The Boogieman

Finally, morning came. Last night was horrible. I tried so hard to be good all day, but still the boogieman came. Mommy has to go to work soon, so I dressed in five pairs of pants, four shirts, two hats and scarves, and I put on my warmest pair of gloves. I know where to hide, but the snow is so deep this morning. I hope I can stay outside all day because I know that I must.

This time I remembered to take the broom with me so I can hide my footprints better. That was what gave me away yesterday. Now I can't use that hiding place anymore and I liked it a lot. I haven't even told my sister where I will be today. She wouldn't tell, but if I get caught, then she will be in trouble with the boogieman too and I don't want that.

Quietly, I walked backwards using the broom to sweep snow over my footprints. I will try really hard not to make big-deep prints this time, but I know I must hurry. The boogieman will wake up soon and he can't find my hiding place. Not today. Please God, not today. I can see my secret place from here, but I have to be really quiet and careful that no one else sees me, or they will tell him.

The snow is so thick and it is still falling down around me. Carefully, I lower myself into my secret place. Here I will wait until my mommy gets home from work. I will try really hard not to breathe or move. The snow helps block the wind from burning my face and I was smart to wear so many clothes. Last time the cold got to me and I had to go back inside, but not this time. Not today. Today I won't move one-inch until my mommy gets home. The boogieman won't get me if she is here. I just know it.

Hours keep passing by and the sun is beating down above me. My sister came out calling my name, but I didn't answer. I won't answer. It might be a trap like it was the day before. Now, I can hear my brother calling my name. I don't care if it is lunchtime or not. The boogieman isn't going to get me today, but I must come up with a new plan for tonight.

I miss my daddy so much right now. He would have never let the boogieman get me, never. The boogieman is calling me now; yelling at me, but I won't come. At least, not until my mommy is home. Tears burn my eyes and fear is making me shake, but I won't move. Not this time, not again.

I want to scream out, "Go away, Boogieman!" but my mommy will get mad if I do. I am supposed to be nice to the boogieman, but I hate him.

Instead, I sit still in my secret-place, hiding from him. But what will I do tonight? He is going to be really mad at me. So far, nothing has worked. Nothing has saved me. When will my mommy get home? It is so cold and the wind is starting to burn my face. My fingers are hurting and turning blue and I have to pee really badly. Where is my mommy?

Finally, they have given up on me. No one is calling my name. Maybe, just maybe, it is safe to come out, maybe I can run to the bathroom and pee and then run back out. But what if he sees me? I really hate him. I dream of him getting run over, or that God would take him away.

I can't stop thinking about my real daddy. I miss his smile and the way he held me so tight in his arms. He always knew how to scare the monsters away, even the ones under my bed. They were all scared of my daddy. I bet my daddy could scare the boogieman away too.

I have to pee so bad that it hurts. I don't think I can hold it much longer. Maybe, I can let just a little out into my pants. No one will know because I won't tell. As soon as my mommy gets home, I will run inside and change clothes. She will think I just had another accident since I have had so many lately. She just doesn't understand how scary it is to get up in the middle of the night. If he hears me, then I will have to go to the basement and I don't like going to the basement.

The basement is the boogieman's favorite place. He says it is our special place. But it isn't special at all to me. It smells like old shoes and the cold air drifts in from the little windows. I can always see people walking by, but they can't see me, or the boogieman. They can't save me.

I hope my mommy drives up soon. I didn't mean to pee so much in my pants. The snow is wet now and I need to move over to get out of it. I can smell it and it smells like dog pee. I hope no one figures out that it was me who did it. Maybe, I should bury it, or blame it on the neighbor's ugly dog. My mommy would believe that lie. She believes a lot of lies. Mainly, the ones the boogieman tells. He is such a good liar.

My mommy is finally driving up. I am so glad to see her. My lips are numb and my fingers burn. The pee on my pants is starting to sting my legs. I hate peeing on myself, but what else can I do?

Slowly, I crawl out from my secret place. I run as fast as I can to the other side of the bushes, so she won't know where I have been hiding. She sees me and hugs me. I like it when she smiles at me too. I don't feel so dirty.

"What on earth are you doing outside?" she asks, "You're going to catch your death."

"I missed you, Mommy! Can I stay with you tonight?" I beg.

"Well, of course you can," she laughs, "Let's get you inside. I will make you some hot cocoa. That should warm you right up."

I cling to her side and follow her in. The boogieman is standing in the hallway. I can tell he is mad at me. I hate him so much.

Mommy made spaghetti for dinner. It's my favorite. I ate as much as I could and held onto her the whole time. I want to tell her so bad, but the boogieman said he would kill her if I did. I don't want my mommy to die.

My sister let me shower with her. I think she knows the boogieman is hurting me, but she hasn't asked me. Should I tell her? What if he kills her too?

I hate nighttime. It is the worst, but I came up with a plan for tonight and I know it will work this time. It just has too.

I washed my hair and brushed my teeth. Wrapping the towel tightly around me, I peeked out into the hallway. I don't see him, so quietly I sneak to my room. I put on five pairs of panties, six pajama tops, and six pajama bottoms. I even put on my snow boots and tuck my pajama legs into them.

I have to sleep on the top bunk because that is what the boogieman said and we have to do what he says or else. I hate it on the top bunk though because I don't like heights. But, since he is my daddy now I have to do it. I really, really miss my real daddy. I pray every night he will come and rescue me, but so far, he hasn't.

Tonight is going to be different. I just know it. Carefully, I tucked in my covers all the way around my bed. I know I am not being a very good friend, but tonight I am going to sacrifice my friends to the boogie- man. One by one, I place all my friends on my bed, completely circling my bed with them. When I am done there is only a small space for me to sleep. I turn on the closet light and crack the door, so I can see him if he comes.

Slowly and carefully, I squeeze under my covers not wanting to pull them out from under my mattress. I lay as still as a statue, listening to the sounds in the house. If he is going to come it will be after my mommy falls asleep, my brother begins to snore, and my sister stops wiggling.

I hear my mommy go to bed. She asks him if he is coming, but he says not yet. My heart begins to race because I know what that really means. It means he is going to hurt me before he goes to bed. But not tonight, tonight I am safe. I just know I am.

My sister finally stopped moving around and my brother is snoring really loud. Tears form in my eyes and stain my cheeks. My bedroom door creaks open and I can smell the boogieman. The smell of beer and cigarettes fill my nose. I close my eyes real quick and hold them shut.

"Please God, let this work. Please God," I pray.

Nothing works though. The boogieman pulled my friends from my bed and I can hear him tossing them into the closet. Slowly, he pulls my covers up from under my mattress at the bottom of my bed. He reaches his hand up under them and finds my pants. I can hear him giggle. I hate the boogieman. I wish he were dead. I really miss my daddy.