It's Okay. Mommy's Here

The room is dark and cold.  I know it's daytime because I've been up only a short time.  I've had my breakfast already and played with my constant companion. Her name is Annie. She has bright red hair, a flat face, and funny-looking nose. She's tattered and ragged and in need of a bath (at least that's what my mother says).

The shades on the windows have been pulled down, but I can still see the sun trying to slip through the sides.  I'm told it's time for bed but it can't be. It seems like I just got up. Mother says she's not feeling well and needs to lie down, so I should go to bed, too.  But I'm not tired.  Annie and I want to play.

The door is closed and I hear a click which means it's locked and I can't get out. My first instinct is to panic, but this time I'm going to be a big girl and not do that screaming thing that makes Mother fall on the floor and act all strange and scary.

I'm not sleepy so Annie and I talk, but Mother can hear me from the other room (how does she do that? I was whispering or at least I thought I was). She yells at me, "Carol Louise! Go to sleep!" 

I close my eyes, stick my thumb in my mouth, and pull Annie close to me.  I don't want to go to sleep.  If I do they'll come for me. I whisper, whisper, whisper in Annie's ear, but Mother hears me and threatens to spank me if she hears one more word.

They're here! The monsters are in the room.  Shhhhh. Lie still. Don't move. Oh, no! Now they're on the bed. My tongue is growing bigger and fills my mouth.  I'm suffocating.  I can't breathe. They're on top of me.  I can't fight them off because I'm paralyzed.  Annie must be paralyzed, too, because she's not moving.  I need my mother.  She'll save me from the monsters.  I try to scream but my over-sized tongue gets in the way, and the only noise I can make is a whimper.  But Mother hears it anyway and throws open the door.  My protector, my rescuer, my mother has come to save me. After she fights off my attackers, she'll hold me in her arms and say, "It's okay, Sweetheart. I'll protect you. Mommy's here." 

The door slams shut and the window shades shutter. Mother is standing over me and Annie.  I hold my precious little girl close to me so the switch won't hurt her.  "It's okay." I whisper. "I'll protect you. Mommy's here."