SEVEN
"What do you mean I see things that aren't really there?" Phoebe asked.
"Technically," said Harvey, "when you have a premonition, you're seeing something that hasn't happened yet. So it isn't really there. It's only in your mind. To your sisters and Leo, I'm not really here. So they can not see or hear me."
"So my precognitive ability allows me to see you," said Phoebe.
"Yes," said Harvey. "Ordinarily, once I leave a companion, they can never see me again. They can only see me as long as they need me. Once they outgrow me I become what you believed me to be. Just an imaginary friend they had as a small child."
"I'm beginning to understand," said Phoebe. "So you just stopped by to see how I was doing."
"Yes," said Harvey. "I must say I was quite taken aback when you saw me. It's never happened before. I wasn't really sure what to do. After the first time I thought it might have just been a fluke. But when you saw me in your room, I knew it was more than that. So I decided to come speak with you. So you wouldn't be concerned about your sanity."
"I appreciate it," said Phoebe. "But how come Leo doesn't know about you? He didn't seem to have any idea who or what you were."
"They don't know about me," said Harvey.
"Why not?" Phoebe asked.
"Because as I said," said Harvey, "I only appear to young children. To everyone else I'm just their imaginary friend. No one takes what a five-year-old says very seriously. And the adults are considered odd so they aren't usually taken seriously, either. So the existence of Pookahs has never been taken seriously."
"I see," said Phoebe. "And trying to explain what a Pookah is to a five-year-old isn't probably very easy."
"I never try to explain," said Harvey. "They wouldn't understand. The adults do but as I said, I rarely am a companion for adults. It is really a rare opportunity for me to speak with you. After I leave a companion I don't have the opportunity to speak with them again. I become just as much of a myth as I am to everyone else."
"It's a good thing you stopped by then," said Phoebe. "I do remember you. The tea parties we used to have. The hours spent in my room and the backyard just playing. They are some of the happiest memories I have of my childhood."
"Then I did my job well," said Harvey. "Essentially my only purpose is to provide companionship to lonely children. Make growing up a little easier for them. If I was able to do that then I was successful."
"Oh, you were," said Phoebe. "Because of you I wasn't as lonely as I would have been. You were a good friend. And I'm glad to see that you weren't just an imaginary friend. That you really do exist."
"That means a lot to me," said Harvey. "I do enjoy my work very much. Children are such a joy to work with. And I spend most of my time playing with them. Who could ask for a better job?'
"So do you have any other powers?" Phoebe asked. "Except for being able to change your form?"
"I can't change my form," said Harvey. "My companion decides what form I take. It's a bit hard to explain, really. It's different with each companion. But once I assume a form I am essentially locked into that form as long as I am with that companion."
"So you don't have any other powers?" Phoebe asked.
"I'm afraid not," said Harvey. "Any more than a real companion has any additional powers. I'm just a companion, nothing more."
"An invisible companion," said Phoebe.
"That's the way it has to be," said Harvey. "Most of my companions are mortals. It wouldn't do to have mortal parents learn of our existence. You understand. Protecting magic and all."
"Yeah, I see your point," said Phoebe.
"I could tell you were distressed over my appearance here today," said Harvey. "I also knew that distress was due primarily to me. So I felt I should talk to you and set the record straight, so to speak."
"I appreciate it," said Phoebe. "At least I know I'm not going crazy. And I can tell Prue and Piper the truth. I know they think I'm loosing my mind."
"I would appreciate it if you didn't mention me to Leo," said Harvey. "You can tell your sisters to put them at ease. But if you tell Leo about the existence of Pookahs he'll be obligated to tell the Elders. And if the Elders learn about us it's quite possible that demons will as well."
"You think that's a possibility?" Phoebe asked. "Why would demons be interested in Pookahs?"
"It could cause children to grow up lonely everywhere," said Harvey. "It may not seem like a possibility but it is possible that some demon may try to get to the children by coming after us. Imagine the lonely children everywhere who won't have a companion if a demon is successful in stopping us."
"I see your point," said Phoebe. "Okay, I won't tell Leo. And I'll make sure Prue and Piper don't either. I'll think of something to tell Leo."
"Just tell him I haven't shown up again," said Harvey. "He'll just assume that your subconscious problem was resolved. It will be okay."
"Maybe you're right," said Phoebe. "And I guess an entry in the Book of Shadows is out of the question, too."
"I appreciate it," said Harvey. "But thank you for this rare opportunity. You've grown into a wonderful young woman. And you help a lot of people as a Charmed One. No small feat."
"So I keep hearing," said Phoebe. "What will you do now?"
"I have to move on," said Harvey. "There are always lonely children in the world. I can help make them less lonely."
"Will you ever come back this way?" Phoebe asked.
"I don't know," said Harvey. "It's possible."
"Well, if you do, be sure to stop by and say hello," said Phoebe.
"I'll do that," said Harvey.
Phoebe watched as the Pookah simply vanished from the chair. She snuggled down into her bed to go back to sleep. It was nice to know there was someone, or at least something, out there that helped make children's' lives easier. As she drifted off to sleep she was thinking about the best way to tell her sisters about the Harvey the Pookah.
The End
(Authors' endnote: This story was partially inspired by the Jimmy Stewart classic movie, "Harvey", in which he played Elwood P. Dowd and had a Pookah as his friend. A Pookah that appeared to him as a six foot white rabbit.)
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