Milton the Unicorn

 

There was a most unlikely animal standing by my well.  Throughout my life I had always heard they were imaginary, mythical or simply a child’s fabrication, but here it was, a unicorn standing next to my well.    

As the wind was kicking up and the clouds were quickly rolling in, I asked the unicorn if he wouldn’t rather wait inside until the storm passed.  He looked up and noticed what I had and proceeded to follow me into the kitchen.

As he walked across the tile floor his hooves made a louder sound than I had thought they would, and once inside, he seemed much larger than he did out next to the well.  This was like having a small horse in my house and I quickly realized that maybe the barn or garage would have been a better choice, but it was too late now, as it had already started to pour.

With the faint sound of thunder, the unicorn looked at me, like he was just a little uneasy being inside and the thunder wasn’t helping any.  I thought that maybe a plate of food might put him more at ease.  Not having any idea what unicorns eat, I took a variety of things from the fridge and gave him his choice.  He quickly went for the carrots. 

I zapped myself a slice of leftover pizza and went into the living room.  I sat on the sofa looking out onto the garden and he, having finished all of the carrots, came in and stood next to the end of the couch.  So there we were, both simply looking out at the rain. 

After an awkward silence, I finally asked what I should call him.  “Do you have a name?”

With one eyebrow raised, he looked at me and said, “Milton.  My name is Milton, and thanks for the carrots.”

“How is it you got here?  I mean, where did you come from?”

Milton looked around the room.  He seemed to be checking everything out, and as he looked around, he said, “So you believe I’m real?  That you have a real unicorn standing in your front room talking to you?”

“I can see you.  I heard you walk across the tile floor, and I heard you munching the carrots, so yes, you are very real.”

Milton looked at me for a moment and then spoke.  “Can I make a suggestion?”

“What?”

“I strongly suggest you not tell anyone else about me.  They will not be able to see me, or hear me, and no one will believe you.  Trust me on this.  They’ll think you’ve run off the tracks, and they will lock you away.  If you don’t believe me, just snap a photograph of me standing here.  When you look at the picture, I won’t be in it.  All you’ll see is your furniture.” 

I wanted to believe him, but I was also tempted to go and get my camera.  I didn’t understand any of this.  How is it possible that no one else can see what is standing right in front of them?

“So you really are a mythical creature?”

“Those carrots were real, weren’t they?”

“Yes, and I saw and heard you eat them, but I’m still not getting it.  How can this be?”

“I’ve told you my name, so what is yours?”

“Randy, my name is Randy Block.”

“Well, Randy, when there is a beam of sunlight coming into your room, that’s when you can see all of the little dust particles floating in your air.  But without the light, you never see them.  Right?  They’re still all there, just invisible.” 

“No offense, Milton, but you are much larger than a dust particle.” 

“That’s not it.  You’re missing the important factor.” 

“Tell me what I’m missing.”

“Exactly everything was right, your frame of mind, the time of day, the lighting and the humidity.   It all fell into place.  That’s how you noticed me out next to your well, and that was how, so many years ago, enough people saw me, and so the myth grew.” 

“Let me ask this, if I stand up right now and walk over and put my hand on your back, will I feel you?”

“I’m very real, Randy.  Yes, you’ll feel me standing here.  In fact, take a deep breath through your nose.  Surely, you’ll smell me.  I mean, I doubt we smell the same, you and I.” 

“No need, Milton.  I could smell you back in the kitchen.  I just didn’t want to be rude.” 

“Hey, you’re no bouquet of carrots either, pal.”

 

 

To be continued