Bed Time

The doorbell rang.

"Honey, could you answer the door please?" Claire shouted.

"Sure!" answered her husband John.

He walked out of the living room into the hallway. The clock read 10:37 pm.

Who could it be at this hour? he wondered.

He opened the door.
A cold blast of wind rushed in.
There was nobody outside. John went out onto the porch and looked around.

"Hello?" he shouted. "Anyone there?"
There was only silence and the cold wind.

Weird, he thought, going back inside and locking the door.

"Who was it?" asked Claire, coming out of the kitchen.

"There wasn't anyone out there." said John, "Some kids playing a prank I suppose."

"Odd." said Claire.
"Yeah."

Claire glanced at the clock. "It's getting late." she said, "Could you put Sarah to bed?"
"Okay. "

John walked to Sarah's room. He could see that he light was still on.

"Sarah, it's way past your bed time!" he said, entering her room.

"I know." replied Sarah from her bed, completely hidden inside her blanket.

"Sarah, honey, why are you hiding inside your blanket?" asked John, a little tired.

"I'm scared."

"Why sweetie?" asked John, moving to the side of the bed.

"Because there's a monster inside my closet!"

"Oh, my sugar plum, there's nothing to be scared of!" said John, "There's nothing in there but your clothes!"

Then he heard the rustling.
From inside the closet.

John turned towards it, his heart beating faster.
For he moment he stood still, thinking. He picked up a vase and silently moved towards the closet.

He could hear more rustling.
John yanked open the door.

Sarah was sitting inside, half hidden among her clothes.

"Daddy" she whispered, "There's something in my bed."