My Best Friend Is Invisible (8 page)

I turned to the door and pointed to it. “Get—”

Dad stood in the doorway, his face filled with concern. “Sammy, I’m sorry,
son. But you’re too old to have an imaginary friend,” he said softly.

“No, Dad. You don’t understand! He’s not my friend!” I cried. “He’s not my
friend! He’s not!”

Dad wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Stay calm. Just try to stay calm.”

He walked me to my bed. He made me sit down.

He grabbed for my desk chair.

“Don’t sit there!” I gasped. “
He’s
sitting there!”

Dad sat down anyway. “Take a deep breath,” he instructed me. “Settle down.
Now—let’s talk about this friend of yours.”

“Dad! He’s not my friend. He wants to be my friend, but he’s not. He’s
driving me crazy!”

I shoved the black shirt aside and fell back on my pillow. And suddenly I had
an idea. “I know! I bet we can get rid of him together! Dad—will you help me?
Will you help me get rid of Brent?”

“Of course I’ll help you,” Dad replied, his eyes studying me. He stood up.
Took my hand. Guided me to the doorway.

“Thanks, Dad! I really appreciate this. Thanks a lot.” I sighed with relief.

I suddenly felt much better. As soon as Dad said he’d help, all my muscles
relaxed.

“Everything is going to be okay,” Dad said softly.

“I know,” I replied. “I feel better already.”

“That’s great, son. But can you tell me—what’s troubling you? Do you know?
What made you invent this invisible friend—Brent?”

I let out a loud groan.

Dad didn’t believe me. He led me downstairs.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

He didn’t answer me.

“Dad!” I cried. “
Where
are you taking me?”

“Where are we going, Dad? TELL ME NOW!”

“Calm down, Sammy. We have an appointment with someone who can help you,” he
finally answered. “Mom and I have talked about your problem with Dr. Krandall—and she’s going to see you now.”

“I—I don’t want to go to a doctor!” I yelled. “I don’t need a doctor!”

“Don’t worry.” Dad patted me on the back. “You’ll like talking to the doctor.
She’s really nice. And very understanding.”

Dad hurried to the kitchen to get his car keys.

Dad thinks I’m crazy, I realized. He thinks I’ve totally lost it.

So does everyone else I know.

There’s no way I can convince anyone that Brent is real.

He’s going to live with me forever.

He’s going to ruin my life forever.

Someone knocked at the door. I pulled it open.

“Hi, Sammy.” It was Roxanne. “I had to come over!” she said. “I
had
to
talk to you about the ghost! Wasn’t that awesome?”

“Uh-huh. Really awesome,” I murmured.

“Well, you don’t sound very excited. What’s the matter with you?” She headed
into the living room and sat down on the couch.

“Oh, nothing. Everyone thinks I’m crazy—that’s all.” I sat down beside her.

Brutus sauntered in and curled up in my lap.

“Did you tell your parents about the ghost? Is that why they think you’re
crazy? Don’t worry! I’ll tell them it’s all true,” Roxanne assured me. “I’ll
tell them we really saw it!”

“It’s not about the ghost—”

“Okay, Sammy. Let’s go.” Dad walked into the room, jingling the car keys in
his hand.

Mom and Simon followed behind him, both wearing very serious expressions.

“Where are you going?” Roxanne asked. “Can I come too?”

“No, Roxanne. I don’t think that would be a good idea,” Dad said softly. “I’m
taking Sammy to a doctor. He’s been seeing things.”

“But everything is going to be okay,” Mom chimed in. She gazed at me with a
strange smile on her face. “Doctors know how to deal with these things.”

“You don’t have to take Sammy to a doctor,” Roxanne started. “The ghost—”

“Is your invisible friend a ghost? You didn’t tell me that part,” Mom said.

“Your invisible friend?” Roxanne’s eyebrows shot up. “He’s still in your
room?”

“Wait, Dad—don’t take Sammy to the doctor!” Simon exclaimed.

Whoa. I couldn’t believe this one. Simon was actually sticking up for me.

“Don’t take him tonight,” Simon added. “Take him tomorrow. He’ll still be
crazy tomorrow. I want you to help me with my science project tonight. I’m not
growing fast enough. I want you to help me come up with a new topic.”

“It will have to wait, Simon. Your brother needs help,” Dad said sternly.
“Come on, Sammy. Let’s go.”

“I am
not
going to a doctor!” I shouted. “Wait. What if I
prove
that Brent is real?”

I didn’t give them a chance to answer. I had a plan. A really good plan. If
it worked, they’d believe me. They’d
have
to believe me.

I charged down to the basement. And searched Dad’s workbench.

Where is it? Where is it?
I searched frantically.
It’s got to be here
somewhere!

I cleared the benchtop with a swipe of my hand. Everything clattered to the
floor. But I found it!

The Molecule Detector Light.

I charged back upstairs. “This light lets you see invisible things, right?” I
waved the light in Dad’s face. “So if I shine it on Brent, we’ll all be able to see him! Right, Dad?
Right?”

“Maybe,” Dad replied doubtfully. “But, Sammy—”

I ran to the stairs. Everyone followed me.

Will it work? I wondered. Will it?

“Where are you, Brent? I know you’re here.”

Everyone crowded into my room.

They watched me as I slowly turned in a circle, searching for a clue.
Searching for something that would tell me where Brent was.

“Brent!” I called his name.

He didn’t answer me.

I turned on the detector light.

I swept it through the room.

No sign of Brent anywhere.

“Sammy, this is silly,” Mom said. She turned to Dad for support, but Dad just
shrugged his shoulders.

I kneeled down and swept the light under my bed.

No Brent.

“Please put the light down,” Mom pleaded. “We’re wasting time. We have an
appointment with the doctor.”

I ignored her.

“Where are you, Brent? I know you’re here!” I said. “Tell us where you are—now!”

And then, finally, Brent spoke up. “Please. Please don’t do it, Sammy. Please—I don’t want you to see me.”

Mom, Dad, Simon, and Roxanne gasped.

“See!” I cried. “I told you! I told you he was here! I told you I’m not
crazy!”

I swept the light over my desk chair. Onto my bed. In front of my dresser.
But Brent wasn’t any of those places.

“Where are you, Brent? It’s okay. You can tell me. I have to show them.”

“Please. NO!” Brent cried. “I don’t want you to!”

I jerked open the closet door.

I shined the light inside—and I saw him!

“NO! I don’t believe it!” I gasped. “You’re—you’re a MONSTER!”

“You’re a MONSTER!” I cried again.

The Molecule Detector Light shook in my trembling hand. I forced myself to
hold the bright beam steady.

“That’s why my parents made me invisible,” Brent said softly. “They thought I
might survive if you couldn’t see me.”

With my light still focused on him, Brent stepped toward me.

I leaped back. “What are you going to do?”

“Whoa—he is so UGLY!” Simon groaned. “Yuck! He has only
one
head!”

“And look. He has only two arms—and they’re so short!” Roxanne cried. “He
can’t wrap his arms around and around himself. How does he keep himself warm?”

“And what’s that dark stuff growing on top of his head?” Simon pointed. “Why
doesn’t he have tendrils and suction pods like we do? Where are his antennae?
And how can he see with only
two
eyes?”

“Calm down, everyone,” Dad instructed. “You’re not going to harm us—are
you, Brent?”

“No. Of course not,” Brent replied. “I just want to be Sammy’s friend.”

“No! Be
my
friend!” Simon cried. “I need you for my science project!”

Simon turned to Dad. “Can I have him, Dad? PLEASE! Can I have him for my
science project? I really need him!”

“That wouldn’t be fair,” Roxanne replied. “Sammy found him first!”

“Everyone—quiet!” Mom ordered. “Brent—I’ve seen pictures of your species
in a textbook. Hmm… let me see… what are you called?”

“I’m called a human,” Brent answered shyly.

“That’s right!” Mom snapped her fingers. “Now I remember. Human.”

“Yuck,” Roxanne muttered, making a disgusted face.

“I know I’m ugly,” Brent said sadly. “That’s why I didn’t want you to see me…” His voice trailed off.

I stared at Brent in disbelief. A human. I’d never heard of one before.

I tore my five eyes away from him and turned to Dad. “I know he’s ugly, Dad.
But I think I’d like to keep him,” I said. “Can I? I’ll take good care of him. I
promise!”

“No. I don’t think so, Sammy.” Dad studied Brent for a moment. “I think we’d better take Brent to the zoo.”

“Huh? The zoo?” I cried. “Why, Dad? Why does he have to live in a zoo?”

“Well, he’ll get much better care there,” Dad answered. “After all, humans
are an endangered species!”

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