Imaginary Friend

The Misadventures of Nicholas Barkley 4

by Arkangel

Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program "Big Valley" are the creations of Four Star/Republic Pictures and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended by the author. The ideas expressed in this story are copyrighted to the author.

Victoria heard Nicholas talking in the parlor, walking to the door she asked, "Nicholas, who are you talking to?"

"Monster." Nicholas said simply.

"Monster? And who, pray tell is Monster?"

"My friend. He's right here, mama, don't ya see him?" Nicholas asked waving his right hand to his side.

"Oh.....well, "Thinking hard she added, "How do you do, Monster?" Victoria said with a curtsy.

Nicholas giggled, "He said your funny."

Victoria smiled politely, "Come along, Nicholas, it's time for your snack." She said stepping around to Nicholas' right hand to take it.

"Mama! You stepped on him."

"Sorry......sorry." Victoria frowned, "Is he alright?"

"Yeah, he's tough."

"Good, now lets get that snack. Silas made your favorite, sugar cookies and milk."

"Can Monster have some too?"

"I guess he can." Turning to thin air she added, "Come along, Monster, you can have one too."

"He wants more than one, he wants ten and a big glass of milk."

"Well, lets start with one, then if he wants more, he can have them. You need to save some for Jarrod, you know."

Walking her son and his imaginary friend into the kitchen, she noticed that Jarrod was already seated and munching happily on a cookie. "You sit here, Nicholas and I'll get your milk and a plate."

"Where's Monster's seat?"

"He can sit here." Victoria said pulling a chair next to Nicholas.

"Who is Monster?" Jarrod asked taking a large drink of milk.

"My friend."

"I don't see no one. What's he look like?" Jarrod asked puzzled.

"He's got purple fur and big, long teeth.....and.....and yellow eyes and a green nose."

"Sounds pretty ugly."

Nicholas narrowed his eyes, "Monster don't like to be called ugly."

"Ugly.....ugly......ugly." Jarrod teased.

Nicholas turned as if he were listening to someone then laughed, "Monster said you better not go to sleep tonight."

Jarrod's eyes got wide.

"Enough of that, Nicholas, please tell Monster to refrain from threatening your brother." Victoria scolded. "Now eat."

"Mama, you didn't get a plate and a glass of milk for Monster, he's really hungry."

"Forgive me, Monster." Victoria returned with another glass and plate for their invisible guest. "You......three finish up, then you can go play out back, I'm going to gather the laundry for cleaning." She said as she left the kitchen.

"You know there's no one there, don't you?" Jarrod said.

"There is too. You just can't see him."

"I can't see him because he's not there."

"Nope, you can't see him because he don't like you."

"Mother can't see him either."

"She can, she just don't want you to know."

"That's silly."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Children, you's best be finishin' up and get outside and play." Silas gently said staving off further bickering.

"Silas, Monster likes you, can you see him?"

Silas looked hard at the empty chair then smiled, "If'n you says he's there, Mr. Nicholas, then I spect he's there."

Nicholas looked at Jarrod and stuck out his tongue.

Jarrod sighed and threw up his hands. "I'm going outside." As Jarrod got up and started for the back door, he tripped and stumbled. Turning angry eyes at his little brother he said, "You tripped me!"

"Did not.....Monster did it." Nicholas grinned.

"Well, Monster better watch his back." Jarrod frowned then left.

Nicholas spoke softly to his 'friend', "It's okay, Monster, he's really a good brother, he just thinks he knows everythin'."

"Mr. Nicholas, you's finish up, now." Silas said clearing Jarrod's empty plate and glass.

"Monster wants another cookie."

"Well, if'n he wants some lunch, he best not eat no mo'." Silas laughed.

"He said okay, he'll wait for lunch." Nicholas said cramming the rest of his cookie in his small mouth. Getting up, he and his 'friend' made their way out the door and onto the porch.

"Come on and I'll push you." Jarrod said standing next to the swing hanging from a large tree in the back.

Nicholas smiled widely and jumped off the back porch. "Can Monster swing too?"

"No......I'm not pushing something that's not there."

"I'll push him, he don't want you pushin' him, you'd probably push him to high."

"Just get on." Jarrod said rolling his eyes.

"Don't be mean." Nicholas growled, "Monster don't like you bein' mean to me."

"What's he gonna do?" Jarrod taunted. "And I wasn't being mean."

"He'll think of sumton." Nicholas stated with a shrug, "You gonna push me or stand there and jaw?"

"Push you." Jarrod conceded. "Hold on."

A few minutes later, Victoria watched as Jarrod and Nicholas laughed and played in the back yard. Nicholas' giggles of joy and yells of 'higher Jarrod' floated through the air as Jarrod pushed him higher. Feeling a presence behind her she spoke without turning, "Silas?"

"Yes'm Mrs. Barkley?"

"You didn't......see Monster, did you?"

Silas gave a small laugh, "No ma'am, don't reckon I's did.

Victoria laughed nervously, "Sometimes I wonder, with as much mischief as Nicholas get's into, if he doesn't have a little help."

"That boys, he gots a good imagination. Just like Mr. Jarrod at that age."

"Yes, your right. Maybe I should remind Jarrod of his 'friend' Sir George. Perhaps he wouldn't pick on Nicholas so."

"Perhaps." Silas said kindly.

"Did you ever have an imaginary friend, Silas?"

"Yes'm."

"Did he get you in mischief?"

"Oh yes'm."

Victoria turned and looked at her friend and houseman, "Then I guess we should keep an eye on those two."

"I 'spect you's be right on that, Mrs. Barkley." Silas smiled, "The ways I's figure it, one little rascal is a hands full, but two......"

"You took the words right out of my mouth, Silas." Victoria laughed as she followed Silas back into the kitchen.

THE END