Good Night

Elizabeth’s sleep was broken by a knock on her bedroom door. 

“Mom,” called Nancy while knocking.

Elizabeth checked the clock, it was 2 am. Worried, she quickly opened the door to find Nancy terrified. She crouched and held Nancy’s hands.

“What’s the matter, darling?”

“I’m scared, mom.”

“Scared of what?”

“I think,” said Nancy. “There’s a monster under the bed!”

Elizabeth hugged Nancy. “It’s okay, I am here for you.”

“Can I sleep with you tonight, please?” asked Nancy.

“Sure, love,” said Elizabeth.

Under the blanket of her mother’s love, in her warm embrace, Nancy soon fell asleep. She slept peacefully that night. The next day, it was bed time again. Nancy was hesitant to go to her room and Elizabeth understood her predicament.

“Bed time, Nancy.”

“Can I sleep with you tonight as well?”

“Let’s go and check your room, shall we?”

“No, mom!” said Nancy. “There’s a monster under the bed!”

“Don’t worry, I’m there with you. Together we’ll scare the monster away.”

Nancy reluctantly agreed.

Elizabeth switched on the lights and entered the room. Nancy tiptoed behind her mother. Elizabeth checked the room thoroughly, behind the curtains, inside the closet, and under the bed.

“Seems the monster isn’t here!” she said.

“I’m still scared, I’m sure there is a monster!”

“I know there is, but it isn’t under the bed,” said Elizabeth.

“Then where is it?” asked Nancy.

“It is inside your head!” said Elizabeth. “Like most other monsters we encounter in life.”

“I did not understand, mom”

“I will explain to you as we sleep. Let’s sleep together in your room today, shall we?”

Reluctantly, Nancy agreed.

“Once upon a time, a small town was terrified by stories of a monster lurking in their streets. Nobody had actually seen the monster. They had just seen its big and scary shadow on the wall,” narrated Elizabeth. “One day a brave boy decided to confront the monster. He walked out at night with a stick in his hand. As expected, he saw the giant shadow on the wall.”

“Then what happened, mom?”

“The boy took a deep breath and leapt out of hiding. He stood between the shadow and the monster, facing the monster!”

“Wow!” exclaimed Nancy. “Brave boy. Then?”

“Then? The moment he saw the monster he burst into laughter!” said Elizabeth.

“Laughter?” Nancy was perplexed.

“Yes, because the monster turned out to be little mouse! The light from behind played tricks and cast a huge shadow on the wall!”

“That’s hilarious!” chuckled Nancy.

“You see, my love, there was no monster lurking in their streets, but there was one in people’s heads!”

Nancy was listening intently.

“Most monsters we encounter in life are such. They only exist in our head. Our assumptions or sometimes our conditioning makes us believe they are real. In most cases they are not! How do you defeat these monster?” asked Elizabeth.

“Take a stick and jump right in front of them,” replied Nancy enthusiastically.

“That is correct,” said Elizabeth. “The only way to beat them is to face them courageously.”

“Thank you, mom,” said Nancy and hugged Elizabeth. “You can sleep in your room, mom. I will be brave and face my monster.”

“You sure, love?”

“Yes, mom.”

“My brave little girl,” said Elizabeth. “Good night.”

She kissed Nancy on her forehead and left.