• The Dream

    "Good night, sweetie."
    "Good night, mom."
    The lights went out and the house was quiet. I was lying in my bed, wide awake. I was too scared to fall asleep. Was there a monster in my closet? If I fell asleep, would the Boogie monster get me in my sleep? No! Don't think that! Think of something nice like ice cream or ponies. I tossed and I turned, but I couldn't fall asleep. I had to sleep or else I wouldn't do well the next day in school. I brought my sheets closer to my chin and closed my eyes. If I can't see the darkness, then the darkness can't see me. I think I fell asleep because the next thing I knew was that a loud noise woke me up. BLEEEP! BLEEEP! It was my bright-red Mickey Mouse alarm clock that I got for Christmas. I checked the time, but the power must have gone out because my clock's screen was blank. Where was my flashlight when I needed it?
    Think, think! Oh yes! The last time I saw it, it was on my shiny brown bookcase. I started rummaging through the bookcase with my hands, feeling for the grip of my blue flashlight. I found it and turned it on. I jumped in shock when I saw my room. What were those green thorny vines doing here? Where was I? It was still my room, but it looked like a jungle happened to grow in here overnight. SLISH SLOSH CLLLLL SLISH SLOSH CLLLLL. What was that? It sounded like something or someone was running their fingernails along a chalkboard! I had to cover my ears because it was so loud! Then all of a sudden it stopped. Silence filled the house. When I heard the noise it sounded like it came from the bathroom down the hall. I gathered up all my courage and decided to check it out. Slowly, I crept towards the bathroom shaking with every step.
    Although the bathroom was about six yards from my room, it seemed like a mile. Finally, I reached the bathroom. I counted to ten to calm myself down, but that did not work. I opened the door and came face to face with a dark green alligator. Of course I started to scream, closed the door, and ran back to my room. To my amazement, my parents didn't come to my aid. Where were they? Didn't they even hear me? Am I alone in this house?
    Seeing that my room was transformed, I wondered what the other rooms looked like. I was so curious although I was so scared. Should I venture downstairs or should I stay in my room and just hope a miracle happens? While I was lost in thought, my flashlight's batteries started to die. The only place with more batteries was downstairs in the kitchen. It was my only hope to go downstairs. I better hurry before my battery dies! Going down the stairs was hard in the dim light. On the first step I almost tripped! Only nineteen more to go... Down the stairs I went with a lot of bravery in my heart and my hand on the railing. Suddenly, my fingers touched something hard and scaly. I squinted in the light to try and see what it was. I heard a rattling and my heart almost jumped out of my chest. Was it a rattle snake? I backed up as far as I could against the wall and from that position, went down the stairs.
    At the bottom of the stairs there is a light switch. Although the power was out, I decided to try it. CLICK. I was so happy! The light went on! When it did, the first thing that met my eyes was the railing. On it, was my grandma's cane! Then on the stairs was my baby sister's rattle! It wasn't a snake after all! All of a sudden, a cold chill went up my body. I looked down and realized I was standing in water! I heard a cry escape my mouth and felt my feet move frantically up the stairs. No wonder where the alligator came from!
    BLEEP! BLEEP! I sat up with a jerk, rubbed my eyes, and couldn't believe it was true! I was back in my room! But a question came upon me. What happened last night? I decided to check the bathroom. Slowly, I turned the silver handle of the door to the bathroom. Inside was the same bathroom I've seen my whole life. Phew! No alligator! I ran downstairs to check if there was still a swamp. Phew! No swamp!
    "Good morning, sweetie."
    "Mom! Boy am I so glad to see you! You'll never guess what I dreamt about last night!"