Imaginary Friends

We have had imaginary friends in our lives since Clara first introduced us to Lorka... I'm guessing she was about 2 1/2 years old. Lorka went everywhere with us. At times, I would even have to hold the door to the car open an extra minute just to let Lorka climb in and buckle up too. It has never been a hardship to deal with her 'presence'. In addition to Lorka, Clara had an entire network of imaginary friends... and they each had some relationship to one another that Clara knew. It was sometimes amazing how she kept it all straight. I couldn't, outside the most familiar ones. This is what I remember... it's a little blurry now. There was Dexie, who lived across the street from Lorka, and Dexie's little sister Claire. There was also a Sarah, but I don't remember how she fit in. Then suddenly one day (at least a year ago)... Lorka and all of her cohorts were gone. And just as suddenly, in pops somebody named Mary. Mary is around us constantly. Clara describes Mary as her crime-fighting fairy friend... so funny! Mary's age ranges from 2 to 22, depending (on what I'm not sure). Sometimes Mary has a baby, sometimes not. I mentioned to a friend of mine some of the horrific ways that Mary has died (and just as sunnily is back the next moment). And just as Clara's previous imaginary friend had a network... so, too, does this one. Mary has a cousin named Strawberry, who has a little sister named Gold. I know there's many more, but I can't remember them all, and yes... they are all fairies. Clara can even tell you what color their dresses are. It's really fascinating to listen to her go on and on about her fairy friends.

Clara has not spoken about Lorka in at least a year. When Lorka was gone... she was really gone. However, about a month ago, I noticed that suddenly Lorka was back... for LUCAS!! We walk home from the elementary school and we have to stop and wait for Lorka to catch up. I hear Clara and Lucas playing and they'll set aside toys for Mary and Lorka. At the moment when Lucas first mentioned Lorka... I actually wondered if there was a person there that I could not see (all those stories about how people lose their "sight" as they get older started haunting me... maybe Lorka really was there, but since I was an adult, I couldn't see her). Did Lucas remember Lorka from when she was Clara's friend (even though he was so so so young)?? Will Lorka stick around Lucas until it's time for her to move on to Eli?

It seems as though Lorka may be a semi-permanent member of our family for a while. Maybe come Christmas time... I'll have to add her name to the cards?