Immagination

We have had quite a few imaginary friends travel through our home over the years. Rebekah with Noodle the alien was the first. He showed up after I encouraged her to eat her carrots one day explaining carrots are good for your eyes. Immediately after lunch the then three year old informed me there was an alien sleeping on the couch and the rest is history. Rebekah and Noodle had many lively adventures and there were times when her conversations with him were so lifelike it was as though he was really there.
Katelyn followed up Noodle with Petunia, a very large "boy lion with a big mane" (think Aslan big for those of you who have seen the recent Narnia movies). Katelyn was also around three and Petunia showed up to explain the strange noise she heard while playing by herself one afternoon. He helped her with the transition as we moved to Missouri bounding up the stairs and leaping onto her bed to cuddle with her at night. A couple of times I even caught her feeding him under the table at dinner (evidently lions don't like beans either as they were still there). Petunia has ridden on the top of the van to church and accompanied her on many outings.
Joshua had a very brief visit from an imaginary ghost named Curtains who bore an uncanny resemblance to Casper. Curtains was his companion when needing to venture anywhere in the house by himself. Putting his clothes away, cleaning up his toys, or moving from one floor to another without a sibling or parent. Curtains also explained any noises or shadows that might make him nervous. Joshua's Curtains was here just long enough to give him confidence in himself and then left.
Benjamin has now inherited Curtains. His Curtains is a person whether ghost or not we're not sure. Curtains #2 has fingers for tickling, he also has hair, feet, and a face, sometimes he is bigger than Benjamin and sometimes smaller. Now for all the imaginary friend conversations I have heard in my day I've never heard arguing, until now, "Curtains, it's your fault I dropped that rock! Why did you make me drop it?" and "Curtains don't do that!" And yes I have checked in on them to make sure they were getting along.
Why all the information about my children's imaginary friends? Because Benjamin passed along a Curtains story that only he could come up with. I thought I would share it with all of you.

Benjamin: "Mom Curtains went to church on Sunday."
Me: "Oh, what did he do at church?"
B: "He sat on the bench and ate some bread and drank some water."
Me: "Then what happened?"
B: "Those guys up there called his name and he got to go up and talk in the microphone!"
Me: "That's exciting! What did he say?"
B: "He said, 'OOH ME BUM!!'"
Boy that lucky Curtains, I bet they never ask him to speak in church again.

I love this age with their vivid imaginations. It's a little sad as they get older and their imaginary friends are replaced with real ones. However they served their purpose at the time they were needed. Thank you Noodle, Petunia, and Curtains (even though it sounds like #2 you need to stop picking on Benjamin), you've been great friends and well loved and you can live with me forever!