Post by scarecrow on Sept 6, 2006 17:56:06 GMT -5
My entry for the Short Story Contest (of which I'm the only entrant, so get your butts there and let's make this a competition!). It was supposed to describe the life of a child, chronicling how his life came to the climax shown in this picture: www.bigstockphoto.com/photo/view/384782?
“Don’t be scared, Davey. There’s no monster in there, see?”
A particularly booming peal of thunder came rolling by, and Davey swallowed hard as stared fearfully at the menacing closet door. He held Wilfred tighter as yet another bolt of lightning flashed in the distance.
“Are you sure, Daddy?”
“I’m sure, Davey. See for yourself.”
His dad had never been afraid of the monster in the closet, and it somehow never seemed to be there when his dad went to check it. Maybe it was scared of his dad.
“It’s gone.”
“There never was a monster, Davey. There are no such things as monsters.”
“Yes, there is. It’s just gone.”
Davey’s dad had never complained like his mom when he woke her up at night. He’d always get up and check the closet out for Davey and Wilfred. Davey’s mom usually just grumbled something about him being silly, and would turn over and go right back to sleep.
“There was no monster, Davey. You’re just imagining things.”
“Yes, there was.”
Davey reached for the doorknob, and just held it there for a second. The monster might have only gone because it was scared of his dad. What if it wasn’t scared of him? There was no father in the next room to run to if it leapt out at him now.
“You know, someday, you’re gonna have to chase those monsters away on your own.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“Well, I do. I’m sure you can.”
Davey had never really understood what his dad had meant until now. He held Wilfred as tightly as he could, and took a deep breath. Then he yanked the door open.
Nothing.
Davey exhaled, and hugged Wilfred with both his arms. His dad had been right, after all.
Chase Away The Monsters
“Don’t be scared, Davey. There’s no monster in there, see?”
A particularly booming peal of thunder came rolling by, and Davey swallowed hard as stared fearfully at the menacing closet door. He held Wilfred tighter as yet another bolt of lightning flashed in the distance.
“Are you sure, Daddy?”
“I’m sure, Davey. See for yourself.”
His dad had never been afraid of the monster in the closet, and it somehow never seemed to be there when his dad went to check it. Maybe it was scared of his dad.
“It’s gone.”
“There never was a monster, Davey. There are no such things as monsters.”
“Yes, there is. It’s just gone.”
Davey’s dad had never complained like his mom when he woke her up at night. He’d always get up and check the closet out for Davey and Wilfred. Davey’s mom usually just grumbled something about him being silly, and would turn over and go right back to sleep.
“There was no monster, Davey. You’re just imagining things.”
“Yes, there was.”
Davey reached for the doorknob, and just held it there for a second. The monster might have only gone because it was scared of his dad. What if it wasn’t scared of him? There was no father in the next room to run to if it leapt out at him now.
“You know, someday, you’re gonna have to chase those monsters away on your own.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“Well, I do. I’m sure you can.”
Davey had never really understood what his dad had meant until now. He held Wilfred as tightly as he could, and took a deep breath. Then he yanked the door open.
Nothing.
Davey exhaled, and hugged Wilfred with both his arms. His dad had been right, after all.
