best friend//phan

Four

Dan, 8 years old

"Dan! My dad is building a treehouse in our backyard, come over!" I hear Phil on my walkie talkie.

I pick it up and press the button.
"I'm on my way." I say.

It's the first day of summer and we're finally free from Ethan's torture.
"I'm going to Phil's, mum! I'll be back later." I call as I run out the door into the warm June day.

I jump the fence separating mine and Phil's backyards and see piles of wood and Phil and Phil's dad up in the tree.

"Dan, can you pass up that plank of wood?" Phil calls from the tree. I pick up the wood and hand it up to him.
The wood is wedged next to the first plank.

After a full day of building the platform, making the walls, and making the roof, the treehouse is mostly done and only needs furnishings basically.

"Mum can we sleep in it tonight?" Phil asks his mum as we sit on the back porch and drink lemonade, watching the stars appear.

"It's fine with me, only if it's okay with Dan's mum though. I don't want you alone up there, Philip." She says.

I run home with Phil trailing behind me to ask my mum.
"Mum Phil's dad built a treehouse today and we want to have a sleepover in it tonight! Can I go?" I ramble, exitement seeping into every word.

"Yes, But if you get too cold I want you to come inside, okay? Now go get your things." She says. I jump and exclaim 'yes!' Phil and I run up the stairs to my room.

I go through my closet and find my sleeping bag and I pull the duvet off my bed. Then I change into my fleece pajamas and run back downstairs with Phil.

"Bye mum!" I call out. We run across the yard and climb back into the treehouse, lining the floor with my duvet and we'll cover up with his.

"Danny come on let's go to my room and get some stuff." Phil says, climbing down the ladder. I follow him and we go to his room.

Phil quickly changes into pajamas and I grab his duvet.
"Dannn have you seen lion?" Phil asks. Phil still needs his lion to sleep at night.

"No, is he on your bed?" I ask.
"No." Phil says. He looks under the bed and all over his room.
"Danny I can't find him." Phil says, voice faltering.

"Philly why don't you just sleep without him tonight? I'm sure you'll find lion tomorrow." I assure him.
"B-but I can't fall asleep without him Dan." He tells me.

"But I'll be there. You don't have to be afraid." I say. He looks down.
"I know. I just feel stupid cause no one still needs a stuffed animal to sleep at age 8. I'm just a baby." He says.

"Phil you're not a baby. I still have my bear to sleep with." I tell him.
"Yeah, but at least you can sleep without him." Phil says.
"Phil, you're not a baby. Come on, let's go up there now." I say.

"Okay." He says. We climb down the stairs and walk out into the dark yard. The sun went down. There are little fireflies all over the place and Phil giggles when one lands on his nose. We climb up into the treehouse and close the hatch behind us so no bugs can get in and roll down the curtains for the same reason.

I think Phil's mum was here because now we have two torches and a lantern, extra pillows and more blankets, a radio, three bored games, and lastly lion is sitting on Phil's half of our messily made bed.

"Lion!" Phil screeches and hugs the small toy.
"Oh my gosh he was here the whole time!" I say, a small laugh escaping my mouth.

For the rest of the night we listen to the radio and play games like monopoly and sorry. Phil falls asleep in the middle of our bed, so I just turn off the lantern and curl up next to him.

This was a fun day.