Abhorrent Fallacy

I heard another shriek of laughter as my sister ran tearing through the backyard of our modest country home. I blinked at the partially-completed resume and gazed out the window, favoring the bright sunlight of the summer instead of the impending glare I received from the screen. My sister was quite small for her age of 7 years. Her long golden waves streaming behind her as she passed by the window, glancing behind her; chocolate eyes gleaming with joy and excitement as she was chased by someone who wasn't there, at least to my eyes. I smiled at her and rested my chin on my hand, watching her for a while, that is until our dog, Daemon, slid through the kitchen, bowl firmly grasped in his huge jaws. I saw the surprise on his face as he didn’t stop when he planned and instead skidded right into the cupboards; knocking the bowl loose with a metallic clang! I let out a bark of startled laughter as he sat there momentarily stunned, he was all paws this one, and all of them were left ones.

Daemon shook his head and snorted then seemed to scowl at me before shoving his bowl my way with his nose. I rolled my eyes and stood, dislodging my lazy orange tabby, Sylvia, with a harsh glare and a tail flick on her part. I walked to the closet on the other end of the kitchen, Daemon trotting along behind me, thin whip-like tail flying high is a slight happy wag as I dug through his bag of food. I turned and he sat expectantly with his large amber eyes following the cup as I cocked a hip. Ï think you forgot something.” he seemed to consider me for a moment before he looked down, then stood, off to get his bowl he left over-turned in the dining room. I followed him and stood in the doorway. He was peering out into the yard, about a foot from his bowl, hackles raised, lips drawn back in a silent snarl. I peered outside in mild alarm and confusion. I saw Aurora by the pond, her feet in the water, faced to the house, seemingly chatting with herself. She looked concerned, making a face too old for her years, sighing then nodding, seemingly resigned to whatever the invisible figment told her. I frowned slightly as she turned to her other side and smiled, leaning into whoever her mind deemed was there. I saw her stiffen then turn to look at me, her earlier turmoil seemingly gone and smiled, waving to me in that joyfully frantic way only children seem to be able to do.

Aurora stood, taking her feet out of the water and padded over to the sliding door, letting daemon out into the yard with her after she glanced at the tree in the yard, overlooking the pond. Daemon immediately trotted over to the tree and growled once at it in warning, before dutifully lying next to the little girl who was once again dipping her feet in the water, absently petting his fur as he kept a close eye and ear on the tree to his left. She resumed her conversation a bit more subdued, I took my seat back at the table, dog food momentarily abandoned on the kitchen counter in favor of eavesdropping on a conversation between my sister and her imaginary friends.

“But, help me understand, why?” she paused apparently listening to a reply; I only heard the rustle of wind through leaves. She sighed heavily not liking the reply, “but there’s me? ye-” she paused, interrupted, “I know, not enough but what if my sister..?” she wrinkled her nose, glancing my way, “I suppose, but I really think-” she laughed, a bitter note, too old, too world-weary of a sound to leave her lips, “Of course we're on your side, I'd never let the-”the wind blew a bit harder, hiding her next few words from my only-human ears; “...doing her best, you cant force her to-” Daemon snarled suddenly, whipping his head to the left, “See? Dae agrees with me.” She stuck her tongue out at her conversational partner(s). “I can do whatever I want, lady-like or not, I'm only seven.” she wrinkled her nose and absent-mindedly stroked Daemon between the ears as he laid his head to rest in her lap, apparently have gotten his point across. She sighed again, “Yes, I suppose you're right... But that seems... abhorrent.” I blinked, now where would she learn a word like that? “Yes, necessary, but-” She shivered, “Ugh! I don't need to picture that!” She giggled suddenly, “Ewwww, nooo!” Daemon snorted in annoyance.


“Rori?” I hesitantly questioned as she stood from the pond, dusting off her dress. “Who are you talking to?” I examined the seemingly vacant space near the tree.
“My friends Vincent and Khale, who else?” she replied indignantly, sniffing in a refined manner. “If you think she’s so pretty, why don't you marry her!? Well, yes, duh-” she snorted. “And?” she rolled her eyes, “Khale thinks you're pretty.” she scowled at the spot I imagined him to be.
“Oh, well, um, thank y-”
“No! Don’t thank him, its improper in his culture. Never put yourself in debt to one of them.” I blinked at her sudden outburst, “well, when is she going to learn if I don't start now?” she scoffed again. “Fine, but I'm blaming you if this all goes to sh-” she coughed and eyed me, “well, you know.” She paused again, “Well, I don’t know for sure, but you don’t exactly have the best-” The wind tore at my hair. I cast my head down, swiping my hair from my face. What I saw alarmed me, though I can’t say I was surprised as to what I saw; shadows. One tall and very thin, with whip like limbs, the other short, like a child, like Rori. I snapped my head up looking at Aurora, very alarmed. She gave me a knowing look. “If I had known that’s all it would take…” The way she spoke still unnerved me, but not so much as the very real imaginary friends of my younger sister. She waved her hand in an impatient manner in front of my eyes and I let out a choked shriek as the two shadows became attached to now visible bodies.