has an imagined flying unicorn as a close companion. Tricia’s unicorn is named Bonnie, same gender as Tricia, and David’s unicorn is Thunder, same gender as David. Each version of the story respects the gender sensitivities of the young reader/listener, especially in the use of appropriate nouns and pronouns (boy-girl, him-her, he-she, etc.). Ask just about any youngster which gender he or she prefers as a close friend; with few exceptions, girls will choose girls and boys, boys. The same preferences apply in listening to or reading stories, and in watching motion pictures and television.

I am a layperson who occasionally writes ‘intergenerational’ stories for and about grandparents and grandchildren. My being a too-faraway grandpa usually suggests context.

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(The first version)
TRICIA AND BONNIE

All the woodchucks in or near the town of Woodchuckaton crawled deep into their burrows. Chipmunks crept under piles of chips. Even beavers, over on the other side of town in Beaverton, stayed home.

It was raining. It had been raining all day, and here it was now, well into the afternoon. Certainly, it was time for the rain to move along to somewhere else.

Shifting about on the big red cushion, Tricia stared out through the streams of rain that twisted down to the sill on the outside of the windowpane. Sheets of water billowed along the street, one following close behind the other like in a parade.

Tricia heard her mother humming in the kitchen preparing the evening meal. The evening meal was special. Daddy left home for work early each day, before anyone else was awake. The evening meal was when they all came together for the first time each day as a family.

Mother hummed or sang often as she went about the house. Tricia loved to listen, and, staring out the window, she sang the words. Their voices blended and finished the song together.

The sounds of pots and pans and mixers also meant that Daddy would be arriving soon. When Daddy showed up, David would wake from his afternoon nap, and then Daddy, David, and she would play on the rug and talk until it was time for her to help Mother set the table.

Meanwhile, Tricia was restless. She felt her left foot falling asleep so she turned away from the window and jumped up and down to get rid of the tingling pins and needles. The tingling gone, she ran to the patio screen door in the dining room and peered into the back yard. She knew it would be raining there too, but at least the scenery was different.

She had another reason.

Leaning out the door to see into the far right corner of the yard, Tricia imagined the little stable under the oak tree where Bonnie had her stall. Bonnie was her personal flying unicorn. Tricia waved and, in her mind, Bonnie answered by tossing her mane and ruffling the feathers of her wings. It was time for another adventure.

Bonnie poked her white horn through the doorway of her little stable and shook her head up and down. When Bonnie, a flying unicorn, answered that way, she was sending only one message: Bonnie wanted to fly. Tricia sat on the floor, next to the doorway and missed being with Bonnie.

Tricia glanced up at the sky again. The rain had changed to a fine misty drizzle and the clouds to light gray with patches of blue peeping through. A shaft of sunlight cut through the clouds and the patches of blue widened.

The rain stopped. Off in the distance a rainbow formed an arc across the sky. Tricia dashed to the kitchen. ‘Mommy, Mommy,’ she said excitedly, tugging at her mother’s apron. ‘The rain is over. Bonnie wants to play and so do I. May I go out to play with her?’

Mother knew, of course, that when Tricia and her friend, Bonnie, played together, Bonnie would often nuzzle Tricia. That would be Bonnie’s invitation to Tricia to climb up on to her back and twist her hands into Bonnie’s silky white mane. Once that happened Mother was certain that Bonnie would spread her feathered wings and, in Tricia’s imagination, they would leap to the skies.

Smiling to herself, Mother looked out through the kitchen window at the sky. The clouds were breaking up, but the grass was still wet, the ground soggy, and the trees dripped.

‘Daddy will be home soon, Tricia,’ she said, ‘and he’ll be looking for big hugs from David and you. Then we’ll need to prepare the table for dinner. I’ll need your help. You know you have a job to do, don’t you?
’
‘Oh, yes.’ Tricia’s curls bounced as she nodded. ‘But I won’t be gone long. Bonnie and I have been cooped up all day. The rain has stopped. I want to skip and jump.’

‘... and fly.’ Mother’s eyes twinkled as she stooped, laughed, and smoothed Tricia’s ruffled curls.

‘Well, maybe.’ Tricia grinned as she hugged her mother.

‘I suppose you and Bonnie do need some fresh air.’ Mother sighed as she rose and looked out the window again. ‘Wear your rain boots and red raincoat, and don’t go beyond Wendy’s back yard, next door. When Daddy comes home he’ll call you in.’

‘OK.’

Tricia rushed to the hall closet and rummaged about among the shoes and boxes on the floor. In the far corner, the toe of a round red boot stuck out from under a large paper bag. That was one found. Pulling it out, Tricia searched nearby for the other. There it was, behind the umbrella. Waving them high, Tricia jump-skipped to the big cushion beneath the picture window, sat, and pulled them on. Mother came in with the red raincoat and helped Tricia into it.

Ready.

Dashing to the back yard doorway, Tricia jumped the short step to the patio.

‘Bonnie, Bonnie,’ she shouted, ‘come on. Let’s go.’

That was all Bonnie needed. She came frisking and prancing out of her stall, raising first one hoof and then the other as she approached closer. She nuzzled Tricia’s shoulder, and then unfolded and stretched her wings so they would be out of the way for climbing aboard. That was the invitation Tricia was waiting for.

Taking a tight hold on Bonnie’s long silky hair, Tricia swung her leg across the unicorn’s back and she was on. Tricia pulled herself forward until she was well out of the way of Bonnie’s wings.

‘All set,’ Tricia shouted. ‘Away we go!’

Bonnie trotted to the far end of the yard until she was close to the fence. She faced about and began to run, faster and faster. Her wings spread wide and with a leap they were in the air.

Up. Up. They spiraled around the old oak tree, rising higher with each loop. From far out, they dipped into a long glide and swooped down under the tree’s branches, around and around the swing that grandpa made for David and her, and up and around again. They flew along the top of the back fence, lifted, and cut across the roof of their house from one end to the other. Twisting about, Bonnie hovered above the front yard.

Along the horizon, Tricia saw the city of Portland hidden in rain curtains and mists.

Leaning forward, Tricia spoke into Bonnie’s ear.

‘Let’s fly over to Wendy’s back yard and see if she and her dog Blossom are at home.’
Bonnie snorted her understanding. She could talk, but did that only when it was absolutely necessary. She had a soft gentle snort and would rather speak her thoughts that way. She could also show her feelings by the expressions on her face. It was a lot simpler, and Tricia understood.

Curving around toward Wendy’s yard, Bonnie cleared the top of the fence, swooped, and held steady just above the run in Blossom’s kennel.

‘Blossom,’ Tricia called out. ‘It’s Bonnie and Tricia. We’re just flying by today and stopped to say ‘hi’ to Wendy and you. Come on out.’

Blossom stuck her shaggy head out of her house, blinked, and opened her jaws in a dainty, drowsy yawn. Looking up, Blossom smiled, wagged her tail and said, ‘Hi, there. Where are you off to?’

‘Oh,’ replied Tricia, ‘we’re keeping close to home today. Rain, y’know. Also, Daddy will be home soon and I want to be with David to welcome him and play and talk. I’ll also be helping my mother get ready for dinner.’

‘I see,’ said Blossom said wistfully, her tail drooping, ‘I’d like to be near that table when food is being served.’

‘Where’s Wendy?’ Tricia asked.

‘Wendy and his mother are at the library,’ Blossom answered. ‘Wendy's books were due to be returned today.’

‘I see. Well, we must be off, Blossom. Please tell Wendy we stopped by to say ‘hi’ and that we’ll see her another time.’
‘Will do.’ Blossom yawned again and pulled her shaggy head back in.

Bonnie’s wings beat faster and they rose higher and higher. Moments later, they were looking down on Wendy’s and Tricia’s homes and all the other houses on their street. Tricia saw the glowing signs of the shopping mall a few blocks away. The mists and rain curtains still hid the tall buildings of downtown Portland in the distance.

Looking toward the end of their street Tricia saw Daddy’s car turn the corner.

‘Daddy’s home. Daddy’s home,’ Tricia shouted. ‘Time to head back, Bonnie.’

Bonnie snorted and dipped into her landing approach. Circling, she lost altitude each time around. Finally, coming in over the fence, Bonnie arranged her wings for landing and bent her legs slightly to soften her touchdown. Tricia tightened her grip.

Close to the soft earth near the patio, Bonnie’s wings beat the air. She hovered for an instant, and then lowered until all four hooves touched down. A four-point landing. The flight was over.

Tricia slipped off Bonnie’s smooth back, wrapped her arms around her neck and gave her a tight hug. Bonnie’s hoof scraped the ground and she gave another of her soft, gentle snorts.

Daddy stuck his head out through the patio doorway.

‘Hi, there,’ he laughed, ‘what’s going on?’

‘Out and about, Dad, been flying, don’tcha know?’ Tricia answered. ‘Bonnie and I just got in from a short flight around the yard and over Wendy’s place.’

‘I see,’ Daddy said. ‘Well, I’m pleased you made it back in time for our before dinner get-together. David is up. Come on in and we’ll play and talk for a minute or so before you help set the table.’

Daddy smiled down at her.

‘Tricia,’ he said. ‘Your mother, you and I are also going to have a talk this evening. A meeting; very important. Coming in?’

‘Yup, Daddy. Just about ready.’

She turned back to Bonnie and gently rubbed the unicorn’s nose. Turning away, she crossed the patio and stopped at the short step to the dining room. Daddy opened the screen door and bent down. Tricia wrapped her arms around his neck. Daddy rose, lifting Tricia as he did, and caught her rain boots as they slipped from her feet. He stood them up outside, beside the doorway, to dry. Hugging each other, Daddy and Tricia turned back into the house.

Tricia hesitated, and glanced back. In her imagination, she saw Bonnie fold her wings gracefully along her sides, lower her head and nibble at the soft, green grass. It was Bonnie’s dinner time too.~

With dinner behind them, Tricia joined Mother in clearing the table. Nesting one plate into another and picking up a few pieces of tableware she carried them to the kitchen counter near the dishwasher.

Daddy rose from his chair, went into the kitchen, and dampened a cloth. On his way back to the dining room he winked at Tricia as they passed. Tricia turned to watch.

Daddy tiptoed behind David’s high chair. David, finished with his eating, busily rolled leftover peas round and round his food dish. Daddy quickly reached around and with the damp cloth wiped breadcrumbs, mashed peas and potatoes, and smears of chocolate pudding from David’s face and from behind his ears.

David howled and twisted away, but Daddy was ready for him. A moment later, his face and hands cleared of food - well, as much as could be expected with only a damp cloth - Daddy hoisted David from his chair and lowered him to the floor.

Looking back over his shoulder as he scampered on hands and knees into the living room, David tangled with a fire engine. He rolled over on his back, looked up at Daddy, and laughed. The laugh stopped Daddy from rushing forward; the tangle had not been hurtful.

Daddy stooped and pushed the fire engine toward David, then joined him on the floor. They put their heads together, and as their hands touched and explored the fire engine they explained to each other how the different parts worked.

Tricia, drawn from her work by the sounds of David’s tumble, peered into the living room. Seeing that all was well, she smiled, and carried another armful of dishes and tableware to the kitchen counter.

‘Looks like our men are busy,’ she said.

Mother nodded as she spooned leftovers into containers for the refrigerator.

‘It’s always good to relax after dinner,’ she said. ‘When we’re done here, we’ll join them. Then, in a little while, I'll bathe David and get him ready for bed. You will take your bath, and then you, Daddy and I will have our meeting.’

‘Daddy did say something about a meeting when I came in from the yard,’ Tricia said.’ What’s up?’

‘Let’s just wait and see,’ Mother smiled mysteriously as they loaded the dishwasher.'

Finished with her work, Tricia skipped along the hallway from her room to the kitchen. Little brother was down for the night. Tricia, bathed, hair washed and brushed, was squeaky clean in her red nightgown.

She squeezed a space for herself on the couch between Mother and Daddy and they eased aside to make room. Daddy put his newspaper aside and Mother placed a card in her book to mark her place.

Glancing up at one, then the other, Tricia put on her serious business face.

‘Meeting time?’

‘Meeting time,’ Daddy said.

‘What will we talk about?’ Tricia folded her arms across her chest, straightened her legs, and fixed her eyes on the opposite wall to help her concentrate.

Family meetings were important. The meetings were still only for the three of them. When David was old enough to share in the family responsibilities, he would join the meetings.

Daddy said, ‘we’re going to have a change in the way we live.’

‘A change?’ Tricia frowned. ‘Everything is going fine. I’m satisfied with the way we’re living now. Why change?’

Tricia turned to stare at Daddy, then shifted about to look at Mother, who smiled at her. Daddy put his arms around Tricia and pulled her close. Mother reached over and straightened a wisp of Tricia’s hair.

‘Tricia,’ Daddy said, ‘you may be a child, but you’re no longer a baby. You’re growing up. Before long, you’ll be a young woman. Young women and young men need to learn about the world in which they live. Mothers and fathers, and grandmas and grandpas teach children much about the world and about what is right and what is wrong. That’s fine, but knowledge about the world around you also can be given to at some other place. Do you know of another place where a youngster learns about the world?’

‘School?’ Tricia’s voice rose.

‘School.’ Daddy nodded slowly.

‘School.’ Mother’s soft voice repeated.

‘I’m going to go to school?’ Tricia wriggled from Daddy’s embrace, slid off the couch, and hop-skipped to the middle of the living room. Whirling to face her smiling parents, Tricia bounced with excitement.

Daddy motioned Tricia back to her place on the couch.

‘Our meeting is not finished,’ he said. ‘We have more to talk about.’

Tricia immediately stopped her bouncing. Meetings, she knew, were not to be interrupted by rude behavior. Climbing back onto the couch, she leaned back, folded her legs under her, and folded her arms. Only now her eyes were sparkling with excitement. Pressing her lips together tightly, she forced the no-nonsense business look back to her face.

‘OK,’ she said, I’m listening.’

‘We’ll tell you what to expect, Tricia,’ Mother said, ‘and, afterward, you may ask questions.’

Tricia nodded.

‘Not far from where we live here in Woodchuckaton,’ Mother began, ‘is the city of Portland.’

‘Right,’ Tricia cut in. ‘We’ve been to the city lots of times on shopping trips and for sightseeing and for visiting parks and.... ‘

‘Tricia.’ Mother gently put her hand on Tricia’s arm. ‘Concentrate on what we say. OK?’

Tricia looked sideways at her mother and her eyes twinkled. ‘You mean no more interruptions. Right?’

‘Right.’

‘OK, I’m switched to my listener.’

‘In Portland, and in all the cities and towns around it, are schools where children go to learn about the world. You’re going to be a student in one of those schools. You will attend every day except weekends and holidays. Is that clear to you?’

‘Yep.’

‘At the school are worktables, books with lots of pictures, playgrounds, games, and many things to do that are fun. Children, about the same age as you, will be there too. A grown-up will be in the room with you and the other children to teach and help you to understand all the new things you will do and see.’

Tricia was having a problem being a listener.

‘I think Tricia either wants to say something or ask a question.’ Daddy grinned. ‘Shall we give her the floor for a moment?’

‘Very well,’ Mother said.

The questions tumbled out of Tricia. ‘When will I start? What will I learn? What’s the teacher’s name? Will I get new clothes for school? What about...’

‘Wait a minute. Wait a minute.’ Daddy laughed. ‘Let’s take them one at a time. We can answer a few of your questions, and the teacher of your class will answer others.’

Mother turned Tricia to face her.

‘You start school in three days,’ she said. ‘They know you are coming, just as they know of the others who will be with you. What you learn will depend on your teachers and on you.’

Suddenly Tricia’s face drooped.

‘What about Bonnie?’ Her face clouded, and her voice changed almost to a whisper. She looked from her Mother to her Daddy.

Mother and Daddy glanced at each other. Daddy lifted Tricia up, placed her on his lap so that they faced each other. Their eyes met.

‘Tell me, Tricia,’ Daddy said as he drew her close and gave her a full all-around hug. ‘When we have a change in our lives in which you will be at school every day, where do you think Bonnie will be while you are away?’

‘Bonnie is my friend and we will be friends always.’ Tricia looked sad as she leaned her head on her Daddy’s chest. ‘She’ll be with me wherever I go. Maybe we won’t go flying as often as we do now, but I’ll know she is close by.’ Tricia raised her head. ‘Tomorrow,’ she said, ‘I’ll have a talk with Bonnie and explain the change to her. She will understand.’

Tricia grinned and added with a laugh, ‘and that will make me feel good.’

Tricia and her Mother and Daddy sat on the couch, talking about the changes that would come with school. There would be a new time to get up in the morning, dressing to go out, packing a school lunch and having a comb and brush kit, and things like that.

Tricia listened, and voiced her thoughts. Mother and Daddy listened carefully.

The meeting was a sharing.

After a while, Daddy and Tricia went to the dining room table and Mother brought cookies and milk. They sat at the table, munched and nibbled the cookies, sipped the milk, and talked some more.

Tricia yawned. Daddy rose, came around the table where Tricia sat, and picked her up. Mother kissed Tricia’s cheek as her head rested on Daddy’s shoulder.

Daddy carried Tricia down the long hallway, passed David’s room, and opened the door into her softly lit bedroom. Daddy lowered sleepy Tricia to her bed, tucked her in, and kissed her good night.

~~~

The Unseen Playmate

When children are playing alone on the green,
In comes the playmate that never was seen.
When children are happy and lonely and good,
The Friend of the Children comes out of the wood.

Nobody heard him, and nobody saw,
His is a picture you never could draw,
But he's sure to be present, abroad or at home,
When children are happy and playing alone.

He lies in the laurels, he runs on the grass,
He sings when you tinkle the musical glass;
Whene'er you are happy and cannot tell why,
The Friend of the Children is sure to be by!

He loves to be little, he hates to be big,
'Tis he that inhabits the caves that you dig;
'Tis he when you play with your soldiers of tin
That sides with the foe and never can win.

Tis he, when at night you go off to your bed,
Bids you go to sleep and not trouble your head;
For wherever they're lying, in cupboard or shelf,
'Tis he will take care of your playthings himself!
From A Child’s Garden of Verses
By Robert Louis Stevenson

~~~

(The second version)

David and Thunder

All the woodchucks in Woodchuckaton crawled deep into their burrows. The chipmunks crept under piles of chips. Even the beavers, over on the other side of town in Beaverton, stayed home.

It was raining. It had been raining all day, and here it was now, well into the afternoon. Certainly, it was time for the rain to move along to somewhere else.

Shifting about on the big red cushion, David stared out through the streams of rain that twisted down the outside of the windowpane to the sill. Sheets of water billowed along the street, one following close behind the other like a parade.

David heard his mother humming in the kitchen preparing the evening meal. The evening meal was special. Daddy left home for work early each day, before anyone else was awake. The evening meal was when they all came together for the first time each day as a family.

Mother hummed or sang often as he went about the house. David loved to listen, and, staring out the window, he hummed the melody. Their voices blended and they finished the song together.

The sounds of pots and pans and mixers also meant that Daddy would be arriving soon. When Daddy showed up, Tricia would wake from her afternoon nap, and then Daddy, Tricia and he would play and talk until it was time for him to help Mother set the table.

Meanwhile, David was restless. He felt his left foot falling asleep so he turned away from the window and jumped up and down to get rid of the tingling pins and needles. The tingling gone, he ran to the patio screen door in the dining room and peered into the back yard. He knew it would be raining there too, but at least the scenery was different. There was another reason too.

Leaning forward through the doorway so that he could see into the far right corner of the yard, David imagined the little stable under the oak tree where Thunder had his stall. Thunder was his personal flying unicorn. David waved and called out a greeting to his unicorn and, in his mind, Thunder answered by tossing his mane, pawing at the ground, and ruffling the feathers of his mighty wings. It was time for
adventure.

When Thunder, a flying unicorn, answered David that way, it carried only one message: Thunder wanted to fly. David sat on the floor, inside the patio doorway, and missed being with Thunder.

David glanced up at the sky again. The rain had changed to a fine misty drizzle and the clouds to light gray with patches of blue peeping through. A shaft of sunlight cut through the clouds and the patches of blue widened.



The rain stopped. Off in the distance a rainbow formed an arc across the sky. David dashed to the kitchen. ‘Mom, Mom,’ he said excitedly, tugging at her apron. ‘The rain is over. Thunder wants to play and so do I. May I go out to him?’

Mother knew, of course, that when David and his friend, Thunder, played together, Thunder would often nuzzle David. That would be Thunder’s invitation to David to climb up on to his back and twist his hands into Thunder’s rough white mane. Once that happened Mother was certain that Thunder would spread his feathered wings and they would leap to the skies.

Smiling to herself, Mother looked out through the kitchen window at the sky. The clouds were breaking up, but the grass was still wet, the ground was soggy, and the trees dripped.

‘Daddy will be home soon, David,’ she said, ‘and he’ll be looking for big hugs from Tricia and you. Then we’ll need to prepare the table for dinner. I’ll need your help. You know you have a job to do, don’t you?’

‘Oh, yes.’ David answered and he nodded. ‘But I won’t be gone long. Thunder and I have been cooped up all day. The rain is gone. I want to run and jump.’

‘...and fly.’ Mother’s eyes twinkled as David whirled and laughed. Mother smoothed his ruffled hair.
‘Well, maybe.’ David grinned as he hugged his mother.

‘I suppose you and Thunder do need some fresh air,’ Mother sighed. David rose and looked out the window again. ‘Wear your rain boots and red raincoat, and don’t go beyond Brett’s back yard next door. When Daddy comes home he’ll call you in.’

‘OK.’

David rushed to the hall closet and rummaged about among the shoes and boxes on the floor. In the far corner, the toe of a round red boot stuck out from under a large paper bag. That was one found. Pulling it out, David searched nearby for the other. There it was, behind the umbrella. Waving both boots high, David jump-skipped to the big cushion beneath the picture window, sat, and pulled them on. Mother came in with the raincoat and helped David into it.

Ready.

Dashing to the back yard doorway, David jumped the short step to the patio.

‘Thunder, Thunder,’ he shouted. ‘Come on.’ Let’s go.’

That was all Thunder needed. He came frisking and prancing out of his little stable, raising first one hoof and then the other as he came closer. He nuzzled David’s shoulder, and then unfolded and stretched his wings so they would be out of the way for David to climb aboard. That was the invitation David was waiting for.

Taking a tight hold on Thunder’s mane, David swung his leg across the unicorn’s back and he was on. Twisting both hands into the long rough hair David pulled himself forward until he was well out of the way of Thunder’s wings.

‘All set,’ David shouted. ‘Away we go!’

Thunder trotted to the far end of the yard until he was close to the fence. He faced about and began to run, faster and faster. His wings spread wide and with a leap they were in the air.

Up. Up. They spiraled around the old oak tree, rising higher with each loop. From far out, they dipped into a long glide and swooped down under the tree’s branches, around the swing that grandpa made for David and his sister, and up and around again. They flew along the top of the back fence, lifted, and cut across the roof of their house from one end to the other. Twisting about, Thunder hovered above the front yard.

Along the horizon, David saw the city of Portland hidden in rain curtains and mists.

Leaning forward, David spoke into Thunder’s ear. ‘Let’s fly over to Brett’s back yard and see if he and Herbie his Lion friend are at home.’

Thunder snorted his understanding. He could talk, but did so only when it was absolutely necessary. He had a low, muffled snort so as not to startle people and often spoke his thoughts that way. Also, he used facial expressions to show his feelings. It was a lot simpler, and David always understood.

Curving around toward Brett’s yard, Thunder cleared the top of the fence, swooped, and held steady just above Herbie the Lion’s house.
‘Herbie,’ David called out. ‘It’s Thunder and David. We’re just flying by today and stopped to say ‘hi’ to Brett and you. Come on out.’

Herbie the Lion stuck his shaggy head out of his house, blinked, and opened his jaws in an enormous drowsy yawn. Looking up, he grinned and said, ‘Hi, there. Where are you off to?’

‘Oh,’ replied David, ‘we’re keeping close to home today. Rain, y’know. Also, Daddy will be home soon and I want to be with Tricia to welcome him and play and talk. I’ll also be helping my mother get ready for dinner.’

‘Quite right. Quite right,’ Herbie said, shaking his head wisely, ‘that is as it should be.’

‘Where’s Brett?’ David asked.

‘Brett and his mother are at the library,’ Herbie answered. ‘Brett’s books were due to be returned today.’

‘I see. Well, Herbie, we must be off. Please tell Brett we stopped by to say ‘hi’ and that we’ll see him another time.’

‘Will do.’ Herbie the Lion yawned again and pulled his shaggy head back in.

Thunder’s wings stretched, beat faster, and they rose higher and higher. Soon they were looking down on Brett’s and David’s homes and all the other houses on their street. David saw the glowing signs of the shopping mall a few blocks away. The mists and rain curtains still hid the tall buildings of downtown Portland in the distance.

Looking toward the end of the street David saw Daddy’s car turn the corner.

‘Daddy’s home. Daddy’s home,’ David shouted. ‘Time to head back, Thunder.’

Thunder snorted softly and dipped into his landing approach. The circling brought them lower each time around. Finally, coming in over the fence, Thunder tilted his wings for landing and bent his legs slightly to soften his landing. David tightened his grip.

Close to the soft earth near the patio, Thunder’s wings beat the air. He hovered for an instant, and then lowered until all four hooves touched down. A four-point landing. The flight was over.

David slipped off Thunder’s smooth back and wrapped his arms around the unicorn's neck. He reached back and patted Thunder’s rump. Thunder’s front right hoof scraped the ground and he answered with another snort.

Daddy stuck his head out through the patio doorway.

‘Hi, there,’ he laughed, ‘what’s going on?’

‘Out and about, Dad, been flying, don’tcha know?’ David answered. ‘Thunder and I just got in from a short flight around the yard and over Brett’s place.’

‘I see,’ Daddy said. ‘Well, I’m pleased you made it back in time for our get-together before dinner. Tricia is up. Come on in while I get her. We’ll play and talk for a minute before you help set the table.’

Daddy smiled down at David.

‘David,’ he said. ‘Your mother, you and I are also going to have a talk this evening. A meeting; very important. Coming in?’
‘Yup, Daddy, just about ready.’

He turned back to Thunder and, in his mind, rubbed the unicorn’s nose. Turning away, he crossed the patio and stopped at the short step to the dining room. Daddy opened the screen door and bent over. David wrapped his arms around Daddy’s neck. Daddy rose, lifted David as he straightened, and caught David’s rain boots as they slipped from his feet. He stood them up to dry outside under the eaves to dry.
Holding his Dad’s hand, they started into the house.

David hesitated, and glanced back. He imagined Thunder gracefully fold his wings along his flanks, lower his head and nibble at the soft, green grass. It was Thunder’s dinner time too.

~

With dinner behind them, David joined Mother in clearing the table. Nesting one plate into another and picking up a few utensils he carried them to the kitchen counter near the dishwasher.

Daddy rose from his chair, went to the kitchen, and dampened a cloth. On his way back to the dining room he winked at David as they passed. David turned to watch.

Daddy tiptoed behind Tricia’s high chair. Tricia, having finished eating, busily rolled leftover peas round and round her food dish. Daddy quickly reached around and with the damp cloth wiped breadcrumbs, mashed peas and potatoes, and smears of chocolate pudding from Tricia’s face and from behind her ears.

Tricia howled and twisted away, but Daddy was ready for her. Moments later, her face, hands and arms cleared of food - well, as much as could be expected with only a damp cloth - Daddy hoisted Tricia from her chair and lowered her to the floor.

Looking back over her shoulder as she scampered on hands and knees into the living room, Tricia tangled with David’s fire engine. She rolled over on her back, looked up at Daddy, and laughed. The laugh stopped Daddy from rushing forward; the tangle had not been hurtful.

Daddy stooped and pushed the fire engine toward Tricia, then joined her on the floor. They put their heads together, and as their hands touched and explored the fire engine they explained to each other how the different parts worked.

David, drawn from his work by the sounds of Tricia’s tumble, peered into the living room. Seeing all was well, he smiled, and carried another armful of dishes and tableware to the kitchen counter.

‘They’re busy,’ he said.

Mother nodded as he spooned leftovers into containers for the refrigerator.

‘It’s always good to relax after dinner,’ she said. ‘When we’re done here we’ll join them. Then, in a little while, I’ll bathe Tricia and put her to bed. You will take your bath, and then you, Daddy and I will have our meeting.’

‘Daddy did say something about a meeting when I came in from the yard,’ David said. ‘What’s up?’

‘Let’s just wait and see,’ Mother smiled mysteriously as they loaded the dishwasher
.
~

David skipped along the hallway that led from his room to the family room. Little sister was down for the night; he, bathed, hair washed, dried and brushed, was squeaky clean in his blue pajamas.

David squeezed a space for himself on the couch between Mother and Daddy and they eased aside to make room. Daddy put his newspaper aside and Mother slipped a card into the book she had been reading to mark her place.

Glancing up at one, then the other, David put on his serious business face.

‘Meeting time?’
‘Meeting time,’ Daddy said.
‘What will we talk about?’ David said as he folded his arms across his chest, straightened his legs, and fixed his eyes on the opposite wall to help his concentration.

Family meetings were important. The meetings were still only for the three of them. When Tricia was old enough to share in family business, she would join the meetings.

Daddy said, ‘we’re going to have a change in the way we live.’

‘A change?’ David frowned. ‘Everything is going fine. I’m satisfied with the way we’re living now. Why change?’

David turned to stare at Daddy, and then shifted about to look at Mother, who smiled at him. Daddy put his arms around David and pulled him close. Mother reached over and straightened a wisp of his hair.

‘David,’ Daddy said, ‘you may be a child, but you’re no longer a baby. You’re growing up. Before long, you’ll be a young man. Young men and young women need to learn about the world in which they live. Mothers and fathers and grandmas and grandpas teach children much about the world and about what is right and what is wrong. That’s fine, but knowledge about the world around you can also be given to you from somewhere else. Do you know of another place where a youngster learns about the world?’

‘School?’ David’s voice rose.

‘School.’ Daddy nodded slowly.

‘School.’ Mother’s soft voice repeated.

‘I’m going to go to school?’ David wriggled from Daddy’s embrace, slid off the couch, and hop-skipped to the middle of the living room.

Whirling to face his smiling parents, David bounced with excitement.

Daddy motioned David back to the couch.

‘Our meeting is not finished,’ he said. ‘We have more to talk about.’
David immediately stopped bouncing. Meetings, he knew, were not to be interrupted by rude behavior. Climbing back onto the couch, he leaned back, stuck his legs straight out, and folded his arms. Only now his eyes were sparkling with excitement. Pressing his lips together, he forced the no-nonsense business look back to his face.

‘OK,’ he said, I’m listening.’

‘We’ll tell you what to expect, David,’ Mother said, ‘and, afterward, you may ask questions.’

David nodded.

‘Not far from where we live,’ Mother began, ‘is the city of Portland.’

‘Right,’ David cut in. ‘We’ve been to the city lots of times on shopping trips and for sightseeing and for visiting parks and...’

‘David,’ Mother put her hand on David’s arm. ‘Concentrate on what we say. OK?’

David looked sideways at his mother and his eyes twinkled. ‘You mean no more interruptions. Right?’

‘Right.’


‘OK, I’m switched to my listener.’

‘In Portland, and in all the cities and towns around it are schools where children go to learn about the world. You’re going to be a student in one of those schools. You will attend every day except weekends and holidays. Is that clear to you?’

‘Yep.’
‘At the school are worktables, books with lots of pictures, playgrounds, games, and many things to do that are fun. Children who are the same age as you will be there too. A grown-up will be in the room with you and the other children to teach and help you to understand the things you will do and see.’

David was having a problem being a listener.

‘I think David wants to say something or ask a question.’ Daddy grinned. ‘Shall we give him the floor for a moment?’

‘Very well,’ Mother said.

The questions tumbled from David. ‘When will I start? What will I learn? What’s the teacher’s name? Will I get new clothes? What about...?’

‘Wait a minute. Wait a minute.’ Daddy laughed. ‘Let’s take them one at a time. We can answer a few of your questions. Your teacher will tell you and the other students what you need to know.’

Mother turned David to face her.

‘You start school in three days,’ he said. ‘They know you are coming, just as they know of the others who will be with you. What you learn will depend on your teacher and on you.’

Suddenly David’s face drooped. In a low voice he asked, ‘What about Thunder?’

Mother and Daddy glanced at each other. Daddy picked David up and settled him on his lap so that they faced each other. Their eyes met.
‘Tell me, David,’ Daddy said as he drew him close and gave him a full all-around hug, ‘When we make this change in our lives in which you will be at school every day, where do you think Thunder will be while you are away?’

‘Thunder is my friend and we will be friends always,’ David’s voice was almost a whisper as he leaned his head on his Daddy’s chest. ‘He’ll be with me wherever I go. Maybe we won’t go flying as often as we do now, but I’ll know he is close by.’

David raised his head, grinned, and added with a laugh, ‘Tomorrow morning I’ll have a talk with Thunder and explain to him what’s happening. He’ll understand, ‘and that’ll make me feel good.’

David, Mother and Daddy sat on the couch a while longer, talking about the changes that would come with school. There would be a new time to get up in the morning, dress to go out, pack a school lunch and things like that.

David listened, and voiced his thoughts to which Mommy and Daddy listened carefully. The meeting was a sharing.

After a while, Daddy and David went to the dining room table and Mother brought cookies and milk. They sat at the table, munched and nibbled the cookies, sipped the milk, and talked some more.

David yawned. Daddy rose, came around to where David sat, and picked him up. Mother kissed David’s cheek as his head rested on Daddy’s shoulder. Daddy carried David down the long hallway, past Tricia’s room, and opened the door into David’s softly lit bedroom. Daddy lowered sleepy David to his bed, tucked him in, and kissed him good night.

~~~~~