My Invisible Friend

Poor Nickie and Sarah, stuck together like glue for most of their lives; never imagining they would ever part. It was quite a feat to live in this world, with Sara having to do all the work and Nickie having all the fun. Sara was a responsible and well-mannered young lady of twenty-five and her "friend" Nickie, who was also twenty-five, was just the opposite. She was bold and obnoxious and thought that Sara was too nice and boring. Nickie spiced things up and Sara always paid the price for Nickie's antics. Sara was visible and Nickie was not.

[wizzician] Sara was glad the weekend was over. She liked her job at the employment office. There were so many people in need of help, especially at this time of year, with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming soon. Her co-workers were arriving and Sara was glad to see them and her cheerful, "Good Morning!" was met with grumbling and a few head nods as they filed past going to their desks.

[MnM] Her coworkers had brought the frosty "cold" attitude inside with them. Nickie hung over Saras' shoulder and like usual presented an idea to Sara.

"Hey, whadya say we warm things up around here?"

"Like what? Think we should make hot chocolate for everyone?"

"Come on Sara! You can do better then that! Lets really bring them some heat."

"Okay, what do you got in mind?"

"I got two words. Chilli and Peppers."

"No way Nickie!! You know not even my dad can handle those habeneros."

"But, don't you think it will be so funny to see their faces when they think their trying your moms world famous mild chilli?

"Well, it might be a little funny, but its SO mean!!!"

"What about all the times that they were SO mean to you? Huh? What about that time that they spread that rumor about you? What about that?"

"Your right. That was mean."

wizzician "I'll think about it, Nickie, but for now we, I mean I've, got to get to work.

Clients were coming in the doors in droves looking for help in finding employment. There seemed to be more of them than usual. Most of them were polite, but Sara seemed to always get the client with the most problems and the worst temper. The client at her desk bellowed, "You got a job for me?"

"We'll have to look and see what we can find"

"If you don't give me a job, I'll tell your boss that you ain't helping me."

"Tell her to go blow her nose, Sara, and stop dripping on your desk. Don't let her talk like that to you!"

"I can't do that!"

"What do you mean?" the client asked.

"I'm sorry, I was mumbling to myself."

Nickie was standing behind the woman at Sara's desk, and making faces. Sara pretended not to notice, but when Nickie pulled off the woman's hat, Sara broke out laughing. The woman whirled around to see who was behind her and Nickie stuck her tongue out at her, but of course she didn't notice. Sara laughed again, and the woman grabbed her hand yelling, "Just what is so funny? What's the matter with you?" Sara stopped laughing and jerked her hand free in time to see Nickie, step on the woman's foot. The woman yowled.

This was how Sara's day went, all day, every day. Nickie was such a trial to bear. When would she ever be gone? Sara thought it might be time for some therapy before Nickie cost her the job she enjoyed so much.

After work they went to the grocery store, collecting the things Sara had on her list. Nickie put things in the basket and Sara took them out and put them back on the shelf. Nickie pushed the basket down the isle and around the corner while Sara examined prices on what she wanted to buy. She turned around and the basket was nowhere to be seen. When Sara reached the produce section, there was Nickie, gathering habeneros for the chili they were to make.

[MnM] "Nickie. What are you dooinggg?!"

"I am, pickingouthabeneros”, Nickie said quickly in one breath. "This is to great, I cant stop laughing and it hasn't even happened yet!"

"Seriously Nickie, its not really funny anymore, this whole idea is getting pretty stupid the further you take it."

"Aw, come on Sara, lighten up."

"No Nickie! I dont want to lighten up. If anything I need to tighten up. Im gettin tired of all your silly games Nickie."

Sara grunted, spinned on her heels, and walked out of the grocrey store. She was getting tired of Nickie. If she didnt get control of it, she could lose her job.

Sara drove on autopilot the whole way home, ignoring Nickies pointless words, and thinking of what she could do to get a break from her. She was tired of being sick and tired.

Then it came to her, a psycologist! Of course, she could help. She would know exactly what to do for her. Sara decided to call and make an appointment first thing in the morning.



"Yes hi, I was calling to make an appointment with Ms. Turtle."

"Well hellooooo, this is she! What can I do for you?!"

"Well uh, you see, I um, have this friend. And no matter where I'm at, she's there. It's a little hard to explain, but what I'm trying to get at is um, I need her gone."

"Hmmmm. Alright, well when can we meet?"

"Um, today, round noon?"

"Perfect. Let's meet at 47th street park at 12:15. Sound good?"

"Yes! Thankyou!! See you then!"



"Do you honestly think shes gonna believe you?" Nickie asked.


Sara looked up at Nickie, sighed, and looked back at her computer screen. She really didnt know if she would or not, but it was worth a shot.


"Hi, you must be Ms. Turtle. My Names is... um," Sara bit her toungue before she revealed her identity to this stranger. What if she thought she was crazy? "Heather."

"I'm very please to meet you Heather. Shall we get started?"



Ms. Turtle and Sara sat down on the picnic bench, Nickie laid on top of it on her back which made it very hard to focus, as Sara explained the whole situation.


"Well the good news is, I have seen this case before. The bad news is, it's very difficult to get rid of."

"I see. So your telling me, that there are others out there like me? Others out there that are obnoxiously followed like a leech, that nobody else can see?"

Ms. Turtle laughed, "Yes, why of course. Why do you think they invented the portable ear piece for cell phones? You think those things actually work? The government invented those little buggers, so when tourist are visiting, they wouldn't think American people have lost their mind when they are talking to what appears to be their self."

"Are you serious?!"

"As serious as a toupee on a bald mans head."

"Okay so what do I need to do?"

"Well, and ear piece is a start. That solves the problem of the onlookers, but what about you? Hmmm, lets see."


The next day.
Tactic number one: Take Nickie to the backyard to help you "rake leaves." Trip her, and when she falls take a black trash bag and tie it tight around her head.

Failed. When Sara tied the bad, Nickies body dissappeared.

That afternoon.
Tactic number two: Take her to the mall. When you get to a crowd of people, push her down, slip out, and duck behind a clothing rack in the nearest store.

Failed. When Sara squated out of breath, Nickie pushed her head through the clothes staring straight at Sara.
"Whacha doin down there?!"


Sara called Ms. Turtle that night in complete frusteration.

"Ms. Turtle I don't understand? I did exactly what you told me to, and Nickie is still here!"

"I was afraid of that. Alright Sara, I have one final option, and if this doesn't work, I dont know what will."


Five a.m. the next morning.
The final tactic: Drug her up with a few sleeping pills. Pack her in a box, and ship her to china.

The good news, the box was practically free, cause it had no weight inside.
The bad news, when Sara was driving home Nickie popped up like a kleenex out out the backseat.

"Hey Sara! Just stop wasting your time. Face the facts, I'm not going," what felt like slow-mo she finished, ANYWHERE ."

Nickie lost it.
She screeched to a hault, jumped out of the car, and let Nickie out of the backseat.


"THATS IT!! I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU, NICKIE, GET OUT OF MY LIFE! I HATE YOU. YOU DRIVE ME COMPLETELY MAD. YOU MAKE ME WANT TO HIDE IN A CORNER WHEN WERE WITH PEOPLE, AND MAKE ME WANT TO PULL MY HAIR OUT WHEN IT'S JUST YOU AND ME!! I WISH YOU HAD NEVER COME INTO MY LIFE. I WISH I HADN'T EVER SPENT ALL THAT TIME WITH YOU, ALL THOSE YEARS. IT WAS WASTED, POINTLESS, PATHETIC TIME, SPENT IN VAIN ON YOUR POINTLESS SCHEMES. AUGHHHHHHHHHH!"


Sara hopped into her car and sped off, leaving Nickie in the middle of the road, standing limp. Sara watched the tears flow out of Nickies eyes from the rear view mirror, but she didn't care. She was done. .









[wizzician] When she arrived home, Sara expected to see Nickie waiting for her. She looked around and was pleased to see she was alone. That night she slept better than she had in years and woke up refreshed and happy. "It's going to be a great day!" Sara told herself. She drove to work and glanced around and over her shoulder, still half expecting Nickie to pop up. But still no Nickie. "I'm free, I'm free, and happy as can be!" she sang.

Sara sat at her desk, ready for the clients soon to come. Her co-workers were coming in as disgruntled as ever and as usual she greeted them cheerfully, "Good Morning!" And this time she really meant it. Her morning went well and every client she had was polite and happy. "Wow," she said, "With Nickie gone, things are really going well."

Today was Missy's birthday and everyone in the office had made their favorite dish and brought it for the birthday party. When it was time for lunch they all gathered in the break room and sang Happy Birthday to Missy and gave her presents. In single file they went from dish to dish fixing their plates and commenting on how wonderful everything looked and smelled. Sara was last in line and selected a little bit of everything, until she came to a big pot of chili. She stood there looking at the pot and remembered Nickie's suggestion. "No way," she said. She turned and looked at her co-workers and there were several, red-faced, fanning their mouths and grabbing something cold to drink. No one said anything, but Sara knew that somehow Nickie had struck again.






[wizzician] After lunch, Sara was straightening her desk and all of a sudden something hit her in the forehead. She picked it up and it was a spit ball. She looked up and around the room and her eyes opened wide. There was Nickie, standing behind Missy and looking straight at Sara. Nickie waved and then turned back to Missy's client and pulled her hair. The client yowled and looked behind her, but saw nothing. The rest of the afternoon, Nickie haunted Missy and created havoc with all that she did. At the end of the day, Missy gathered her things and walked out, exhausted and frustrated, with Nickie following close behind. After that day, Sara never saw Nickie again or suffered from her antics, but she could tell that Missy now had a new friend. "I'm free, I'm free, and happy as can be!" she sang.


The End!