To the Honorable and Esteemed Monsters Under My Bed

“To: The honorable and esteemed monsters under my bed

“From: Boy

“Greetings, Ferocities.

“I dare the impertinence of addressing your toothy conventicle. I hear you down there, creaking, muttering, grinding your teeth, scrabbling your claws. Your horriblenesses, how you overwhelm me with dread! Indeed, so frightened am I, I dare not lie back in restful repose; but rather can only sit upright in this bed, one arm extended from the redoubt of my blanket to compose by moonlight this letter, which I hope you might spare from your diabolical schedule a moment to consider.”

Published in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September – October 2021