The Little Monsters

“Wake me up, before you go g-”

“Ugh I’m really starting to HATE that song.”
Kate groggily complained as she reached for her phone on the nightstand.
She dismissed the alarm and before she could set the phone down, a Celine Dion song started playing,

“And IIIIIIIIIEEEIIIIIIII will always love youuuuuu…” Well that was weird.

After a few grumbles, she tossed her blanket to the other side of the bed with one last huff.
She sat up with a long arm stretch to the sky, her silky midnight blue sleeves sliding to her elbows.

She quickly found herself lost in thoughts of work and worry.

Kate was a writer, she had written a couple books in the last few years that were published.
They were good, but not best seller good. The pressure from her boss was on to write her first children's book. She needed inspiration.

“Coffee before anything Kate.” she thought to herself while finishing her stretch.
She pulled her sleeves straight and peeked over the edge of the bed to locate her slippers.
But was met with nothing but the polished, wooden floor.
It’s moments like these she regrets not making the time to get a nice fuzzy floor rug.

She was startled back to reality by an English gentleman's voice. “So sorry madam, I was making sure Palla was prepping your morning beverage!”

A zebra patterned shaggy rug appeared from the other room, Kate threw herself onto the bed with a shriek of horror.

“Oh dear, not this again.” The rug stated with slight annoyance.

Kate layed back on her pillow and took a deep breath. “Ok so I've finally cracked.”
She waited a moment to sit up, to see if she would hear anything.

*SILENCE*

A sense of relief filled her as she felt brave enough to look over the edge of the bed.
Laying there, was a shaggy zebra rug.

“Yes, madam. I am still here.”

“What are you??” Wait, did she just talk to a mat on the floor… “I’m going crazy, aren't I.” She wasn't sure if she was asking herself or the rug at that point.

“I assure you, you're not crazy Miss Kate.”
The rug assuring her replied.
And I’m Matthew.
“Come now, let's get the little monster's, they've been waiting under the bed for you.”

She stared at him with an intensity that showed his words hadn't registered.
“Come come, Madam. We haven't all day”.
He lifted a corner of his rug, gesturing for her to get off the bed.
Figuring she was already off the deep end, she snorted out a half laugh and decided to go along with it.

Leaning down she saw two pink fuzzy slippers with sewn in eyes and a zig-zag mouth, thrown into random positions.
She looked at the left upside down slipper, it's crooked eyes seemed to be staring straight at her.

“Monsters?” She questioned with confusion.

“Katie!!!” Both slippers shouted excitedly while hopping towards her.

Ok, it's panic time.

Trying to make a b-line for the front door, she rounded the corner of her bed, her toe jamming into the edge of the metal leg.
She hunched over in pain, instinctively shouting out offensive slurs. But instead, they came out as more, censored slurs.

“Dog Biscuit!” “Shiny baboons!”

“What the frog?” She asked perplexed.

“Next time, try putting on the slippers. Might save your feet.” Matthew said plainly, while shoving the slippers her way.

They sat there for a moment, looking up at her with their zig-zagging smiles and crooked eyeballs. Then turned around as if to welcome her cold feet into a warm embrace.

Realizing something seemed familiar about them, she slid both feet into the slippers.

“Yay!” they both shouted, and took off walking.
It caught Kate off-guard and she almost fell right over.

“Boys, be careful!” Matthew shouted trying to catch up. They reached the kitchen and walked her over to the chair at the table. “Sit!” they shouted in unison. “Thank you…” Kate told them, still mentally trying to process the situation.

A small girl in an astronaut suit with two pink bows on top came and sat in the chair opposite of her, “I’m milly.”

“Kate.”

“Katie.” The girl giggled. “ Sure.” Kate added.

Just then, the black cat on the wall's long tail started waving back and forth, then its eyes begin shifting. A loud meow belts from it, and it falls from the wall. But it doesn't hit the floor. Instead, four very alive paws do. Kate was in disbelief, the cat clock is breathing at looking intensely at her.

It had the most beautiful eyes. One almost peridot, the other aquamarine. Leopard patterned, but the colors of something that came from a Lisa Frank book.

“She’s beautiful.”

The feline blinked at her once, then got on his hind legs and walked to the table. “HE, is beautiful, and called Simon” The cat said, sitting on the last chair.

“What is this?” Kate inquired skeptically .

“Tea?” the question broke her blinkless stare at Simon and moved to the tall rabbit with a monocle and top hat standing beside her.
She noticed the flower on the teacup as he handed it to her.

“Wait, this was mine.” she remembered.

“We all were.” Milly added.

“Have a taste.” Simon said, his eyes glimmering with anticipation.
She looked in the cup and it was empty.
“But there is nothing h-” It started to come back. “You were my imaginary friends.”
She gleaned with excitement. Simon's curved grin, and the slippers hysterical bouncing was an obvious answer.

“I think it's time you remember all our adventures,” Milly said, reaching out her hand.

“After all, we hear you need help with a children's best seller.” Simon offered, eyes smiling wide.

…….…..…….( 6 months later)...........................

Monsters under the bed.
By best selling author
Katie Lane.