THE MONSTER IN THE CLOSET

THE MONSTER IN THE CLOSET

“Girls, time to brush your teeth and get ready for bed.” “Aw, Mom!” complained eight-year-old Ann. “It’s only nine o’clock!  Can Angela and I stay up a little longer?” “No,” Mom replied. “Nine-thirty is bedtime.” Ann sighed and looked at her little sister. “Come on, Angela."  Mom said "No.” Ann was the older sister by one year, and she naturally felt like it was her job to take care of her little sister.

The two girls hurried to the bathroom to brush their teeth. Giggles echoed down the hallway as they made silly faces at each other in the mirror.  Hearing their joy brought a brief smile to Mom’s face before she yelled, “It’s bedtime!” They ran to the bedroom they shared, changed into their Hello Kitty pajamas, said their prayers, and jumped into bed. Mom kissed them goodnight and turned the light off. “Goodnight, Ann,” Angela whispered. “Goodnight, Angela”

The house was silent except for the hum of the circulating pedestal fan. Angela was just beginning to drift off when she heard a strange sound. Scratch, Scratch. Scratch. She opened her eyes, held her breath, and listened. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. She shook Ann. “Ann?” Angela whispered. “Did you hear that?” Ann whispered. “Hear what?” Angela asked.  “Listen!” Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.  “What is it?” Angela asked. “I don’t know,” Ann whispered.  The sound was coming from the closet. “What if it’s a monster? What if it comes out? “Angela whispered.   Ann and Angela pulled the cover over their heads, closed their eyes tightly, and eventually fell asleep while holding each other tightly.

The next morning, the girls ran into the kitchen and told their parents about the frightening noise. “There’s a monster living in our closet!” They screamed.  “Monsters aren’t real,” Dad assured them.  “Come on. I’m going to show you there’s no monster.” As he went to open the closet, they started screaming. “No, Daddy! Don’t let it get you!” Angela cried.” He told them to calm down and that he would protect them. He opened the closet door. “Look, girls. There’s no monsters. Just clothes, shoes, and blankets.”

Angela and Ann got dressed, ate breakfast, and went outside to play. Throughout the day, they talked about the monster in their closet. Maybe the monster only comes out at night when everyone’s asleep.” Ann suggested.  “Maybe there’s a secret door in the back of the closet.” Angela replied.  Although Dad had assured them it was safe, they couldn’t help but wonder. As the hours passed, they eventually quit talking about it.

Once the darkness came, they began to dread bedtime.  “Can we sleep with you and Dad tonight? Angela asked. “Mom immediately said, “No!”  “There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Neither girl wanted to be the first to enter the bedroom.  Ann took Angela’s hand, and together they walked inside.  Tonight’s prayer was a little different than previous ones.” Dear God, please don’t let the monster come back.” Angela prayed. Ann added, “If he does, let him be a nice, purple monster that only wants to play.” Mom turned on the fan, kissed them on the forehead and said, “Off to sleep you go.”“Goodnight momma! We love you!” “I love you too!”

 The girls lay still, listening to the sound of the fan. As soon as Angela fell asleep, Ann woke her. “Did you hear that? I think it’s the monster.” Angela listened. “It sounds like it’s scratching the wall. Trying to get out!” Angela thought about what her dad had said. “Monsters aren’t real.” ‘It’s my job to protect my little sister.” I’m going to see what it is. Stay in bed Ann.”   Angela drummed up the courage to go to the closet. The closer she got, the louder the noise. She ran back to bed. “I don’t know what it is but it’s big.”  whispered Angela. They put their heads under the cover and eventually fell asleep.

The next morning their mom woke them up. “Wake up sleepyheads!” They continued snoring. She shook them. “Come on girls.  Time to get up!”  I’m tired Mom,” Angela mumbled. Ann nodded. “We heard the scratching again.” “The monster came back last night,” mumbled Ann.  “Oh, sweetheart. What am I going to do about this monster?”

Ann and Angela got dressed, ate breakfast, and went out to play. Ann told Angela,” Maybe the closet monster is like Barney the Dinosaur.  We could be friends with him and sing songs.” I wonder what he likes to eat, Angela added. 

That night when the girls went to bed with dread on their face. Dad promised he would stay in the room until they fell asleep. He read them a bedtime story, tucked them in, and said, “sweet dreams.” He sat quietly in a chair by the closet until they fell asleep. Once he was certain they were asleep, he got up, turned on the fan, and quietly left the room.

Ann woke up with the monster on her mind. The room was dark.  She noticed that her dad was not in the room. She heard the scratching noise. “Did you hear that? She asked Angela. “Wake up! It’s back!” Angela reached for the overhead light string but could not find it. She mustered up the courage to slide her hand along the paneling wall, making her way to the closet. “I can do this! I can do this!” She changed her mind and jumped back into bed. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

“Daddy!” she screamed. “Daddy, Come Quick!” Dan ran to the bedroom and turned on the light. “What’s wrong?” “The Monster is back! “cried Ann, while pointing at the closet. Dad listened. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. “Okay. I heard it. Let’s find out where that noise is coming from” Dad followed the sound to a blanket that was sitting on a shelf inside of the closet. A tag on the blanket was flapping in the breeze from the fan against the wood paneling. Dad put his hand on the tag and the scratching noise stopped.

Dad smiled. “Well, girls, I think I’ve found you monster!”  Ann and Angela burst into giggles. “I had hoped it was Barney.” Ann said. Then she began singing the song, “I Love You, You Love Me!”