Photo by Steve Johnson on Pexels.com
” I think there is a monster in my closet ”
her daughter, Midge said for the one billionth time.
” No there isn’t. ” she told her daughter Midge- otherwise known as the kid who never got into bed when she was supposed to and could always find a way to avoid it.
” Mommy, I’m not fibbing. I think there is a monster in my closet. I think it has big sharp teeth and horns and knives for fingers.”
Midge pulled her fluffy pink comforter up to her chin and five of the twenty or so plush kittens she slept with tumbled to the floor.
” Mommy! Save my babies!”
Brenda leaned over and started to pitch Midge’s babies back up onto the bed. Her hair, which needed washing fell into her face and she could see her yellow sweatshirt had popcorn kernels stuck to it.
She couldn’t remember when she ate popcorn last.
” Mommy. ”
” No Midge. No I am not going to check your closet for monsters.”
” Why not? Don’t you love me?”
” No. I mean yes. Of course I love you. But I’ve been checking your closet for Monsters every night since you were three years old and you’re seven now. Midge I’m tired of looking into your closet to check for monsters.”
Midge sniffed. ” It’s not like there are a million monsters. There’s only one, I think. Please. Please check.”
” Look. Just give me a break. I’ll tell you what. I’ll watch your babies and you check the closet for the Monster.”
Midge’s eyes went from little pools of blue light to gigantic saucer sized orbs. ” What if it gets me?”
” It’s never gotten me. Go ahead. I’ll wait and you be a big brave girl and check.”
Midge slid her comforter down and slid out of her white and yellow canopy bed.
She padded past her tea set and dollhouses and her shelves lined with dolls and books about fairies and princesses.
When she got to her closet door she reached for the knob and she turned to her Mother. ” If the Monster gets me, you’ll be sorry.”
” I’m sure you will be safe. Go on.”
Midge turned the knob and pulled the door open and then a gust of warm air sent her flying forwards and she landed with a soft thud.
The door slammed shut.
” Mommy! Mommy help! The monster got me, the monster got me!”
Brenda put her back against the closet door and slid to the floor. ” Actually Midge, ” said Mommy as she pushed a lock of hair behind one of her horns freshly sprouted horns with the shiny knife at the end of her finger that she hardly ever popped out anymore because she was too busy driving her daughter to dance lessons nowdays” The monster doesn’t want you! ”
Photo A.M. Moscoso
RDP- Sunday–Closet