Something Is Definitely There

There was a sound. Scrrrch. Theo froze.

It was a monster. Obviously it was a monster. It was definitely, absolutely, one hundred percent a monster.

Theo pulled the blanket up. Past his chin. Past his nose. Past his eyes. Just his hair was out. His hair was very scared.

Scrrrch. THERE IT WAS AGAIN.

Theo's feet went cold. His tummy went tight. His brain went: it is enormous. it has seventeen teeth. it has been waiting specifically for Theo.

The cat walked in. The cat looked at the bed. The cat looked at the lump under the blanket. The cat left. Even the cat.

Theo made a plan. The plan was: Do not move. Do not breathe. Do not exist if possible.

It was a very good plan. He waited. The monster did not come. He waited more. Still no monster. He waited so long he got bored.

Getting bored was not part of the plan.

He put one eye out. Just one. The room was: dark. The room was: quiet. The room was: just his room with his things in it being completely normal and unhelpful.

He put the other eye out. Same.

He looked under the bed. One sock. Three pencils. A wheel from something. No monster.

Scrrrch.

It was the radiator. The radiator had been doing that for literally ever.

Theo got back under the blanket. He did not tell anyone about the plan. The cat came back. Sat on his feet. Purred like a small broken engine. Theo's feet went warm. He closed his eyes. The radiator went scrrrch. Theo didn't care anymore.