I know it’s there. The dog. The huge, ferocious dog. Its got big, yellow teeth, putrid breath and thick, black fur.
Remember when you were young... remember being told to go to bed? Who had to turn out the light? Was it you? Did you race a brother or sister so that you wouldn’t have to turn off the light? Did you beg and plead with a parent to do it for you? Or maybe, you left the light on...
I had to turn out my own light. I’d be in my room, playing or reading and mum would call out... words I dreaded to hear. Words I hated and feared...
“Lights out!”
I’d take a huge breath and plan my next moves. If I stood on the edge of the bed and leapt to that spot on the carpet, I’d only need one more step to reach the light-switch – then one huge lunge would get me back to my bed. Ok.
Big breath in – hold it! OK, GO! JUMP! STEP! Light-switch! LUNGE! BED! FREEZE!
Eyes – darting into the blackened corners of the room. Head still. Hold my breath – it’ll hear me breathe! Heart - pounding against my chest. Eyes - still darting. Ears pricked - listening... waiting... waiting.
What was that?! The putrid stink of the dog’s breath hits my nostrils. I feel its yellow eyes watching me in the darkness. Hairs on the back of my neck are standing on edge. I’m waiting for the yellow teeth to plunge into my neck.
My eyes slowly adjust to the darkness... I start to breathe. My heart stops pounding so heavily against my chest. Slowly... Slowly... Slowly... I start to calm down.
It didn’t get me tonight. Tonight I avoided the big, black, ferocious dog... the dog which lives under my bed when the room is dark.
I can’t remember when I outgrew this fear. I can’t remember when the darkened corners of the bedroom stopped being so scary. I do remember the feelings... I wonder if that dog will be waiting under my bed tonight...
