John and Ran

For those who know Mac well, you know that John and Ran are his imaginary friends who showed up sometime in early 2011 (before Coe was born).  Everyone said this was normal for his age and that they would eventually go away.  Two and a half years later, we still have them. 

I rarely ask about John and Ran.  I leave it up to him to bring them up.  He doesn’t talk about them every day and they aren’t the type of imaginary friends that I have to set a dinner plate for anything like that.  Mac just occasionally brings them up.  John did this.  Ran said that.  The best part of Ran’s day was when xyz happened.  It wasn’t me; it was John. 

Mac can tell you what John and Ran look like and how old they are. The descriptions only changed once.  Ran has always been a red headed 4yr old boy.  John was also a red headed 4yr old boy, but around when Coe turned 1, John suddenly turned into a blonde headed 1yr old boy.  John has always misbehaved more than Ran and Mac!  Mac is very aware that the friends are not real.  I recall one time when his cousins were asking him all about John and Ran and he looked at them and said, “You know they aren’t real.  They are just imaginary.”  Somehow we are all the dumb ones for playing along!

About two months ago Mac suddenly announced that John and Ran were gone.  When I asked why Mac quickly told me that whenever we took a family picture there was not enough room for John and Ran to fit in, so they left.  I was a little relieved because after 2+ years I was starting to think John and Ran would be around forever. 

Low and behold, two days ago Mac announced that John and Ran were back.  He told me they went on a trip to go skiing just like mommy and daddy and then they went hiking.  Finally they went to visit another county.  “Africa?” I asked.  “No, they went to India but now they are back and they are living with us.”  They are also both back to 4yr old boys, but John still has his blonde hair and he is still the bad one.  Mac said when he turns 5, John and Ran will still be 4 because they are about 6 months younger than him.  Guess that means I will have John and Ran for at least a few more months.