Alex and the Sleep Monster ©

Once upon a time...so most stories begin.
This story's no different and happened back when...
Young Alex, a boy, was only four years old.
A vast imagination - worth much more than gold.

Late one night when his brother made a "Peep."
it was then that he asked, "Why do children sleep?"
"The Sleep Monster!" his Daddy hastily said
recounting this tale in his big bunk bed.

"When the Earth began, the Sleep Monster was there.
He was nice, he was good and did not wish to scare.
Long before any Dinosaur ever gave birth...
the Sleep Monster walked, slowly turning the Earth.

His feet are like pillows as big as the sea.
He feeds on children's boundless energy.
If he ever stopped spinning our big blue world,
sunlight would burn him and to space we'd be hurled.

So when you grow tired, eyes heavy with sleep,
listen for his footsteps as they hugely creep.
When he steps on you, it's soft like warm ice cream.
His big pillowed feet leave a nice, happy dream."

"But Daddy," said Alex, struggling to understand,
"Why is it, when I wake, my eyes are full of sand?"
"Because," said Daddy, with big fatherly motions -
"His feet are full of sand from walking on oceans!"

"Of course," thought Alex. Now it all made more sense.
"I'm glad his feet are feather-soft and not dense!"
"Does everyone know this but me?" Alex said from his bed.
"It’s a secret," Daddy whispered and then slowly said...

"When the Tooth-Fairy takes your last baby tooth,
knowledge of all Monsters vanishes with a poof!"
"If that's true," said Alex, "why do you still know?"
"Because son," Daddy said, opening his mouth to show...

Looking inside his Daddy's mouth - dark and red.
"I see a baby tooth Daddy!" Alex anxiously said.
"Shhh," hushed his Daddy while cupping his ear.
"Here he comes," were the last words Alex could hear.

So remember this story, hide it somewhere as proof.
You'll forget when you lose your last baby tooth.
The next time your parents say, "It's time for bed."
Remember the Sleep Monster and keep him well fed.