Make Believe?

 “Do you see it, Angie?”

“See what?” Angie squatted down next to the child and looked around.

“The dragon right over there. It is huge and green...”

Are you sure it's not purple, Tabatha ”?

“Purple? Why would a dragon be purple? This isn't some children's educational program this is real.”

“Oh, right. Okay, let me just go and say hi then.”

“Are you daft, woman? What are you going to do jump off the castle wall?”

“We are in a castle? Of course, we are in a castle. Just this morning we were in the woods surrounding a castle. I must have fallen asleep because I don't remember the half day's journey to actually reach the castle. Nor do I remember entering it.”

Tabatha sighed and shook her head at her friend. “You weren't asleep, Angel. You must have been daydreaming again.”

“That is probably true. Most days I miss so much I can't be sure where the day began or where it ended. It's almost like I'm not real.”

“There you go being daft again. Of course, you're real. Not only are you real, but you really are an angel. See the wings on your back?”

Angie looked back over her shoulder. “I don't remember them being that big before.”

“That's because yesterday you weren't an angel. You were a pixie. That would have just annoyed the dragon having a pixie buzzing around its head. But today you are more like St. George, only you don't kill dragons and neither do I. We just make friends with them.”

Angie looked at Tabatha in horror. “Why on the Goddesses green earth would you want to befriend a fire-breathing Pterodactyl?”

“Because here I am the goddess and I said so.”

“Okay, Tabby. Whatever you say. If you want to befriend a dragon we will befriend a dragon. Why exactly are we doing this again?”

“It's either we befriend one that can eat the monster in the closet or the monster eats me.”

“Right, You do know we are in the closet right now?”

“We are not! We are on the parapets of a castle, and you are going to befriend that dragon because you are my friend and you want to see that monster dead!”

“Okay, and where is the monster currently? Even with my magic I apparently am not enough to defeat it. I don't want it jumping out at me as I go to talk to your dragon.”

“It's under the bed, in the room, just through those doors.”

Tabbatha pointed her Halloween costume toward the closet door before ducking behind the remains of her last living room performance.

“Okay, so over the castle wall, it is. Any helpful tips?”

“Don't piss it off.”

“Language Tabby. I am an angel after all.”

“Right, sorry.” Tabbatha watched as Angel disappeared over the side of the wall and reappeared by the river that fed the mote to the castle. The dragon was just on the other side and all she could do was pray Angel made it in time. She could hear the monster stirring. If Angel didn't hurry she was going to follow her over the wall. That wasn't any safer she knew, but at least it wasn't stuck in here. The monster with her stepbrother's face was mean and liked to hurt her. She knew it was a monster because any other time her stepbrother was sweet and kind. But at night when their parents were out or at work the monster with his face showed up and hurt her in ways no one could see. This had to work. Angel had to befriend the dragon for her, or it would happen again tonight.

Tabby watched as Angie flew back over the wall. “He said he would do what he could, but he's kinda scared of monsters himself.”

“I guess we are on our own then. Time to run away.”

“Where will we go, Tabatha?”

“We will go home. Back to the old house. The one Daddy died in. Mom still hasn't brought herself to sell it, it's only a few miles from here and that will be enough to get someone to help us.”

“Why not just tell her?”

“I tried that and the new daddy said I was making up stories. His son would never do that and since I do like to make up stories...”

Tabatha let her words fade off as she tapped the stage prop she was hiding behind.

“You can't wait till Monday and tell a teacher because he will hurt you again if you do?” Angie asked as a look of concern and intense concentration crossed her face.

"You got it. Let's get out of here before Mom and new Daddy leaves.”

“Do you really think this will work?”

“Only if that nice police officer who came to our class last year finds us. Well, anyone really except Mom and new Daddy.”

“Don't forget Todd we need him not to find you either.”

“Aw, Angie did you have to go and say his name. That is a surefire way to summon him.”

“Sorry, maybe this time it won't. Okay, so how do we get out of here without getting caught before your parents leave?”

“We make a pillow fort and pretend to hide in it. Then we run out and hug them goodbye as we grab some goldfish crackers for snacks. They will leave us alone then.”

“You know you are really smart for a five-year-old.”

“Thanks, Angie, You are really smart too.”

“Of course I am. I am your imagination after all. Let's save us, shall we?”

“Right! You go get the crackers while I say goodnight. Pillow fort is already built from last night so... We are good to go there.”

“Okay meet you at the back door in five?”

“You got it, Angie.”

“Be careful Tabby I won't be there to help if he catches you trying to leave.”

"You too Angie. See you in five; I hope.”

***

“What happened! Tabby!”

“I'm sorry Carla. I didn't see her. She just came out of nowhere.”

Carla dropped to her knees and cradled her daughter in her arms. This couldn't be happening, not again. Slowly Tabatha opened her eyes. “It's okay Angie. Stay with Mommy. At least this way the monster won't bother us anymore.”