The Daydreamer Project: Teatime

You frantically pull your hand away from the board and fall back behind your blankets, but the Bogey has already taken hold. The whisper that guided your fingers to the letters on the board quickly turns from a subtle murmur to a chorus of dreadful moans;

R E A D Y - F O R - B E D

Kay looks up from the board in confusion. You try to explain yourself, but all you manage is a meek whimper. The Bogeys of Dreamland find their way into every kid's head now and again, poisoning their mind with thoughts of monsters lurking in the closet. Kids your age aren't supposed to be afraid of Bogey Thoughts anymore - they're supposed to take for granted that Bogeys are all in their head - but it's different when you're a dreamer and the nightmares they make might really hurt your friends who live in Dreamland.

Kay's confusion turns to frustration as she watches you shrink into yourself. She must think you're awfully dumb, ruining the game by getting scared of baby monsters. But then, that frustration turns towards the board itself -



"Bogey?" she shouts. "Yeah, well, I got a bogey right here for you!"



"Bleeeeeeh!"



There's a sudden moment of reprieve - the nightmare noises stop. You chuckle in spite of your apprehensions, less at the joke and more at the Bogey's reaction. Bogey's need fear to stick around, after all, and this mockery leaves it stunned. Kay takes your reaction as a sign not to let up.

"You'd think a Bogey would be used to getting picked on!"

You see an opening as the Bogey audibly reels: "Well, uhhh.... I guess it's 'snot!"

She snorts. "Hey, Good one!"

"Hankie very much!"

The Bogey practically screams.

"Let's bogey!"

"Yeah, let's bogey down!"



The two of you fall into a fit of giggles, exchanging crude jokes at the Bogey's expense so quickly it never gets a chance to sneak a "boo" in edgewise.

"You think it nose it's not scary?" Kay asks.

"I'm not running out of jokes any time soon!"

"PffftAHAHAHA!"

Eventually your antics starve it of fear. The more that carries on, the less you find yourself paying attention to any Bogey Thoughts you were having. You don't even take notice when the Bogey itself finaly gives up and leaves - there just comes a point after enough sick burns have been laid down where you realize you're not hearing any noises anymore. You keep it up anyway, just to make sure, and the two of you laugh and laugh about monsters and their boogers until your sides hurt and you're both gasping for air.



Then during a lull in the excitement, once it's become very evident that the scare has passed, Kay pulls you into a hug and squeezes you tightly.

"Thank you," you whisper.

"It's fine," she says. "If you gotta be alone when you're dreaming, then I need to make double-sure the Nightmares don't bother you when we're awake."

























Once again, you open your eyes to find your vision already adjusted to the new lighting.

Looks like the Professor has stepped out for a moment, but the brand new candle he left behind now burns brightly beside the remains of an old candle on the table.

The door out has been opened.

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