Crystal Clear Chapter 2 / Bedtime Stories

Crystal Clear Chapter 2

That night, after dishes and baths the two sisters donned their night gowns and curled up together beneath the warm comforter. They often giggled and shared secrets until shushed by mom or dad. They did not speak of Amy's punishment. It was best to forget such things, pretend, like mom did, that nothing had happened.

Suddenly their father appeared at the bedroom door. He entered quietly and sat down on the bed beside the wary children.

"Would you girls like to hear a bedtime story before we put the lights out?" he asked

"Yes please dad." they squealed together, because he was a fabulous story teller.

For nearly an hour he regaled them with stories of storms at sea and brave men. He made the sounds of the thunder and swung his arms back and forth like trees bending in the wind. He was amazing, and kind, and full of laughter. Then he tucked them in, kissed their foreheads and told them how much he loved his little girls. He turned out the lights and left the door open just a crack to let the hall light in. Within minutes Crystals mother came to the door, said nothing, and then closed it tightly leaving them in the dark.

Sleep didn't come easily to Crystal on nights like this. She tried to understand what it was that made her father change from cruel tyrant to the worlds greatest Dad. If she were only good enough, she thought, perhaps he wouldn't need to be so hard on her and Amy. She knew he wanted her to be braver and she worked on that but it was hard for her. Crystal was afraid of everything. Even the sound of her own beating heart as she lay against the pillows frightened her. It sounded like the steady beat of marching soldiers feet. She imagined them heading down the hallway toward her bedroom where they would burst in and steal her or Amy away

This night was even worse than usual. She had forgotten to use the toilet before going to bed and now she was desperate to empty her bladder. In the darkness of the hallway, the bathroom seemed worlds away with monsters guarding its entrance. She did not wish to awaken those monsters or her sleeping father. One was no less threatening than the other. After one last hour of weighing her needs against her fears, she leaped from her bed, raced down the hall and relieved herself. She didn't flush because she feared that any noise would give her location away. She stole back down the hall and dived under the covers bumping up against Amy. There, at last she fall asleep in the comfort of her sisters arms.