Got a scolding and sent to bed early,

As I climbed to my bunk overhead.

I saw Billy sucking on gummy worms

Getting them stuck all over his bed.

My day had been a doozie--

Got in trouble for calling Billy a creep.

 I’ll read him a bedtime story,

So he’ll be afraid to sleep!

Took a book from under my pillow

Full of monsters and spooky delights.

If I read the creep a story,

He’ll be scared when I turn out the lights!

He’ll be too frightened to stay in his bed

And cry, “Can I sleep with you?”

I’ll say, “Stay there, I’ll come down,

What’s all the hullabaloo?”

I’ll tell him, “You’re such a cry baby!

Monsters and ghosts aren’t real!

They won’t come around in the night,

And let out a blood-chilling squeal!”

I’ll say, “You’re a big ’fraidy cat

Too bad you aren’t brave like me!

There’s nothing here to scare you,

What do you think you see?”

I read him a story about graveyards

With robbers and skeleton bones.

Even made my voice low and whispery

With lots of moans and groans.

Bratty Billy liked the stories,

Then he went right off to sleep!

I lay in the dark and waited

But he never made one single peep.

I waited for him to wake up,

From a dream full of shadowy spooks.

He’d call up to me in a scared little voice

And I’d say, “You’re a scaredy-cat kook!”

I wasn’t sleepy myself,

So decided to read some more.

Was right in the middle of a real good part

When I heard something scrape past the door!

I listened real hard for a minute,

Then shined my light ‘round the room.

Maybe it’s just imagination

But I had a bad feeling of doom.

Hung down to check on Billy,

He was sleeping and snoring real soft.

I bounced up and down a couple of times,

And even faked a loud cough!

He snorted and sighed and rolled over,

And mumbled a few words in his sleep.

But he didn’t wake up and wasn’t afraid

He’s such a little creep!

I sighed and went back to reading,

Then almost jumped out of my skin!

A shadow’s outside the window--

A monster is trying to get in!

Turned off my light in a flash!

Laid still as a stick in my bunk.

I’m sure I heard the rattle of bones--

And something that walked with a clunk.

What’s that? It’s out in the hallway!

Something’s walking with a squish in its shoe!

Oh no! Is the doorknob turning?

“Scoot over Billy, I'M CLIMBING IN TOO!”

©DOREEN BRADLEY SATTER 2010