Eli

Eli crouched behind the brush and checked his equipment. His helmet was in place. His trusty sword dangled at his hip. His shield, although dented, would last him for today. He was good to go.

Using his free hand, Eli spread the leaves and peeked out to assess the situation. There were three of them. Two small, one large. Nothing he couldn't handle. Just yesterday, he'd bested five of these monsters, and three of those had been big ones. So this should be no problem.

Eli wiped the sweat from his brow, took two deep breaths, then, with a sudden burst of energy, unsheathed his sword and dashed from his hiding place, screaming a war cry.

Meanwhile, Susan, his mother, watched through the kitchen window, shaking her head in dismay. She was becoming concerned. Eli was seven years old now. Seven. He should be running around with the other neighborhood boys, playing baseball, annoying the elderly, getting into trouble. But instead, everyday, without fail, he was cooped up in the backyard with a bucket on his head, an old fence post in one hand, and a rusty trash can lid in the other, fighting imaginary monsters.

She turned to her husband, who was sitting at the table, reading the paper. "Thomas, we need to do something about this." She gestured toward the window. "Eli is seven now. Don't you think it's unhealthy that he still doesn't have any friends?"

"Give him time," Thomas said, without lowering the newsprint. "He's still a little shy. He'll come out of his shell soon enough."

Susan shook her head. "No. I think we've waited long enough. I've been considering enrolling him in of those boys clubs-like the one down the street from the school. It would give him a place to go in the afternoons. What do you think?"

Thomas shrugged. "Whatever you say, hun."

That decided it. Susan phoned the local boys club, registered Eli, and immediately felt better.

* * *

The next day, as they were driving home from school, Eli, upon realizing that they were not heading home, asked:

"Where are we going, mom?"

"I've decided to enroll you in the boys club," Susan responded, cheerfully. "This way, you'll have something to do in the afternoons. And I here it's a great place to make friends."

"But . . . how am I going to fight the monsters?"

"You won't have to. At boys clubs, there are no monsters, only games and activities and fun things."

Eli was not enthused. "But I don't want to go a boys club!"

"Oh nonsense, Eli. You'll have fun."

"But-"

"No buts, young man," Susan said, losing patience. "I am your mother, and I know what's best."

Eli opened his mouth, but she cut him off.

"Not another word, Eli."

Eli folded his arms grumpily, and sulked for the rest of the ride. When they arrived at the boys club, his mother left him with one of the counselors and waved him goodbye. Eli did not wave back.

* * *