My Monster Is Afraid of the Dark

Read the whole story

Here it is, start to finish, drawn for three different children. Yours goes in the same way — from one photo.

1. For Theo, who went down there.

   For Amara, who went down there.

   For Otto, who went down there.

   Dedication

2. Something under the bed was breathing. Theo counted the breaths. There were too many to be his own.

   Something under the bed was breathing. Amara counted the breaths. There were too many to be her own.

   Something under the bed was breathing. Otto counted the breaths. There were too many to be his own.

   1 of 12

   

3. It was a monster. It was crying. Monsters, it turns out, are afraid of the dark.

   It was a monster. It was crying. Monsters, it turns out, are afraid of the dark.

   It was a monster. It was crying. Monsters, it turns out, are afraid of the dark.

   2 of 12

   

4. Theo pushed the nightlight under. “Better?”

   Amara pushed the nightlight under. “Better?”

   Otto pushed the nightlight under. “Better?”

   3 of 12

   

5. Not better. The monster went flat as a shadow and hid behind the socks.

   Not better. The monster went flat as a shadow and hid behind the socks.

   Not better. The monster went flat as a shadow and hid behind the socks.

   4 of 12

   

6. So Theo told it a story instead. A story about the bravest monster in the world.

   So Amara told it a story instead. A story about the bravest monster in the world.

   So Otto told it a story instead. A story about the bravest monster in the world.

   5 of 12

   

7. The story had a child in it. The monster screamed and pulled the floorboards over its head.

   The story had a child in it. The monster screamed and pulled the floorboards over its head.

   The story had a child in it. The monster screamed and pulled the floorboards over its head.

   6 of 12

   

8. There was one thing left to try. Theo took a breath and crawled under the bed.

   There was one thing left to try. Amara took a breath and crawled under the bed.

   There was one thing left to try. Otto took a breath and crawled under the bed.

   7 of 12

   

9. It was very dark down there. Theo was scared too. Neither of them said so. Both of them knew.

   It was very dark down there. Amara was scared too. Neither of them said so. Both of them knew.

   It was very dark down there. Otto was scared too. Neither of them said so. Both of them knew.

   8 of 12

   

10. Theo found a claw in the dark and held on.

    Amara found a claw in the dark and held on.

    Otto found a claw in the dark and held on.

    9 of 12

    

11. They stayed like that. The breathing under the bed slowed until it matched his.

    They stayed like that. The breathing under the bed slowed until it matched her.

    They stayed like that. The breathing under the bed slowed until it matched his.

    10 of 12

    

12. In the morning the light came in like a shout, and the monster whimpered.

    In the morning the light came in like a shout, and the monster whimpered.

    In the morning the light came in like a shout, and the monster whimpered.

    11 of 12

    

13. So Theo pulled the blanket over them both, and made a small, safe dark.

    So Amara pulled the blanket over them both, and made a small, safe dark.

    So Otto pulled the blanket over them both, and made a small, safe dark.

    12 of 12