I giggled as my mom chased me into the house. She told me the rain was going to melt me if I didn’t go in the house. I giggled once again, that must of what happened to my friend. He had a bald head,his skin a was a pale gray-green. His eyes were a dark gray. He gave me a big smile as he bent down and opened his arm to me. I ran into his arms and he hugged me tight. He let go of me and held out a finger. He never said anything but he always communicated with actions.

He held out his pointer finger and waited. I watched fascinated by the blue and black butterfly flying to his finger. It sat steadily under the umbrella as it flicked its stringy leg out.

“Wow!” I jumped up and down. He peered up in to the sky, then back at me. His smile faded then held out the butterfly to me. I gladly copied his movements and held out my finger. It glided over to me and landed feather-lightly on me. “It tickles!” I giggled loudly. The rain slowed and the sun slowed peered out behind the clouds. “No, please don’t leave!” I begged sadly, even though I knew he would always I pleaded for him to stay. He shook his head sadly and gave her one more hug before he stood and disappeared into the wind.

The butterfly flew on to my noise before fluttering off into the trees.

“Come on hunny! We have to go!” My mother called out as she opened the back door to the van.

“Where’s daddy?” I asked as she buckled my belt.

“Oh, hunny. Daddy’s not coming home,” her voice cracked as she tried to keep her voice calm.

“But, he always comes home at this time?” I asked.

“I know hunny, i know”