Childish Things, by Renee Carter Hall (contemporary short story, 2012)

[lb_lee]

"I'm hallucinating," David said. "Right?"

Jinks stretched. "Never fails. When kids see something they can't explain, it's magic. When adults see something they can't explain, they're cracking up. It's a pretty limiting way of looking at the world, if you ask me."

Blurb: As a new father, David feels he's supposed to be an adult, but his premature daughter is clinging to life in the hospital, and he's never felt so helpless... until his childhood imaginary friend returns to remind him that growing up isn't just about leaving things behind.

Why is it worth your time?: It's a sweet story about intergenerational imaginary friends! Free to read online, give it a shot!

Plural Tags: abuse not mentioned, otherworld, imaginary friends, nonhumans (purple horned big cat, winged horse), friendship, visions

Content Warnings: It's not a spoiler to say that worries about a premature infant's survival is a big part of this story!

Access Notes: Free to read online at Weasyl. (Back-up link here.) Also available as part of the author's ebook short story collection Six Impossible Things.

Comments

Content Warnings

[lb_lee]

The first part of the story involves parental stress and fear over the infant's fate in the NICU at the hospital, but don't worry, she's okay!