Freddy's Friend Is Kinda Different
Issue #622 Keith’s SciFi Musings Sunday, June 2, 2024
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“Where you goin’, Freddy?”
“Downstairs. Look for Sherman.”
“But your mother’s about to put dinner on the table. Why don’t you give her a hand, then you can go downstairs after we eat.”
“But…”
“Boy, I don’t wanna hear it. Now get in there and help your mother. You can set the table. The basement ain’t goin nowhere, and I don’t wanna hear another word about that Sherman.”
“But something’s wrong, Dad. I think he may be in some kinda trouble because…”
“Freddy.”
“Mom?”
“Dammit, now you’ve got your mother all upset. You see that? Freddy, you’re ten years old, which means you’re getting too old for all this nonsense. Your mother and I been playing along with you these past few months because we know it’s been hard for you making friends at the new school, but I think maybe we…”
“But Sherman is, my friend, Daddy! And now he’s gone and you guys don’t even care! He could be hurt, or maybe lost somewhere…”
“Lonnie, please do something.”
“I’m tryin’, Vonetta! Don’t you think I’m tryin? You’re the one said just last week maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing him having this Sherman for a friend. Child ain’t neither one of us ever seen or heard supposed to be living in the basement of our own house. You the one said…”
“Fine. Fine. So I didn’t think it would be a problem last week. You win. The child has always had a crazy imagination so maybe I thought if we just let him have this instead of stomping on his creativity. But now…”
“Stomping on his creativity? Vonetta, having an imaginary friend in the basement got nothing to do with creativity. It’s got something to do with - and I know you don’t wanna hear this - but it’s got something to do with him needing some kinda help. I told you this before but you…”
“The child is not crazy, Lonnie. Just because he’s not like the other kids don’t mean he’s crazy. Maybe he’s just missing his big brother Felton. Maybe…
“That boy was only two years old when Felton got killed. Barely even knew him well enough to miss him, so I don’t know how…what was that? Vonetta? What the hell was that?”
“Sherman’s back, Daddy. He’s coming upstairs.”
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