A CHILDREN'S STORY & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Alright, already!  I know, I know, but I've been really busy.  I finished the biography on my Mother and have gotten a proof copy and ordered the books for my collection and they will be here in about a week.  As much as I've neglected this blog I have been writing.   I wrote two poems, one each for my grandsons for Christmas, wrote poems for my wonderful neighbors for all the help they continue to give us, wrote a Christmas poem to go into my Christmas letter and have been active with my writing and critiquing for the Children's Book Writer group to which a belong. Phew!!  So you see I haven't stopped writing.

I just posted one of my Children's stories to our critique site just a few minutes ago so I'll add it here to share with all of you.

MONSTERS

By Pat Severin                                          

If you’re scared of monsters like I used to be

I’ve something to tell you, just listen, you’ll see.

I had that scared feeling, I used to, before.

I used to be frightened but NOT anymore.

Monsters aren’t real, they DO NOT exist.

           

I KNOW that they don’t, in fact, I INSIST!    

But it’s so much fun pretending they do,

   

I made up this story especially for you.

                                   

My story starts out with me snuggling in bed.

I pull up the covers right over my head,

                                                                       

I say to my Mom, “Do you hear it, that noise?”

                       

I point to my closet, “It’s beneath all my toys!”

                       

I say, “Mom, it’s scary, like nothing I’ve heard.

Just listen, Mom, listen…and don’t say a word.

I say, “It’s a Monster, and boy, he sounds mad.”

I whisper, “Pretend with me, Mom.  Go get Dad.”

They wink, play along and say, “We hear it, too!

That noise is so scary, oh what should we do?”

I tell Mom, “He’s hungry, I’m worried he might

Start eating my toys and not just a bite!”

“In that case,” my Dad says, “It’s all up to you,”

Your bedroom, your closet, your toys and your rules!”

I say, “Pretend monster, you get out of there!

Come out of my closet, come out!  I’m not scared!”

But Mom says, “It’s bedtime, now get into bed.”

So she tucks me in with a kiss on the head.

For a while, when she’s gone, I pretend I’m asleep

Then tiptoe my way to my closet and peek,

And whisper, “Now, monster, I will let your stay

But not in my closet, off limits, no way!”

(I always talk quiet when I make believe.

It sounds more convincing, now don’t you agree?)                                                                    

 I say to my Monster, “Now, here is the deal.

The toys in my closet should NOT be a meal.”

“Go sleep in the corner, not under my bed!

Now, listen up, Monster! D’you hear what I said?”

 I wait till he’s settled and I hear him snore,

Then cover him up and prop open the door

In case he gets thirsty and might want a drink,

Then he can get up and go right to the sink.

And maybe tomorrow we’ll play hide and seek.

If he’s having fun, he might stay for a week.

We’ll play lots of games, my Monster and I.

I bet that he’s real good at playing “I Spy!”

So my pretend monster and I became friends

And that’s just exactly how my story ends.

The story’s pretend and my monster is too.

Since monsters aren’t real, they can’t frighten you.

Tonight when your Mom comes to tuck you in bed,

Look right in your closet, remember I said,

“Monsters aren’t real, they’re not anywhere,

Not under your bed, in your closet, by your chair.

You’ll probably find shoes and a whole lot of toys,

But nothing’s in there that can make a strange noise.

You’ll see for yourself, NO MONSTERS IN THERE!

Monsters aren’t real, they aren’t ANYWHERE.

 If you’re scared of monsters I want you to know

That fear that you're feeling, just let it go.

Monsters aren’t real, now do you see?

They do not exist, just take it from me!