Caleb Clark ... Afraid of the Dark

In a place called Mountain Creek was a boy, both slick and sleek. Built like an Ox, quick as a fox. He wore spandex and fluoro socks. His name was Caleb Leeroy Clark, afraid of nothing… … but the dark.

People thought him fit and frightless; a boy like Caleb Clark was priceless; bold and bright, brave like a knight… until someone turned off the light… For when they did, poor Caleb feared all kinds of creatures strange and weird: creeping, slinking, clanking, clinking… Caleb’s stomach would be sinking.

His eyes would dart this way and that; his ears pricked up just like a cat, tuned into every thump and bump… Each unknown sound would make him jump! In Caleb’s mind, night was the best condition for a monster fest: big ones and small, short ones and tall – But were they real?

No. Not at all.

One night, he called out to his Mum: “There’s monsters in my room! Please, come!” With a boom, she entered the room, armed with a saucepan and a broom. "Well then, where are they?" she implored, "or is it that you're simply bored?"

“The sounds you hear – it’s only me - washing, scrubbing, and brewing tea; folding clothes, trimming Dad’s toes, endless work, you know how it goes.”

“Rather than worry, here ya go, mate - All of your school shirts to iron out straight.” She fussed about going and getting the board, then went to untangle the ironing cord.

Caleb let out a lengthy yawn and curled up like a well-cooked prawn. “Thanks for the offer”, he cheerfully said, “but I think I’ll just… sleep instead. You are quite right, no monsters tonight. I’m ready for sleep now. Please turn off the light”.

From this day forward, Caleb Clark was no longer scared of the dark – And neither should you – for it is true, the dark can’t tell you what to do.

Mum's are really much more scary and they are not imaginary.