“Mama! I can’t sleep.” Travis pulled the covers over his eyes and waited.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” His mom ran into the room, settled onto the bed, her head tilted.
Travis dared to poke one eye back into the world. “I’m scared.”
His mom tried to hide her smile. “Scared of what? Papa and I are just in the next room. What has you so frightened?”
“The monster…under the bed.” Travis whined like a four year old, even though he was already five. He lifted his chin in an attempt to look brave.
“Travis, we’ve had this discussion a hundred times. There is no such thing as monsters under your bed. You’re fine. Close your eyes and go to sleep.”
He scrunched his nose. “But mama—”
“No but’s. It’s time you go to sleep, buddy.” She kissed him on the forehead. “No more stalling.”
“You sure, mama? You sure there are no h-humans under there?” Travis dug his claws into his sheets.
His mom smoothed back his green fur behind his pointed ears. “Yes, darling. There’s no such thing as humans.”
©Laura L. Zimmerman 2018
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash