Prologue:

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!" Goo was like lightning, rapidly flying around the room like a loose cannon as she squealed. She quickly weaved in and out of clusters of friends, letting her voice soar and dive with excitement. As she dashed about, her rainbow of colors blurred into one giant gray blob. Mac shook his head, trying his best to look disinterested with no luck. As he watched his lanky friend bounce around, he couldn't help but crack a faint smile.

"Goo, come on! Cut it out!" He chuckled, and for a half a second she froze. Unfortunately, her body couldn't contain her joy and she started shaking again, her grin spreading flawlessly from one ear to the other.

"Awe, man." Bloo complained. He was barely able to peel himself from the floor as he collapsed in front of Mac. "This is the worst thing evvvvvvvvvveeeerrrrr!'

"Bloo, cut it out." Mac warned crossing his arms firmly over his chest. Bloo's eyes grew large with despair. Tears brimmed, his lip quivered, his hand trembled as he reached out and grabbed the hem of Mac's favorite red shirt.

"But Maacccc," he whined, Mac shrugged away. He dropped his head. "Mac, how am I supposed to be awesome without you? I mean, you could use a lot of work, but you created me so you're at least a little awesome. And without me, who's going to teach you how to paddle ball? Who's going to make sure you're not a nerd?"

"Stop being so dramatic." He said side-stepping his friend. Bloo flopped onto his face and refused to move. Mac stared back at the big house with lots of rooms. Bloo wallowed in self-pity. Mac took seconds to memorize the colors of the walls, the gloss of the marble floors, the musk of creativity. Bloo wailed on and on about only being half as awesome without Mac. Mac did what he did best and ignored his best friend. After all, he was only going to be gone for a few days.

"Mac, honey." Madam Foster's shaky voice caught him off guard. He spun on the balls of his feet and glanced down at her misleadingly small frame. "Your mother is here."

Ordinarily, this would be great news. She had calmed down once she started dating Frank and was even cool with visiting Bloo on occasion, though she didn't fully understand the significance of having an imaginary friend. But Madam Foster's tone was somber. And her wrinkled face showed traces of uncertainty. Try as he might, he couldn't find any sign of wonder or hope on her. And when the woman he'd learned to love and look up to couldn't meet his gaze, something inside of him broke. Mac's heart skipped a beat, and Goo? She stopped dead in her tracks and froze completely in place.

"Mrs. Mac's Mom, uh, Tracey, was it?" Frankie sounded totally freaked as she followed a tall slender woman into Foster's main hall. The woman bore a strong resemblance to Mac. Same brown hair, same blue eyes. However, as she stood, strict and bold, the resemblance faded. And Frankie sighed. "Listen, what you're suggesting will tear Mac apart." Frankie tried. "Is there any other way? Surely there must be something-"

"Frankie, you've been a great friend," the woman stated honestly. Mac's stomach twisted into knots. He recognized the tone. It was the same tone she used when she explained to him his father wasn't coming back. Not ever. "But I'm afraid this is the only way. Frank's business has offered him a promotion. This means no more struggling. No more living paycheck to paycheck. It'd be a huge relief."

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait," Goo scrambled to the woman's side, "what are yous saying? AreyousayingwhatIthinkyou'resaying? Mac and Bloo are moving away?"

Frankie and Madam Foster shared a look. Mac's mom frowned. "Goo, honey." She tried, her voice so small. "I'm afraid our family is extending the vacation. Indefinitely."

"Indefinitely?" Goo repeated. The sound tasted weird on her tongue. She smacked her lips together a few times to try to shake it. "What do you mean? Do you mean the wedding is going to take longer, because I've waited a long time for you to get married, and if you're finallygoingtogetmarriedIwanttobethere."

"She means we're not coming back after the wedding." Mac said. He felt so numb. His body, like ice. Lead. Heavy and cold. Bloo rolled onto his back, still moaning. Still bitter. And Mac was beginning to feel that too. "I thought we were going to Georgia for a few days, Mom. I thought we were going there so Frank's family could attend the wedding too. I thought we were coming back. That was the plan, wasn't it?" She didn't move. No body did. Mac balled his hands. "Wasn't it?" He asked louder.

"Frank got the phone call today." She tried explaining. "The firm needs him to start his new position right away. We'll be living with his parents until we find a place of our own."

"When you say we, you mean me and Bloo too, right?" Mac's Mom's eyes dropped to the blubbering blob on the floor and she sighed. Mac shook his head no. "I don't believe this!" He shouted. "How could you do this to me?"

"Mac, honey, we've been through this, you're-"

"Too old for an imaginary friend." He finished. "I know."

"You can still visit." Frankie piped in. "He can stay here, at the house with us, we have plenty of room."

"Yes, dear!" Madam Foster piped in. "What a splendid idea!"

Mac unballed his fists. The idea of living in the house sounded amazing. "Can I spend my summers here?" He asked racing to Madam Foster's side. "I'll-I'll help out with chores!"

"Oh, Grandma, please!" Frankie begged. "I could really use the help."

"That's fine with me." The old woman smiled. "What about you, Funny Bunny?"

Mr. Herriman, who'd been hiding in his office with a client, peered his head out into the hall and sighed. "Fine." He muttered before disappearing again.

"Mom! Mom! Mom!" Goo bounced. "Is that okay?"

Mac's Mom looked undeniably uncomfortable, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she let the group celebrate the small victory and walked away.