Scared, Really Scared

It’s there in the darkest corner of his room there where he takes off his shoes and socks and just leaves them the place that his Mom said that she is going to leave as is from now on it’s just sitting there grinning he can’t see it clearly but it’s there just waiting as soon as he closes his eyes it’s gonna streak across the room and rip his face off with its razor sharp claws why did it come to his room it should have gone to nerdy Norman’s room no, to big fat bully Billy’s room he can’t hear it breathing ‘cause its sitting there with its mouth wide open slowly breathing in and out past big yellow teeth just waiting his eyelids are getting heavy he shakes his head from side to side to keep awake he thinks of terrible things like the time big ole spotty Betty stole his lunch and stamped on it with her big ole leather sandals right there in the playground in front of everyone or the time that Nathan whose Dad is super rich snapped all his pens and pencil in half right there in the classroom in front of the English teacher and got 3 days detention all this remembering has made him as mad as a snake he now wants it to come streaking across the room to rip his face off ‘cause he is good and mad and ready for it he is tired of always taking it, and taking it, and taking it he is now ready to do some giving he closes his eyes squinch-face tight inches up further against the headboard clenches his fists as tight as tight can be kicks the blankets onto the floor and waits, and waits, and waits eventually he opens his right eye just a smidge and looks over to where it is it’s still there sitting quietly not moving not breathing his older brother’s big ole back-pack that he borrowed for a camping trip with Dad and uncle Lonnie.