When you are born you are assigned a thing. Specific,I know,but there's no other way to say it because everyone's is different. Some get an object that talks. Others get people or monsters. There's a wide variety that sit around in the Job Lobby. We get assigned based on a child's needs and personality. A calm, shy kid obviously won't get one of our more rambunctious things and a loud obnoxious (er.. uhm... maybe i should say free spirited, it may be less rude?) won't get assigned a scaredy cat thing. Oh, you want to know what we are? You likely know us as Imaginary Friends, but we call ourselves the Invisible Helpers. We're certainly real and we're always there. However, you humans tend to forget about us early on.
      Every thing dreams of the day it gets assigned. Ah... yes, I remember my assignment day. Almost twenty-five years ago... My kid needed me much longer than most. We are used to sticking around for a few years and then adults discourage kids believing in us and remembering us around the time Kindergarten starts. That is what you call the first year of school, right? Good. My kid remembered and talked to me long past the time the adults in his life told him to "grow up" and stop leaning on me. He almost forgot about me... Then his dad forgot his twelfth birthday and he spent all night crying on my shoulder. You see, part of why I was assigned to him is because his mom left him when he was young. All he ever had was his dad and his dad forgetting his birthday was a blow straight to the heart for him. But now my boy is growing up. I really mean that. He has started college, he's told the world who he is, I'm proud of my boy.
      As a monster I have a bittersweet day coming soon. He's forgetting me. He no longer has need for me. For other things that's not a big deal, they go and wait for assignments. Us monsters? When a baby is born who will need us, we are created specifically for them. Essentially each monster grows up with their kid. This is because monsters are only assigned to special children. The ones with "special needs" obviously, but also those who will be abused, abandoned, or rejected by family. My boy was abandoned when he was three. His mom didn't want him. Then as he grew up his step mom abused him. Ten long years he suffered and I cried as I watched. All I could do was comfort my kid. We cannot interfere with their lives. And then last year... My boy is not like other boys... Because of this, his family does not love him. He has had a path harder than a lot. But he held a strong face through it all. Sure, he accumulated scars as he battled, but he did not give up. He survived. And I couldn't be happier or prouder.
      When our children reach the age they forget about us, we monsters die. We cannot be recycled like the other things. My boy is turning twenty-five in exactly thirty days, seven hours, and forty-three minutes. He is forgetting about me. He has a nice boyfriend who accepts him for him and great friends who help him when he needs them. He no longer needs me and so I am fading. Soon I will be gone completely. And while I wish my child would still need me, I am ready to die. I have grown to be an old monster. Older than any other monster I have known. Tonight is my last night, I will be gone before the sun rises. One last time I watch over him. One last time sit beside his bed and keep guard as he sleeps. One last time... I am happy that he doesn't need me, but I am sad that I do not get to see him become a dad. He will be a wonderful father. He learned how not to treat a child and his boyfriend will keep him from spoiling the kids too much. I wish I could see that, but perhaps one day he will remember me and tell his children tales of our adventures.