by:

Colette Kirkpatrick

I ran as fast as I could. It was gaining on me. It had glowing red eyes, horns all over its head, and nasty green skin. Its fur smelled like rotting eggs, its jagged, yellow teeth were long and sharp. Its claws were like razors, and it was getting closer. I screamed as its claws raked my arm.

Suddenly, I sat up in bed. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. My twin brother was sound asleep in his bed next to mine. A pleasant smile was on his face. I wished I could have beat him up with my pillow as I realized that he was having a good dream. Even though we were only four, it always seemed like he had nicer dreams than I did.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a shadow move. The monster! I looked all around, but there was nothing there. I wanted to get up and go into my parents' room, but what if the monster was under my bed, waiting for me to get up so it could grab my legs and pull me under? I was too scared to get up, but I wanted my daddy. Finally, I got up the nerve to call out for my father.

"Daddy!" I cried, trying to keep my voice down so I wouldn't wake Cain, my stupid brother. Moments later, Daddy came stumbling into my room. His hair was going every which way, and his T-shirt and sweatpants were rumpled and twisted. He looked very groggy, but he seemed to wake up when he say that I was crying.

"Colette? Sweetie, what's wrong?" he exclaimed, kneeling next to my bed.

"I had a bad dream." I whimpered. "I'm scared to go back to sleep. The monster will get me!"

"What monster?" Dad asked, looking concerned, as if he believed the monster was real.

"A bad monster, Daddy!" I told him. "He wants to eat me!"

"Well, how about I stay in here until you go to sleep? I won't let any monsters get you." he promised.

"Okay." I said. I scooted over in my bed so that he could lay down, and not have to sit on the hard floor. After he got comfortable on my tiny bed, I asked him, "Will you sing me a song?"

"Of course." he said. He was quiet for a moment, then he began to sing.

"Well, it's not far down to paradise
At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility

Oh, the canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me…"

He sang the next two verses, but his voice was fading quickly. Soon he was sound asleep!

I smiled. Poor Daddy. I thought. He's so sleepy. I pulled the covers up over my sleeping father and kissed his cheek. He stirred a bit, but did not wake. I snuggled close to him and I very quietly began to sing.

"It's not far to Never-Never Land
No reason to pretend
And if the wind is right you can find the joy
Of innocence again

Oh, the canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me…"
~