The Man

Part 1:

My name is Mr. Bear. I am a caramel colored bear with two rounded ears and black eyes. I like to reach out my arms for hugs and am full of fluff  and bean bag beans. I have a purple bowtie around my neck, a gift from my child. On game nights I wear a green ball cap and jersey, go Clovers. However, most days I am just my furry self and my bowtie. 

I am a proud Member of the WPKFM association otherwise known as the We Protect Kids From Monsters association. 

WPKFM is a group of various stuffed characters. I myself am a bear. Other members include unicorns, dragons, cats, dogs and many more. Together we are sworen to protect our children from the monsters that bump in the night. Membership is granted to stuffed friends that are considered by their child to be a sleeping companion. We are the cuddles that a child won't nap without. Moms and dads are sure to bring us along to any new places that our child may encounter. At night our kid hugs us tight as they say their bedtime prayers. 

There is only one rule of the WPKFM association. It is vital that this rule is treated as law by every member. The one pivotal rule is that no adults ever know we are more than a toy. We protect our children and the adults never know about the monsters in the night. 

This is the story of my child, Brook Harvey, and I. 

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Part 2:

I reach out to the little girl walking by me in the toy store. She grins, picks me up and gives me the warmest most genuine hug. She turns to her mom, 

“This one”, she says with a toothy smile. 

Before I know it I'm heading home with my kid, Brook. The first thing Brook and I do as soon as we arrive home is run through the house. She gives me the grand tour. I get sped through the kitchen, past a closet and up a hall lined with family photos. After climbing the tall staircase she opens a door to what is apparently her bedroom. It's got a fluffy rug and a beanbag in the corner surrounded by books. Opposite this reading spot is a bed covered in bright sheets and pillows piled as high as mountains. There is a full window along another wall with a chalkboard propped up in front of it.  

Brook opens a door that I had yet to see and walks into a closet full of other stuffed animals, dolls, costumes and glitter. To this day Brook loves anything shiny. She starts to introduce me to her other toys. Before I know it she has dragged a short table and stools out and set up a tea party. 

The first night that I spent with Brook started peacefully. She said her prayers and was tucked in tight with hugs and kisses galore. Lights are dimmed as she makes her parents close the closet door and check under the bed for monsters. But it is a proven fact that adults miss things in the dark. They are distracted by other things and don't see the creatures flit away from their wandering sights. There are always creatures hiding in the shadows, ones that mean harm. Brook’s parents smile and say good night, turning out the last light and we are left alone. 

Late in the night I'm listening to Brooks gentle snores as she sleeps and dreams without a care. All of a sudden there's a thump sound followed by a scratching. I'm not sure where it is coming from. The rest of the house is silent. 

There it is again, Thump, scratch. Thump, scratch. 

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Part 3:

I wiggle out of Brooks hold on me and sit on the edge of her bed, waiting. Waiting for something to make its move. There he is. A figure creeps its way in from the open hall door. He is tall and shaped like a man but is featureless. I can not make out any eyes or a mouth. I don't even think he has ears. I'm not sure but I think it's a man of sorts. It's like a shadow of smoke that moves across the room. Then I see it. The thing has one lower limb and a sharp pointed thing in place of the other. With the first step it thunks and as it drags the other limb across the floor. Thunk, scratch. 

It towers over Brook and I so I stand to confront it. It's not going to hurt my child. 

I fling myself at the figure expecting for him to be mist but I connect with something solid. With a yell I start to climb the writhing shape beneath me. Limbs fly everywhere. Eventually, I think I must be sitting on his shoulders, round hunched things at least, I use my legs to grip on with all my might. I grab what I can only describe as fistfuls of textureles hair and pullback hard. He does a violent twirl around the room in a desperate attempt to shake me off. Again, I yank back on the lockless locks and wrangle the black blob across the room towards the reading nook. I have to get there, I have to. Nothing else matters but getting to the beanbag and keeping this thing away from Brook. Another yank. 

The room continues to swirl and buck as we grasp at each other both wanting to prevail. He drops to the ground, winded. I roll away from the shaking fog and run to the beanbag. He doesn't seem to know what's happening as he stands back up and turns to the bed. My steps quicken as I dive behind the beanbag fighting to push it aside. Desperately, I reach out and push the little white button on the nightlight so cleverly tucked away. 

Light shines across the floor and up the walls. With the light my soul lifts and I can breathe again. I look for the shadow before I find him. The figure is trying to go back into the recesses of darkness but instead begins to shrink. No, he begins to fade. The edges dim and it slowly becomes less omenise. Eventually, he is gone. I doubt he's gone for good, but for tonight my child rests safely and is none the wiser. 

Cautiously, I pace the room checking every corner, nook and cranny that the slimmest evil monster could fit into. It takes me a few hours but I am thorough. 

For the rest of the night I sit with Brook watching her sleep and scanning the room for danger. I really am too on edge to rest. 

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