I was reading “ Harry Potter” to my son. When I read that Dobby sacrificed his own life to save Harry, my little son felt very sad. I know how he like Dobby, so I put down the book and told him it’s the bed time.

Reluctantly, he lied down with eyes open widely.

“I wish I could have a house elf too.” he murmured.

“You do have.” said I while tucked him in. It has become so cold these days.

“Of course I don’t!” He didn’t believe me at all.

“Yes, you have. Every kids have their own houselves. You just don’t see them. You have to see them with your heart, not your eyes.” I said in a more convincing tone.

He raised his little head, his bright eyes rolling in every direction for the invisible elf. It took me some troubles to lay him down again.

“I told you that you couldn’t see them, but they are always there for you.” I said.

“Really?” asked he, still not fully buying my story.

“ Yes, they have been there since you were born. Protect you from the evils, tend you carefully and appear everytime you need them. So you can grow up so healthy.” I told him.

“Do they know magic?” asked my son excitedly.

“Of course they do magic,” I answered, “When you were a little baby, you knew nothing but crying. They could read your mind and knew when you were hungry, when you needed to change the diapers, and when you just wanted a company. While you were cutting your first tooth, you had a very bad time of it. You slept in fits and starts all night, your houself had to hold you all night to make you feel a little comfortable. And the next morning, she still performed the chores as the usual, doing the cleaning and all the other stuffs. Without magic, how could she manage it? “

“Why didn’t I remember?” said my son in frustration.

“We tend to forget things like that. I didn’t realize that I had my own houselves too until you were born. One day, you will remember them all.” I said softly.

“Are they still there?” asked my son tentatively.

“ Yes, as long as you need them, they would always be there for you. And they never mind that they are not paid for what they are doing. They are your houselves, so they are delighted to take care of you. One day, when you grow up and you might find them annoyed. You could set them free. Of course they would feel upset and even heart broken about it. But they would let you go and retreated into their own world. “

“Then I would never set them free. I like to….” said my son anxiously.

“ Hush, time to bed now.” I kissed him Goodnight.