Growing Up Galra

Monster in the Closet

"Daddy!" Keith climbed onto the bed. "Dad! Dad! Dad! Dad!"

Thace sat up. "Wh...What? What? What?" He looked over to Keith and yawned when he realized there wasn't any immediate danger. "What is it, little lion?" He rubbed his eyes.

"There's a monster!" Keith's eyes were huge.

"A monster?" Thace made a show of looking around the room. "Where?"

"Not in your room! In my room!" He huffed, sending his bangs flying up.

He looked back to Keith. "Where's Sir Lionheart? Isn't he supposed to protect you?"

"He's right here," Keith held up his stuffed lion. "B-but he's scared too!"

"Is he now?"

Keith nodded. "He says he doesn't like it. I don't either..."

Thace swung his feet over the side of the bed. "Let's go check it out."

Keith held his hands up to Thace. "Up-y! Up-y!"

Thace picked Keith up and held him against his hip as he opened the door and stepped into the hall. Keith hid his face in Thace's shoulder as they neared his room.

"No! I don't wanna go in!" Keith shook his head quickly and wriggled out of Thace's grasp to hide behind his leg.

"I'll check it out, Then."

Keith moved to hide behind the doorframe. "B-Be careful, Dad."

Thace smiled at him and stepped into the room. "Where did you say the monster was?"

Keith pointed and squeezed Sir Lionheart close to his chest. "It's in my closet!"

"Hm..." He opened the closet door. "Monster? Come out, come out, wherever you are..."

"Dad, don't do that! The monster will attack you!"

"I don't see any monster's here, little lion. Come see."

Cautiously, Keith stepped forward to look into the closet.

"See? No monsters." He picked Keith up and carried him to the bed to tuck him in. "Good night, Keith." He kissed his forehead and straightened up to leave.

"Wait! Maybe the monster ran away because you're here. It's gonna come back when you go away!"

Thace sighed. He'll never get any sleep at this rate. He returned to sit at on the bed. Thinking quickly, he came up with a strategy. "Did you know that monsters are afraid of lions?"

Keith looked up to Thace in surprise. "They are?" He tilted his head in curiosity, large eyes staring up at Thace.

Thace nodded. "They are. That's why the monsters run away. Sir Lionheart scares them."

He looked down at Sir Lionheart. "Why, Dad?"

"Because monsters and lions are enemies. Lion's fight monsters to defend little boys and girls from bad dreams." He picked up Sir Lionheart. "Hey, little lion. What's wrong?" Thace made his voice higher to give Keith the illusion that the lion was talking.

"I-I'm scared..."

"It's okay to be scared sometimes."

He shook his head. "But I don't like being scared!"

"I'll protect you!" Thace's voice cracked as he tried to keep the tiny voice going. "And your dad will too! Won't you, Dad?" Thace nodded to the lion. "I will. I promise. No one will ever hurt you. No monsters, no bad guys. I'll keep you safe. We'll both keep you safe. Me and Sir Lionheart."

Keith smiled.

"Are you okay now?"

Keith nodded.

"Good." Thace stood up again.

"Wait!"

Thace sat down again. "Yes?"

Keith sat up and searched through a small pile of books at the foot of his bed before selecting one and holding it out to Thace. "Story? Please?"

"I don't know... it's getting late. Your first day of kindergarten is tomorrow."

"Pretty please! I can't go to sleep yet!"

Thace sighed and traded Sir Lionheart for the book. "Legendary Defenders, Huh?" He smiled at Keith who nodded eagerly. "Okay, lay down and close your eyes."

"Okay!" Keith did as he was told and snuggled close to Sir Lionheart to listen to the story as Thace began to read.