Scary Dreams - Part 2

Chapter 4- Henry makes Steve’s parents like him

The next morning, Steve and Henry sneaked out again with the monster carrying a smiling Henry on his shoulders as usual. Henry noticed the parents were in front of them but were so busy romancing with one another that they barely took notice of anything else. Henry and Steve sighed with relief as they continued to walk into the big garden. In the garden, Steve built sandcastles. Henry sat in the sand far from him, wondering still why the parents hated him so much. After a little while Steve noticed Henry was thinking hard.  He stopped what he was doing and came towards Henry, touching him by the shoulder smiling.

“Henry, I understand you’re still concerned about whether my family members will ever take interest in you but don’t you worry about that because your good old buddy Steve will make sure that happens too, I give you my word. Now, shall we build sandcastles together?”

Henry was still curious.

“Are you sure Steve?”

“I will, don’t worry, kid. How about making a sandcastle with me to shift your mindset?”

Henry smiled. “Thank you, Steve, and yes.”

So they happily went to build sandcastles. They came back much later after they had played many other games and found the parents growling at Henry. This time, however, Henry had enough of being a coward and wanted to face his parents so he whispered to Steve, “Let me get off your shoulders. I’ve had enough of you trying to protect me from them. I want them to see the goodness in me. Please try and understand, Steve?”

Steve’s eyes widened. “Have you gone mad? Only yesterday you tried the same experiment and could have nearly been dead meat had I not reached in time. You want to put your life at risk again? No way, Henry, let me deal with this, please?”

Henry whispered back, “That’s the thing Steve, as long as you keep protecting me, I don’t know how long they’ll take to accept me and I’ve got to learn to face them at some point being a brave kid if I want them to like me.”

Steve nodded his head agreeing. “You’ve opened my eyes Henry, I will let you go.”

Steve took him off the shoulders and Henry walked towards the growling monsters.  They rushed at him and were ready to pounce when he put his hand out.

“Stop, please, and listen to me.” Henry smiled saying in sign language, “I understand why you fear and hate me so much, I’m a human being but humans are not that bad. I never came here to harm you but to be friends with your son. I wanted to get to know you two better as well so that you like and take interest in me. There’s no need to hate me. I come in peace.”

The monsters stood there gasping without a word to say then they began to cry pleading their hands towards Henry asking for forgiveness. Henry stroked them and smiled and they smiled back. Then they came toward Steve pleading at him too.

Steve replied in sign language, “There’s no need to apologise. You’ve realised your mistakes.”

Then he hugged them and Henry told them, “I’m happy that they like me and you got your family back, Steve, but I’m afraid I have to leave you all.”

Steve and his parents were curious. Steve asked, “Why do you always talk about leaving, Henry? It doesn’t matter to us anymore whether you’re one of us or not so what’s the problem in staying?”

Henry replied, “It’s because I’m not a monster and have a family of my own who probably will be worried so I have to go back. Sorry, Steve, but it was nice to have known you and your family, goodbye.”

Steve and his parents tears of joy turned to sadness as they waved him goodbye and he waved back smiling as he walked off.

By the time Henry woke next morning he thought that was the most wonderful dream he ever had.