With the Black Umbrella {Deacury}

Imaginary Friend

The kids have picked up a common habit amongst children their age. Imaginary Friends.

Apparently his name was John, and every single day, they would ask how he was doing, where was he going, and things like that. They really liked John.

Freddie found it slightly creepy that Axel thought he had an imaginary friend, he was more mature than that. But Axel would always come rushing to Freddie with excitement, telling him everything that John said.

"What does this John look like?" Freddie asked his children during play time. He usually played along with the children's imagination. Axel and Lexa each sat on a lap and cheered.

"You finally wanna hear us talk about him! I want to go first." Lexa exasperated.

"He's tall and has Axel's skin color. He has wavy brown hair, it's very long. And he had a long nose too. He's really cute." Freddie cringed at the thought of his daughter already thinking a boy was cute.

"He's a grown man, he wouldn't look at you in such a way." Axel whispered.

"Yes he will, everyone will. I'm a cute little girl." Lexa retorted. At least she knew, Freddie thought.

"You keep on thinking that. Anyways, he's the man with the black umbrella who stands by the pedestrian walk everyday. He waves at us and engages in quick conversations before he actually has to cross the road." Axel spoke. Freddie smiled at his son's mature choices of words. It was hard to believe he was only five. Then he thought back a few days ago, when he noticed a familiar black umbrella outside the living room window.

"Are you perhaps talking about the crowd of people who bundle at the sidewalk around noon?" Freddie questioned. Both the children nodded their heads.

"Seriously? I thought this John was an imaginary friend you guys made up."

"How rude dad, do you really think that lowly of me? It's understandable with Lexa, but with me?" Axel gasped. Lexa shoved Axel off my lap but Freddie quickly caught him.

"Guys cut it out and listen. You can't talk to strangers on the street, that's very dangerous. They may think you're alone and they'll snatch you guys."

"John said we shouldn't talk to strangers as well, but we didn't care." Lexa spoke. Freddie made a face of uncertainty at her.

"You should talk to John, maybe you'll trust him." Axel suggested.

"It certainly sounds like a blast but John seems like a busy man who has his life sorted out." 

"He could probably teach you a thing or two." Axel commented. He was too witty for anyone's good, Freddie thought to himself. 

"You're a bit snarky, I think you need a nap." Freddie announced as he held each child under each of his arms. They squirmed and giggled as they tried to escape. Freddie kicked open his bedroom door with his foot and placed the children on the bed. They often slept here while Freddie worked at home.

"But Daddy! We didn't get to talk to John you're being unfair!" Lexa whined.

"There is always tomorrow." 

"But he needs to know we are sleeping!" She cried. She pulled this trick multiple times before. She'll cry until she gets what she wants. Axel stared at Freddie with a pleading look to shut her up. Freddie gave up and sighed.

"How about this. I'll talk to John while you guys sleep, is that okay?" 

Lexa suddenly stopped crying and nodded her head. 

"Good, now go to bed." 

Almost instantly, the twins fell asleep. Freddie was grateful for that.

He walked out the room and shut the door quietly. He entered the living room and sat at his piano and played a soft tune. He never allowed anyone else to sit here. This was the same piano he played to his ex wife. He proposed to her after playing her favorite melody.

Freddie quickly discarded that memory. He decided to talk to this "John" his kids favored so much. He walked over to their favorite window and peered outside. There were many umbrellas but none of them stood out to him. A few minutes later, a man with a black umbrella walked into the scene.  The man didn't look at the window, but he was close enough for Freddie to call out to him.

"John!" Freddie shouted. A few people glanced, including the man with the black umbrella. The man pointed at himself in a confused state and Freddie nodded his head.

"Hello?" Supposedly John, greeted suspiciously. The way Lexa described John was spot on, but there was way more to him. He was absolutely stunning. Freddie only cringed harder at the thought of his daughter having the same taste in men as him.

"Um, my children usually talk to you through this window. They wanted me to tell you that they are napping." Freddie said. John chuckled.

"That's so cute! They are so intelligent and friendly. I'm glad I met their father." John spoke from below. 

"They talk about you all the time, I think it's safe to say you have two new fans now."

"Oh really? I thought I was quite boring."

"You're not boring at all, you're fun to talk to. Trust me, if my kids like you, you're basically a celebrity."

John's smile sparked something in Freddie. He liked John already. The crowd on the sidewalk dispersed and started to walk down the crosswalk.

"It was nice talking to you, um..."

"Freddie. My name is Freddie."

"What a splendid name, Freddie. But I have to take my leave, cheers!" John turned around and crossed the street, soon being swallowed by the mob of people. But he surely stood out with his black umbrella.

Freddie wanted to know more about John.