Dorthy’s Rocket Man

I always knew this day would come. It’s a part of the job. The rain slapped the ground; the moist smell invaded my nose. I dodged each of the people on the city streets. They couldn’t see me anyway, only Dorthy could. Today my kid forgot me;Dorthy was her name. She had bouncing brown curls, eyes bigger than the continent, and her imagination trumped the galaxy. Dorthy gave me a lavender astronaut suit, it was her favorite color. She had finally let go of my purple gloves. She remembered me until she was ten and even then she was the best kid any imaginary friend could ever have.

Tears rolled down my cheek. I wiped the snot away from my nose. I lifted my head and saw the oasis of greenery, me and Dorthy’s favorite place. It was where we had our deep sea battle with villainous pirates, space adventures, and quests with woodland elves. The tears became more constant.I sat myself onto a park bench and my eyes became wells. My insides were tangling together and I choked on each breath. I lowered my head so the dark man ahead of me couldn’t see my tears. Then a peculiar sensation rang throughout my body. The man had sat exactly where I was on the bench. I was truly invisible, a ghost, and a fragment of the past. I was no one to everyone, except Dorthy. I knew then I couldn’t let her forget me. I needed her, and she needed me.

I sprang up from my stolen seat; my feet had a mind of their own. I was breaking every rule in the book, but my mind was moving a mile a minute and there was no way to stop it. Our atypical friendship meant everything to me; I knew she did not need anyone else. The first time she brought me into existence, her parents were battling like lions for food. It was her first time seeing the dark side of this world. I appeared out of thin air and reminded her beauty still existed. She held my hand and we leaped from the window. We soared over her neighbourhood and explored distant magic lands. I told her that Mom was an explorer and played with her when Mom came home smelling like whisky. From that moment on I built a dam for her emotions, and wiped her eyes everytime Mom would disappear.

My head was tilted up towards the sky as I strided through the concrete paths. But this time I didn’t dodge through figures on the sidewalk. My feet graced along a Red Carpet knowing I’d get my girl back. I was not just a phantom aimlessly trudging along. I passed through the concrete jungle to find my former home. Dorthy lived in an enormous brick apartment building with thousands of souls. My hands latched onto the fire escape and I lifted myself up to my old window and peered through. Dad was yelling at Mom. Light bounced off of his tears. Mom’s pungent breath reached me. Where was Dorthy? I walked through the wall and circled around Mom. There were no lights behind her eyes. Divorced papers laid on the kitchen table, only half signed.

Dorthy wasn’t in her room. How could I forget it was her first day of 5th grade? Her room smelled of lavender and dreams. The walls were lined with painted solar systems and photos from the years. Her stuffed bunny laid on the bed. I petted the soft fur. I helped Dorthy pick Bunny out after her first day of kindergarten. That first day of school Dorthy sat alone at lunch and no one played with her at recess. Why did no one want to be friends with Dorthy? She always let other kids borrow her crayons and she radiated sunshine. Dad took her out for a treat when he saw her crying in the carpool line. I can’t believe she had left Bunny here. I knew she needed him too. Bunny’s paw held mine and I led him out of the apartment. Mom was gone when I left.

I tucked Bunny inside my helmet to ensure he stayed soft for her. We skipped down the street while I held Bunny’s hand. The trees danced to the rhythm of the metropolis. The birds chirped and the cars sang,but no person seemed to care for the music though. Dorthy always did. She’d point out how all the cars had faces and she’d whisper in my ear,“They are singing to us”, and then we’d smile like two clowns. I started near her school, only one more block. Butterflies crowded in my stomach. I approached the red school building. Chatter of children crowded my ears. Then I heard it.

“Dorothy you’re the seeker now!” I rushed towards the playground. Dorothy’s laughter filled the air, but for once I wasn’t the one who incited it. She chased another girl in a lavender dress. Her blond curls matched Dorthy’s. They were like two dolls who’d be sold together in a store. The rain stopped. My heart bursted and the sun caught on fire. She was her Dorthy now. Dorthy didn’t need Bunny to get through the day. The girl in the lavender dress was attached to her at the heart. My eyes became a waterfall, which moistened my cheeks and filled a river. But I couldn’t contain my smile.

I took Bunny out of the bag and gave him a kiss and one last pet. I sauntered through the school to her classroom and kneeled down at Dorthy’s cubby and placed Bunny inside. I closed my eyes and ascended towards the sun. One day she’d visit me there.