My Best Friend Jeffrey

Chapter 2: Ethan and Jeffrey.

And that brings us to now...

That was a couple months ago when Ethan introduced me to his best friend Jeffrey. Ever since then, Ethan is still interacting with his best friend like usual, still as if he is completely real. 

The two are honestly inseparable, Ethan probably interacts and hangs way more with Jeffrey then any real kid at his school. 

But that aside, strange things started to happen around the house. I wouldn't say right away it was paranormal activity, who knows it could've been Ethan but next level pranking. 

However if Ethan's wild shenanigans was real, it was a major possibility. 

Incidents vary from scratches on the wall, odd knocking sounds at random times, heavy stomping noises in our attic, and way more. 

I really didn't pay much attention to the strange activity (in fact, I still don't), however what's really bothering me at the moment is Ethan's attitude.

Whenever I noticed (for instance) scratches on the wall, Ethan would proclaim his usual excuse, "but that wasn't me mom! That was Jeffrey!" 

Then I would scold him for lying to me and using his imaginary friend as an excuse. But then he would become a brat and get really defensive that he didn't do it, rather, Jeffrey did it. I had to pretend to believe it to make him stop his unruly attitude. 

Ethan also tells me that he knows he didn't do it, because even if I don't believe him, he knows himself he didn't do it. His reason for knowing he didn't do it is simply because he saw Jeffrey do it himself. 

Even with all his persuasion attempts, I still don't believe it. True, there's a tiny thought at the back of my head that believes him, but I refuse to fully believe it until I have some decent proof.

But that doubt, that tiny doubt that makes me wonder if he's really "okay,"  gets stronger and stronger each day. 

It's like procrastinating, the more days that go by without you doing anything, the more and more the work piles up. It's honestly like that doubt within me, I feel as if the less and less I pay attention and don't deal with Ethan's little games, it might worsen and affect things like his well being (if not already), his attitude, school work, and him in general.

 And to top it all off, in a way I believe him... 

I believe he's being honest with me; 

I believe he's being serious; 

and I slowly believe that he is really able see a boy named Jeffre—NO... 

I refuse... 

I won't fall for it... 

I can't... 

I don't want to... 

I won't accept it... 

 Why is being all alone is so hard...? 

I wish my husband were still here... 

I can't handle all this on my own, 

it's honestly too much to bear, 

the house, the money, the job, Ethan......Why can't Ethan just be, 

Normal?

But I don't want to think he isn't... No, this isn't normal... Ethan's just playing mind tricks on me... T-that's normal r-right??... But how can he maintain it for so long?! I need to help him; for his sake, and my own... 

This is too stressful; 

this is too much for me; 

this is too overwhelming... 

I wish he never came home like that, then I would be fine, but I'm not... he's not... NO he is... Is he really??... WAIT... I see now... IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF HIM... Jeffrey... 

HE was the cause of it ALL... I have to do something...

Those horrid thoughts of mine, that's only scratching the surface of what I go through... Every. Single. Day. Regarding these assumptions of Ethan. But today was when I realized, there has been a change. Rather, there needs to be changes. I've had enough, I will fix this issue. 

I am sick and tired of dealing with Ethan's absurd narratives. This has gone on long enough, this needs to stop. It's about time I made a move, for his benefit, and especially my own...

Should I set him up with a Psychologist? They help and diagnose those with "mental illness", is that how I should approach it? No no no, Ethan is fine, he just needs to get set back on track. Step one should definitely get rid of this Jeffrey facade, then I can clear things out of Ethan's head and we will be good to go! 

No extra work will be needed! Alright sounds like a plan.... Umm... Where to begin? I wondered how to separate the two when I couldn't even comprehend the fact he is "invisible to the naked eye", or at least not to Ethan. 

I decided to try using my words, let's see how attached Ethan was to Jeffrey. I shuffled over to Ethan who was eating his Frosted Flakes and "chatting" with Jeffrey. It was a Saturday morning, so time was not my biggest worry, I will do whatever it takes to get Jeffrey out of my life!

I started initiating the plan by making Ethan have a sense of false securities to make him think I wasn't going to bother him with the "Jeffrey Talk" today. 

"How's your breakfast sweetie? Taste like poop and farts?" 

I had to add in a poop and fart joke because it's guaranteed to make any eight year old laugh, specifically immature boys like Ethan. 

"No mom. Go away, me and Jeffrey are busy." He slammed his hand on the table. 

That was the first time he didn't laugh at my poop and fart joke, he was upset with me now. I somehow managed to tick him off, my patience for Jeffrey was off the charts. 

What in the world did he do to my innocent baby?