NEVER GOT PICKED!

Chapter 4. Imaginary Friend.

Edgar locks the front door and turns his stores sign to closed. He doesn't want to be bothered with the police asking questions. He turns out the lights and heads to the back of the store grabbing his wrapped box that he found on his porch earlier that morning.

He unwraps it and is stares at it strangely something about it seems vaguely familiar. It's a small dingy grey metal box with stars engraved all around it. He examines the box turning in his hands till he turns it upside down. He sees the name HAILEY written in black ink. He drops the box startled and watches it roll under a chair. He remembers why it's so familiar. It's his from his childhood. His parents gave it to him on his 10th birthday.
He stares at it and it induces a memory.

*FLASHBACK*

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Eddie, happybirthday to you. And many moooooooooore!"

His mother, father, and grandparents sang to him.
"Now make a wish dear boy." Said Agnes.

"Edgar dear blow out your candle before it ruins your cake." Instructed his mother.

"Wishing is for girls Eddie be a man just blow it out, hurry up will ya I'm dying to get me a slice of your mother's cake." Urged his father.

"Leave the boy be Ronald, he's a boy for pete's sake." Robert directed towards Edgar's father.

Edgar listening to all the voices has already made decided he will make a wish. He closes his eyes and wishes as hard as he can to never be left out of anything ever again. He opens his eyes and blows out his candles.

"Its about damn time boy!" Ronald roared.

"Ron please not on his birthday. He already has no friends don't make the day worse for him" His mother whispered.

"Helena I'm trying to make the boy a man he too soft. I don't want him growing into no panzy." Ronald spat the words panzy.

"Goodness Ron one day can you try to be the boys father instead of his wrestling coach." Helena pleaded.

Ronald made an annoyed grunt but submitted to Helena's request.

Helena starts cutting the cake a piece for everyone. Then Edgar asks "Mother please cut one more for Hailey."

His mother froze and a silence befell the room.

"Who's Hailey Edgar?" Asked Helena nervously.

"She's a ghost in the attic. She said she is my friend. See mother I have friends. She said her name is Hailey." Edgar replied.

"How long have you known Hailey Edgar?" Helena asked.

"For about two years now. She said she has always lived in the attic but doesn't know why. She has a chain around her foot. I told her I think she is a ghost because only ghosts live in attics. I did some research and ghost are affected by some metals so I think thats what keeping her spirit here. We have tried to loosen the chains but they won't budge. She's a really good friend mother. I want you to meet her." Says Edgar.

The air seemed thick with heavy breathes and each of the adults looked from one another with worry in their eyes.

"Edgar there are no such things as ghost sweetie." Said Helena.

"Yea boy thats nonsense and only girls have imaginary friends." Says Ronald.

"Oh dear!" Agnes exclaimed.

"Hey Eddie my boy open up some gifts why don't cha!" Suggested Robert

Edgar disturbed by what was said about his friend Hailey decides it's for the best to forget and focus on his gifts.

"Here open this one first." Helena said handed him a small square box wrapped in houndstooth wrapping.

Edgar looked at the wrapping thinking it odd to use houndstooth but didn't say anything as to not upset his mother. He unwrapped the box and examined it feeling the engraved stars all around the box. He opens it to reveal a silver ring with stars on it.

"It's to remind you to always reach for the stars Eddie." Told Helena.

"Its for girls Helena why give the boy a ring dammit! You want him to be play for the other team don't you?!" Spat Ronald.

"Here boy open my gift." Ronald commanded handing him a long rectangular shaped box.

Egdar opened the box and pulled out an amry camouflage toy rifle. Edgar wasn't interested but pretended to like it for his father's sake.

Next his grandparents handed him a larger square box. He opened the wrapping and it revealed a toy remote control helicopter.

Satisfied with all his gifts he hugged everyone except his father. He walks over to his cake and is about to start eating when he is interrupted by his mother.

"Edgar dear do you mind going up to your room we adults need to talk. You can take your cake." Requested Helena.

Edgar has never been allowed to eat in his room even though he sneaks food up there anyways. So he doesn't think twice about grabbing his cake and heading up.

Once up he remembers Hailey and instead of going to his room he quietly pulls the latch down and goes up the stairs to the attic.

There he sees Hailey who greets him.

"Happy birthday Edgar."

"Thank you Hailey. Hey after two years you have never mentioned your birthday." Says Edgar.

"It's because I don't know if I have one Ed." Says Hailey while looking at the box and cake in Edgar's hands.

Edgar notices this and says "Ok Hailey from now on your birthday is also today. Happy birthday Hailey." He says while extending the cake and silver box to her.

"Here take it it's your present." Urged Edgar.

"I can't Edgar it's yours." She told.

Edgar scanned the room walking over to a rusty desk covered in dust. Grabbed a marker torn the remain peice of houndstooth wrapping paper from the bottom of the box. And wrote HAILEY.

"Now it's yours." He handed her the box and said "it's to remind you to always reach for the stars."

Edgar yawned for it was past his bedtime and turned to walk away, but not before turning to wave goodbye to Hailey his only friend, who seems to be as his parents say a figment of his imagination.