All Grown Up
and I Still Close the Closet Door
Before I Go To Bed
After mom shut the door
a huge, fur-matted head rose
slowly between hanging worn-out
Levi's and Gar-animal shirts.
Lying ridged under the blanket,
I hoped it wouldn't see me.
Its egg-yolk eyes searched,
and found as its purple, fleshy
lips smiled, showing off rows
of needle teeth, made for pricking
my pink, soft skin. Its hairy body
dragged across my shag carpet
on claws that snagged the threads,
coming to get me. My eyes squeezed
shut, breathing fast and frantic,
I wished it away, wished it away.
On my cheek I felt its breath...
smelled it too, rotten hamburger.
My scream was trapped by fear.
It knew my name and said it in
a throaty, syrupy growl. I knew
I was going to die. My scream tore
loose, bringing mom. It dashed into
the closet, glaring at me over its
shoulder for ruining its dinner...
and disappeared. She reassured me,
only a shadow she said, only a shadow,
but I knew the monster came out only
when mommy wasn't there.

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