The Boogeymen

by Moondancer Drake

“Mommy, the boogeymen are under my bed.” Little Kevin Jorgenson said over the end of the heavy comforter.

Patty nudged Karen from under the warm sheets. “Your son is up.”

Glancing up at the clock on the nightstand Karen grumbled. “At three in the morning he’s your son.”

“Mommy!” Kevin whined, clutching his purple and black toy kitten close to his chest. “Can I sleep in here tonight?”

Deciding that the bruises she’d receive sleeping in the bed with an active six-year old were far less desirable then a few minutes of lost sleep, Patty sat up. “How about we all go to your room and check it out? You’ll see. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“All of us?” Karen moaned, but at the look Patty shot her, got up anyway. Both women threw on their robes and slippers and groggily followed Kevin back to his room.

Patty reached inside the doorway, and flicked on the light switch. The room looked like it did every night. The pale green walls were a little grimy with fingerprints, but the fairies and elves their artist friends had painted there gave the bedroom a cheery feeling. Toys overflowed from the wooden toy chest, and broken crayons littered the wood floors. “See, nothing to be scared of.”

Kevin gripped Karen’s arm and stayed partially hidden behind her, just the tip of his face peeking out from around her elbow.

Patty sighed and reached for the flashlight from the shelf above his dresser. She opened the closet and shone the light about inside. “See, clothing, and shoes, and toys, but look, no monsters.”

“Under the bed.”  Kevin pointed, his face pale and his eyes wide. “Can’t you hear them?”

“Honey.” Karen whispered. “I keep telling you, there’s no such thing as monsters.”

Patty walked over to the bed, and kneeling down, lit the area brightly. “Nope. Nothing here but dust bunnies and candy wrappers.”

Kevin scowled in confusion and then his eyes widened again. “The light. You can’t see them when the lights are on. It’s there, I swear I’m not fibbin’.”

“I know you think they are, baby.” Karen sighed, and looked up at Patty imploringly.

Tired, and willing to do anything to end this and go back to bed, Patty motioned for Karen to shut off the overhead light, and she turned off her flashlight. Once only the nightlight was the only thing glowing in the room, Patty grabbed the footboard of Kevin’s bed and pushed it to one side. 

Karen screamed.

In the floor was a hole and from within, growling voices could be heard. A tentacle reached out from the pit, and touched Patty’s foot. She screamed and kicked at it before jumping back. “What the…”

“The boogeymen!  The boogeymen!” Kevin insisted.

Karen reached for the door. It shut in front of her with a slam. She pulled desperately at the knob.  Patty dashed across the room and clawed at the edges of the door.

Kevin glanced back at the hole and then turned back to his mothers. “Mommy, can I sleep in your bed now?”  

***

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