Sunday, October 19, 2008

IMAGINARY FRIENDS - Page 44

“I’m fine,” Jeff said as soon as he regained his powers of speech. “I’m fine, I’ve never been – ”

And then the hand came back.

Without a second thought, Jeff lunged across the table!

The hand saw him, or sensed him, or whatever, and pulled up short.

Jeff flung out his arm as he sailed through the air. He almost had it – was mere inches away –

The hand darted back out of reach.

CRASH! Jeff slammed into the table, arm outstretched, and watched the little pink fingers disappear under the tablecloth.

The hand was gone.

But that wasn’t the worst of it. It took Jeff a second to realize what had happened, and exactly where he was: lying chest down in a platter of eggs.

He stood up and looked down at his front. Eggs and hotcakes were plastered to his robe and pajamas.

“I’m fine, I’m fine, I just slipped.”

Granny Jobson leaned over to help pick off the food. He stepped back, out of her reach.

“No, I want this, I’m fine, that’s why I got it.”

He scraped the food off his clothes and onto the plate. He pulled a sausage out of his pajama top pocket and took a bite.

“See? Everybody just calm down, okay? I’m fine.”

Elise’s earlier look of amusement had now become out-and-out worry.

“Jeff…are you alright?”

“YES. I am FINE.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m fine! I’m – ”

And then it suddenly appeared again. Creeping over the tablecloth.

The chubby little hand.

Jeff just stared at it.

“…fine,” Jeff said, gritting his teeth.

“It’s just that this is a little out of character for you.”

The hand reached up between Elise and Nana, grabbed a grapefruit half, and dragged it down to the depths on the other side of the table.

No one else noticed.

“Yes, Jeffrey, you’re acting shamefully,” Grandmother Tanner rebuked him.

Jeff watched the hand reappear, take a fistful of eggs, and dart back down.

“I’m FIIINE,” Jeff said.

Whoops – there went the salt shaker.


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Copyright © 2008 Darren Pillsbury. All rights reserved.

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