Quix,
I would very much like to believe his story, and in fact I'm not claiming that I disbelieve.
However I have a 4 year old, and she will go on and on about make believe friends and places.
And once it has come out of her mouth, she will remember it and repeat it as if it were real - you cannot trip her up.
The only way I know for sure that she's making things up is that she uses things she has just heard or seen in her stories.
For instance, we were sitting next to some women discussing something that happened with one of their kids, and then the next thing you know a few minutes later, she starts talking about how her "friend" just had something similar happen to her.
Sometimes conversations with her can get quite fascinating, as she blends together reality and fantasy and her own brand of 4 year old logic.
For instance, my daughter's friend's name is "Gomestas BenGracias", from Mexico. It is a mouthful for a 4 year old who doesn't speak Spanish, but she has never wavered in the pronunciation. And she ALWAYS mentions that she's from Mexico, whenever she says the name.
Now right before this all started, one of her schoolmates (who she didn't know) was moving to Mexico and gave a speech in front of her class. I'm guessing that she spoke a little in Spanish, saying something like "como estas, bien gracias" - and from there my daughter had a new imaginary best friend.
I understand that kids do that at those ages.
Please Read the book.
Then tell me you think that this kid did that 0.00001% worth.
My son’s primary imaginary friend starting at age 3 or so was “Gatoraid.” Also Totts and Beep if he needed an entire gang for his adventures. I think he just liked the way the word sounded. Thanks for sharing the Gomestas BenGracias story. It made me smile.