Xavier had spent the morning building a cardboard boat, and he was rather pleased with it. It had a little cabin, a cloth sail, and enough tape to suggest that he took ocean safety seriously.
He imagined it sailing across the shallow backyard pool. He could almost see the sail leaning into the breeze, and the thought filled him with excitement.
Then he wondered what Colton would say when he came over.
Perhaps Colton would laugh at the crooked cabin. Perhaps he would point out that cardboard was not famous for its swimming abilities.
Xavier began preparing his answer.
“It has waterproof tape,” he explained to the empty lawn chair beside the table.
In his imagination, Colton remained unconvinced.
“Well, obviously I’m going to test it first,” Xavier continued, picking up a small wooden paddle to strengthen his argument.
By the time he started defending the sail, Xavier was feeling thoroughly annoyed with someone who had not yet arrived.
Then he noticed the chair.
It contained one cushion, a fallen leaf, and absolutely no Colton.
Xavier stopped speaking.
He had supplied both sides of the argument, given Colton all the worst lines, and then become upset with him for saying them.
“That was a bit unfair,” he admitted.
The lawn chair offered no objection.
Xavier laughed and set down the paddle. A few minutes earlier, he had been enjoying a grand adventure. Now he had been defending himself in an argument. Both experiences had felt real, although he had spent the entire time standing beside the same boat.
His thinking had brought each one to life.
Seeing that did not tell Xavier whether the boat would float or what Colton would actually say. It simply helped him recognize that he did not have to answer a conversation that was happening only in his mind.
He could leave a little room for the real Colton to arrive.
Meanwhile, there was a boat to test. Xavier carried it toward the pool, curious again, although he decided its maiden voyage should stay comfortably within reach.
The ocean could wait until after lunch.
Have you ever caught yourself having a back and forth conversation, but your the only one there?
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