A Foster’s Fantasy. Deep Under The House
She was 22 when love came into her life.
Chapter 2: She was 22 when love came into her life.
She was 22 when love came into her life, in the form of an 8-year-old boy. She was crushed. It was impossible, she knew it immediately. She couldn’t ignore him; she couldn’t push him away (though she knew that she should).
Something inside her soul was dying. She had fallen in love with a child that wasn’t hers. That could never be hers. So, she would be his friend. Just a friend who was older, and her lonely soul shriveled just the tiniest bit more.
Mac had been a lonely little boy when he created the greatest Imaginary Friend of all time. Mac had a brother he hated and a busy mom. Lonely in a house of three, then Bloo came! Protected him against the Terrible Terrance, Bloo made his life a joy. Then his mom made him send Bloo away. Horrible, horrible thing to do to a child who isn’t ready. But he met Frankie.
He met Frankie.
He was a little boy and she was an adult woman. He was allowed to have a crush on her… but not allowed to love her. To really love her… He loved her. He knew it. He was still a child, loving his mom was OK, loving his brother (if he wasn’t such a rat!) would have been normal. But the love he felt for Frankie… wasn’t OK, would never be OK.
He could still see her, be her friend. That was all.
And his lonely soul shriveled just the tiniest bit more.
There was a lonely little girl, age 11. She scared away anyone who might have been a friend. She couldn’t help it!
In another time she would have been raised to be the village shaman, healer, teacher. She would have been taught to use her powers to protect and care for her people. Even after she died, her bones would have been revered and carried as a totem of her tribe.
In a later time, she would have been burned or stoned or drowned as a witch. Her bones buried at a crossroads at midnight without a marker. Holly stuffed in her skull’s mouth to keep her ghost from cursing travelers.
Her name (or the one she mostly used) was ‘Goo’. She was able to tap into the deep magic remaining in the world, but all she knew how to do was craft Imaginary friends.
Three very lonely people. A woman, a boy and a witch (for lack of a better word).
Frankie had forgotten the tunnels. “How could that be?!?” She had played in them endlessly as a child, whenever she could sneak away from her chores (and that terrible rabbit who didn’t love her, didn’t like her and was the boss of her!) Hours and hours, she spent… or it seemed like that. Coming away from the warren of tunnels and secret rooms she found that only a short time had passed.
Watches stopped working down there. Cell phones went unanswered. A child could tap into the hidden pool of magic and live any life they could imagine. Imaginaries for some reason, wouldn’t go near the tunnels. Maybe the magic was too concentrated or there were evil spirits…
Of course, the adults didn’t like the tunnels, “Young lady, they’re all going to collapse some day and the entire Home will go crashing down and crush you!” Grandmother had warned her, then bolted the entrance shut.
Adults didn’t like the magic. Didn’t trust the children who did.
There was always another way in. Behind a clock, under a bed, in a pantry. Little Frances had been warned a hundred times and ignored them ninety-nine times. Then maybe she grew too old. She forgot.
Mac & Goo came running to her. “FlashlightsFlashlightsWeFoundSomethingAHiddenPanelIn…”
“Slow down Goo! Mac, what is she saying?” Frankie laughed.
We found a hidden door in the second-floor library, there’s a long staircase twisting down through the house, we need flashlights. It’s gonna’ be great! There are tunnels and caves and stuff.”
Her first thought was to say, “Young man, they’re all going to collapse some day and the entire Home will go crashing down and crush you!” She resisted. Taking their hands, all she said was “Show me!” She became as excited as they were. Memories began to come back.