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The man under the bed.
Posted: 06 October 2004
Word Count: 110
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What is that sound?
Where is it coming from?
Silence.
Then not.
Creaking old houses
Crying out for attention.
Out of bed
Quick peek under then back.
Safe?
Did I check the wardrobe?
Out of bed.
Quick kick into the blankets
In the bottom of the wardrobe.
Safe?
God bless Mum, Dad and all my brothers and sisters.
This tired house knows it scares me,
It knows my fear.
Will I ever be safe?
Wood, paper, polystyrene. Combustible.
I will scare the house.
Quid pro quo
Strike the match to warm the fear.
No more house, no more fear.
Safe.
God bless Mum, Dad and all my brothers and sisters.
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Comments by other Members
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 roovacrag at 13:37 on 06 October 2004
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Paul.You fire bug. Old houses do creak,more so when your young.
Look in the cupboards
look under the stairs
look under the bed
no one there
just you.
Well done.
XX Alice
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PaulAnthony at 13:49 on 06 October 2004
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Thanks Alice, I remember my ritual, the places I would check prior to sleep. Is that primeval? Where does the fear of dark come from. What makes us fear even as a child when it is probably the safest we are in life.
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poemsgalore at 18:27 on 06 October 2004
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This brought all my childhood fears back, I wouldn't let my arms or legs slip out of the side of the bed as I was convinced a witch that lived beneath it was going to chop them off with a big knife. Very good.
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Don Gorgon at 18:45 on 06 October 2004
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Another good one Paul! A bit drastic burning your yard down just because it's a tad spooky isn't it? Pyromania aside, it was a fun read Paul, nice one!
Don
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miffle at 22:25 on 06 October 2004
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I could relate to this Paul. I slept under the covers with a special air hole for a very long time. Once I even thought I was hearing burglars playing cards (yes, I know, not very rational!): it turned out to be the unfamiliar noise of the new hamster on its wheel! Remember saying those primitive prayers too... Unexpected end... not sure what to make of that! Thought-provoking piece. Write on, Nikki
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Fearless at 21:31 on 07 October 2004
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Paul
I liked this. As a very young child I hated the dark, probably because it was an absence, and in that vacuum, anything could be...but I convinced myself that darkness was lonely, and came to me every night for company, and with that blank canvas, my imagination was given flight, and illuminated the darkest corners of my bedroom with light.
Woz
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Account Closed at 09:51 on 09 October 2004
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Wonderfully atmospheric piece - and I STILL find the house at night on my own spooky - the paranoia never goes away, folks!!
The only thing I would change here is I'd put "Combustible" on a separate line as a one-worder ...
Great stuff!
LoL
A
xxx
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