No Such Things

“But mummy, I’m afraid. Please leave the shade on!” said Tenotly.
“Now Tenotly, you know you are getting to be a big bruteling. You are getting too old to sleep with a day-shade! There’s nothing in the light that’s not in the dark!” said Tenotly’s mom.
“Except for angels and fairies and people.” Tenotly said with a shiver as he pulled the bedclothes up just under his eyes.
“For the last time there are no such things as people!” With a stern glance she slammed the ramshackle door to Tenotly’s cave.
The daylight from his roughly hewn window spilled in over him and he shuddered, pulled his cuddly troll toy “Baeem” closer and pulled the cover over his head. Just outside his window, he thought he heard laughter coming from the big house on the hill which was visible from his room, but he just cuddled in deeper and covered his ears.

*************

“But mommy, I’m afraid. Please Leave the light on!” Said Timothy.
“Now Timothy, you are getting to be a big boy. You are too old to sleep with a night-light! There’s nothing in the dark that’s not in the light!” said Timothy’s mom.
“Except for demons and goblins and monsters!” Timothy said with a shiver as he pulled his bedclothes up just under his eyes.
“For the last time, there are no such things as monsters!” With a stern glance she slammed the whitewashed door to timothy’s room.
The moonlight from his high clean window spilled in over him and he shuddered, pulled his cuddly bear toy “Ben” closer and pulled the cover over his head. Just outside he thought he heard howling coming from the cave at the edge of the woods which was visible from his room, but he just cuddled in deeper and covered his ears.