NanoWriMo 2009 - Fic 5

[deathpixie]

Geoff watched his son walk past, carefully balancing two glasses of milk and a plate of cookies on a tray, heading for the stairs. Brow furrowed, he looked to his wife.

"Jean? Where's Toby off to?"

"The attic, dear." Jean didn't look up from her book, but as always knew exactly what was going on.

"The attic? Why?"

"His imaginary friend lives up there." There was a strangled noise from Geoff and she lay her book down in her lap. "What?"

"Isn't he a little old for that sort of thing?"

"He's eight, Geoff. And it's better than the monster in the closet, don't you think? Remember the nightmares?"

"I... suppose. But two glasses of milk and a plate of cookies? Won't that make him sick this close to bedtime?"

"It hasn't yet." Jean picked up her book again and looked at her husband over the top of it. "It has been going on six months, dear."

"It has?" Geoff paused, nonplussed at how he'd missed it. Then he shrugged. It wasn't important, not if Jean thought it was okay. He pushed his glasses back up so that he could focus on the television, Toby and his errand forgotten.

***

"You were really thirsty tonight. Would you like some of my milk too?"

"Grar."

"Here. Don't spill it. Mom hates it when we leave a mess."

A green clawed hand reached out to take the offered glass and Toby sat back, munching meditatively on a cookie. Six months since he'd ventured up here and befriended the Thing in the Attic. Six months of peaceful sleep, the Monster Under the Bed suitably cowed. Mom was right.

It did help to have friends in high places.

Inspired by this comic.