As soon as he revealed himself, Peggy reacted in the manner in which he'd been expecting all along. She gave a small, startled gasp and drew back.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Randall assured her, drawing closer to her. "I'm not gonna scare ya. I just wanted to show you what I look like."

Peggy seemed to relax, and scooted closer to him. She smiled, and Randall smiled back, showing his sparkling white rows of teeth.

"Wh – what are you?" Peggy finally asked.

"I thought you said I was your imaginary friend," Randall replied, still smiling.

"I know, but WHAT are you?" Peggy asked again.

Randall rolled his eyes and gave her a gentle nudge in the arm. "Aw, c'mon. Is it really that important?"

"Um…no, I guess not," Peggy replied. For a moment afterwards, there was a comfortable silence between the two of them.

Finally, Peggy spoke. "I like those…those…" she searched for the right words as she gestured toward the pink – tipped fronds on Randall's head and neck.

Randall reached up and smoothed his fronds back. "What, my fronds? Well, thanks! You have good taste!"

"Yeah…they look kinda like a Mohawk, almost!" Peggy replied. "I always wanted to get my hair done in a Mohawk, but my mom would probably say no."

Randall chuckled. "Seems to me like that's her knee – jerk reaction to a lot of stuff you wanna do, huh?" He came closer and put one of his arms around Peggy. "Well now, I guess most of the time, she feels there's a good reason for it."

Peggy looked at him curiously. "Really? You think she'll ever tell me what it is?"

"Meh, I doubt it," Randall replied, shrugging his topmost set of forearms. "Human grownups can be oddly tight – lipped about that sort of thing, see."

Peggy laughed at this. "You're really funny, Randall! I'm glad you're my imaginary friend!"

Randall felt the pleasant flutter in the depths of his stomach again. He looked down at Peggy's mound of sand. "Now, about getting that sand wet…"

"Peggy! Come on, we're going home now!" Peggy's mother called.

"Okay, mom! I'm coming!" Peggy called back. She looked at Randall with worry in her soft brown eyes. Had she become acquainted with her new friend only to have to say goodbye to him after just five minutes?

"How am I gonna be able to take you home? My mom will SEE you!" Peggy worried.

"Nuh – UNHH," Randall contradicted with a sly smile. And before Peggy could bat an eye, Randall had turned himself invisible!

"Randall?" Peggy asked, looking around wildly. "Where'd you go?"

"I'm right here!" Randall materialized for just a few seconds before turning invisible again. The next thing Peggy knew, she was being lifted right off the ground in a tight bear hug. Peggy started squirming until Randall materialized again and she found herself looking up into his light green eyes.

"Don't you worry your pretty little head, toots," Randall reassured her. "Your mom will never even know I'm here!"

"Wow, Randall…you're amazing!" Peggy cried, reaching her hand up to scratch under Randall's jaw.

"Peggy, NOW!" Peggy's mother called again.

"Hang on, Peggy!" Randall told her, and with the little girl still in his arms, he rushed over to where Peggy's mother was waiting. He was careful to deposit her on the ground before Peggy's mother noticed her daughter being carried along by her imaginary friend.

"Hi, mom!" Peggy said, looking up at her mother and waving. "Sorry I took so long!"

Peggy's mother sighed. "Yes, well, just get in the car."