Carly’s Bedtime Story

Carly watched and smiled as her mother walked across the room, leaving a jet stream of aerosol spray behind her as she walked. The cool droplets settled around bed and Carly inhaled the fragrant air.

“Good. You sprayed extra tonight. I told you that they woke me up last night with all that bumping under the bed.” Carly squeezed her panda bear tight to her chest, “Pandy and me were really scared.”

“I did get under the bed better tonight,” said Carly’s mom. She recapped the can of Lysol Crisp Linen and paused to straighten the construction paper label taped to it.  ‘Lysol Monster-Off  brand Monster Repellant’ proclaimed the new label. “Dad will be right in with your story.”

“Right here!” Dad came in behind Mom waving a new book in the air. “Just got it today, hot off the press.” 

“Can I help you write the review, Daddy?” Carly asked as she scooted to the side of the bed, leaving room for her dad to sit.

“Only if you stay awake enough to hear the whole story. Last time you were out by page seven.”

“I’ll try. This one looks like a winner. Not like the last one. The alligator story was too babyish for me and Pandy. We’re six now, you know.”

“Of course. I should have known you were way too big a girl to believe in talking alligators.” Dad cleared his throat and began to read:

The night is a river you travel alone…

“But what about the monsters, Daddy? We’re not alone if there are monsters under the bed?”

Dad sniffed the air. “Mom sprayed. I can smell it.”

“What if it wears off?”

“They hate this sweet stuff, trust me.”

The night is a river you travel alone

With sheets you set sail for dreams unknown

In darkness you paddle

In starlight you float

Behind you leave the day that is done

The night is a river you travel alone.

All by yourself you shut your eyes.

Last minutes yawns and tremors and sighs

Pulling the comforter up to your chin

Grandmother’s quilt won’t let creatures in

Once you’re asleep, the nighttime flies

When all by yourself you shut your eyes.

Sometimes dreams will let you down

Nightmares come on sleepy ground

Monsters invade your dreamy space

Scare you in that inside place

But don’t you worry, help will be found

Even if dreams do let you down.

But don’t ever have to fear

You’ll make the monsters disappear

In your dreams, you’ve magic power

Given in the sleeping hour

You will conquer all that’s near

You don’t ever have to fear.

Alone we cross the river wide

Reaching for the other side

Big and small, old and young

‘Til morning when the sun is flung

Alone we cross the river wide

I’ll see you on the other side.

A small snore sounded at Dad’s elbow.  He leaned over and kissed Carly’s cheek. Her arm relaxed and the panda bear rolled to where Dad had been sitting. “Good night, Angel. I’ll see you on the other side.”