Facing the Dark Revised

Peter, a 6-year-old, is wearing his pajamas and is tucked into bed by his mother, Mary. The most terrifying event of the night happens: the lights go out. Peter’s first reaction is to look for something to help him cope with his most feared enemy, the darkness. [[Grab his loyal plush dinosaur, Rufus.]] [[Grab a flashlight by his bedside.]] <img src="Images/or.jpg"> <audio autoplay> <source src="songs/wicked.mp3"></audio>

Peter looks at Rufus and begins to explain his fears. "I'm scared. I don't know if there are any monsters around the room, hiding and just waiting to get me ." Just outside the window, a very bright flash of light crosses the sky. Peter realizes it's a shooting star. [[Make a wish.]] <audio autoplay> <source src="songs/makeawish.mp3"></audio>

A wolf howls to the moon and the tapping sound of rain hits the roof. The sounds start to creep into the room. Peter is terrified but decides to [[use his flashlight.]] <audio autoplay> <source src="songs/wolf.mp3"></audio> <audio autoplay> <source src="songs/rain.mp3"></audio>

The flashlight is turned on and pointed toward the ceiling. Peter breathes in and breathes out, slowly, seeking for courage. He realizes that if stuck in the same position he will be in danger, and thinks of a new tactic to tackle his fear. Peter must [[build a fortress.]] Peter decides to [[hide under the bed.]]

With the help of his flashlight, Peter grabs two chairs, some pillows, and his bed sheet. He builds an ingenious fortress and hides in there. [["Now what?" he asks.]]

When Peter puts his foot on the floor he feels as if tentacles are coming from underneath the bed trying to pull him in. [[Run toward the exit door.]] [[Jump on top of the bed again.]]

"I forgot my Rufus outside. Maybe he is in danger." [[Reach for Rufus and bring him inside.]] [[Think about another move.]]

"I won't leave you behind, buddy." Peter leaves the fortress shaking in fear and reaches out for Rufus. When he finally manages to grab Rufus and he is safe again inside the fortress, Peter begins to think about all the great peril that he was exposed to just now. The boy begins to cry in disbelief that he actually was brave enough to reach out. Worried that her son might be in trouble, [[Mary shows up.]] <audio autoplay> <source src="songs/cry.mp3"></audio>

"I could grab Rufus, but I feel as though he can handle the danger on his own. Now what will I do all alone under the covers?" Peter begins crying. "Mom, can you help me?" Shortly after his desperate call for attention, [[Mary shows up.]] <audio autoplay> <source src="songs/cry.mp3"></audio>

Peter runs as fast as he can toward the exit door, but the door knob is too high for him to reach. [["Mom, come help me."]] [["I should run back to my bed and hide under the covers."]]

Peter reasons. [["Is this really happening? I mean, how could tentacles reach for me in my room?"]] [["Maybe there's a monster underneath my bed."]]

"Maybe it's best if I just turn on the lights." Peter stands up tall and goes walking toward the light switch, shaking like a blender. When the light switch is on, he goes check under the bed and realizes that nothing is beneath it. [["Maybe it was all just my imagination, playing tricks on me."]]

The sound of lightning strikes the sky. Peter shivers. "Now maybe it's time to call my mom." Peter begins calling his mother, and promptly, [[Mary shows up.]]

Peter begins crying out loud wanting to be taken care of. The voice of his father can be heard telling Mary to go check on him. In an attempt to rescue her desperate son, [[Mary shows up.]] <audio autoplay> <source src="songs/cry.mp3"></audio>

The frightened boy grasps tightly the bed sheets as he waits for his fate. Peter begins crying out loud. Above his room he hears footsteps. Peter worries that the monster might have gotten to his parents too. Just when Peter is paralyzed, certain that a monster will be crawling on the floor to get him anytime soon, the door is slowly opened and [[Mary shows up.]] <audio autoplay> <source src="songs/cry.mp3"></audio>

Mary turns on the lights. "What's happening son? Is everything okay?" "Mom, I'm afraid of the dark. No matter how I try to defeat it, I always seem to be swallowed by it." "Son, your imagination is playing tricks on you. The dark is not such an unfriendly place as you imagine. The absence of light is a moment for your mind to shut down and lead you to the land of the dreams. Don't you like it when you close your eyes and are taken away?" [["Yes, maybe I was wrong about it."]] [["I'm still scared."]]

"I wish to never be afraid of the dark again. I want to be brave, and if there are any monsters around, I want to defeat them." The shooting star fades in the sky. The room becomes dark again. Peter feels an urge to do something new. [[Jump out of the bed.]] [[Go search for monsters in the room.]]

Peter is set in motion. He begins to put one foot in front of the other and walk through the entire room, looking for anything that might mean trouble. Much to his surprise, Peter can't find anything. The lack of signals causes his mind to begin racing with the possibility of a monster being somewhere in the room, just waiting for him to loosen up so he can be snatched. [[Run toward the exit door.]] [[Jump on top of the bed again.]]

Peter decides to grab Rufus, and with the help of moonlight he begins searching the room. One thing which terrifies him is that the closet door is open, and a black figure is inside it. Peter is in shock. [[Recover from shock.]] [[Go investigate.]]

"What could that be? Ugh. I don't know what to think. Maybe I should leave this place." [[Run toward the exit door.]]

Peter walks slowly toward the direction of the closet. As Peter approaches it, he realizes something good: it's not moving! As Peter reaches his hand inside the closet, he feels something soft. "It's simply my sleeping bag from summer camp." [[Breathe out relaxed.]] [[Could there be more?]]

"It was nothing, but could there be more? I'm exhausted. Maybe I should call my mom, so she can help me fall asleep." Peter calls his mother. Shortly after, the boy hears footsteps approaching the room. [[Mary shows up.]]

Peter decides to put hop back into bed and sleeps soundly like a baby. After all, it only makes sense that the dark is not as scary as it seems. [[Go over adventure again?]] [[References]]

"I think there might be monsters around. I don't know," Peter says. "I can guarantee you, son, that there are no monsters. Do you see any? And if ever one day, in the dark or under the sun, something threatning comes your way, you should stand up to it and be the bravest you can be." "You think I can defeat anything?" "Yes son, anything. If you just believe in yourself there won't be a monster that can stand up to you. You will be safe under the sun and beneath the stars. I trust in you." [["Thank you mom."]]

"I'm glad you think about it this way son. You are starting to grow up . I'm so proud of you." "I'm starting to feel a little bit more brave now. I think I'll make it on my own," Peter says. "Okay. Now close your eyes and rest your mind on this lovely place of tranquility. Remember, the sun will rise again tomorrow and when you're tired again, you will wish to rest your eyes at night." <img src="Images/moonandstars.jpg"> The end. [[Go over adventure again?]] [[References]] <audio autoplay> <source src="songs/relief.mp3"></audio>

Peter hugs his mother and says, “Everything that I’ve been through made me realize that my imagination was what kept me afraid.” "See? I told you. Sweet dreams son, I love you." "Sweet dreams mom, I love you too." <img src="Images/momandson.jpg"> <audio autoplay> <source src="songs/happyending.mp3"></audio> The end. [[Go over adventure again?]] [[References]] <audio autoplay> <source src="songs/happyending.mp3"></audio>

Ридус. (2018, September 14). В Волгограде «ожил» ребенок, которого мать семь лет считала мертвым. Retrieved from https://www.ridus.ru/news/271325 Free Image on Pixabay - Moon, Star, Stars, Black. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/moon-star-stars-black-background-220326/ Child-Male-A-Make-A-Wish. (2015, November 06). On Child-Male-A-Make-A-Wish. Retrieved from https://soundideas.sourceaudio.com/#!details?id=11943061. J. M. (2018, January 30). Wicked-Trance. Retrieved from https://westarmusic.sourceaudio.com/#!details?id=20795529. Dawdle-Along. (2016, April 30). Retrieved from https://westarmusic.sourceaudio.com/#!details?id=14809671. From-the-Spark-of-an-Idea. (2016, December 31). Retrieved from https://westarmusic.sourceaudio.com/#!details?id=16685371. ThunderRain. (2014, June 23). Retrieved from https://soundideas.sourceaudio.com/#!details?id=7540587. [[Go over adventure again?]]

"What's that thing moving so quickly on the floor? Ahhh. Rufus, help me!" Peter throws Rufus on the floor on top of it. He hears the sound of something being squished. Peter can barely see what's in front of him, so he grabs his flashlight and moves Rufus from whatever is underneath it. With a little investigation he finds out that it was a cockroach. "Ew. Mom come help me. I'm done dealing with the dark." The mother hears her son's plea. [[Mary shows up.]]