If There's a Monster...

When I looked under the bed,
Something looked back.

My mother had told me,
"There's nothing to fear.
There's no such thing as a monster, my Dear."

But each big red eye,
Was gleaming bright,
And smiling under my bed tonight.

I closed my own, as quick as I could,
In hope that it might not see me.
But from under the bed,
"Boy," he said,
"Shall I eat you in one bite or three?"

"None," I pleaded in mostly a squeak.
I jerked up the covers,
While daring a peek,
When out from the bed he crept.

He was feathers and scales,
Three horns on his head,
And two curling tails,
Which he laid on my bed.

"Boy," he growled,
"You're merely a stump."
The rest he howled,
"You're not even one bite;
Not even a lump!"

A green tongue rolled out,
Caught Steven and I
Into his mouth,
Before we could let out a cry.

We squirmed,
And squeezed,
And squished,
And finally plopped,
Into his brightly lit belly.

Something stood,
And sneezed,
And cringed,
And finally burped,
Into a creature of jelly.

"This is my room.
Go find your own!
I'm the Bibble of Doom,
And I'll tickle your bones."

"Sir," I replied,
"I came from up,
And down seems quite dark.
If we could borrow your lantern..."
I then remarked.

"Only by trade.
Leave something behind."
So I dug in my pocket,
But all I could find
Was one shiny tooth
I had lost the last night.

I handed it over.
"It's all I have; I'm sorry it's tiny."
He licked and he sniffed.
"This isn't food. This isn't shiny!"

I quickly replied,
"It's for a fairy of teeth.
It's worth quite a bit."
His three mouths each grinned,
"Then my lantern you keep."

Steve and I continued
Through tunnels and holes,
Past garbage, lint,
And half-eaten rolls.

Then a voice shouted,
"Halt! Stop in your tracks!
Forward is locked,
And you can't go back!"

A long slender neck
Slipped down from the roof,
Followed by six hairy legs,
On each one a hoof.

"Gatekeeper am I."
He said as he unfurled his cape.
"That locked door there,
Is your only escape."

"It's here in my hand
But you won't get this key,
Unless, of course,
You leave someone with me."

I hemmed and I hawed.
I huffed and I puffed.

The only ones there
Were Steven and I,
And him I was fond of,
Even though he was shy.

Mother'd be angry.
Mother'd be sad.
If I didn't come home,
She wouldn't be glad.

I looked at my bear,
Those black button eyes.
Then held him close,
And said quick goodbyes.

I handed him over.
The beast clutched Steven tight.
It then dropped the key,
And scurried out of sight.

I wiped off my tears,
I unlocked the door.
I crawled.
I climbed.
I jogged.
Then I crawled a bit more.

Finally things brightened,
The end was in sight!
I rolled down out his navel
Back into my room.

The monster climbed out the window,
Not a moment too soon.
My mother opened my door
To kiss me goodnight.

She didn't believe
The tale I told.
She scoffed at my fear,
And turned off the light.

From under my bed
Something giggled.