“If you don’t behave yourself, the bogeyman will come and get you.”
Toby sat up in his bed hugging his knees, his back pressed to the headboard. The only comfort was his old bear, pressed against his belly, out of sight behind his legs’ defensive drawbridge. “Bogeyman? No.”
“He’s outside, lurking in the shadows, hungry for you. Move over now. Let your uncle in for a hug.”
Uncle Rob’s ragged breath stinks of old rugs and tobacco. He tugs at the drawbridge with pudgy hot hands. “Shush! Stop blubbering. This is our secret. I’ll call the bogeyman if you tell.”
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Friday Fictioneers: 100 word stories
Photo prompt: copyright © Shaktiki Sharma
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Sarah Potter Writes 
I so feared he was “that” uncle…
Well done, Sarah.
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I think I just disturbed myself writing that story, but the literary muse said it had to be written D:
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Well you did it so very well… *shudder*
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Dear Sarah,
Toby has better chances with the Bogeyman. This evoked so many feelings, not the least of which is anger. So well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I think you’re right. At least the Bogeyman is meant to be evil, but not so a family member, whom a child should be able to trust. Abuse of this kind makes my blood boil. There are some things in life that seem beyond forgiveness, and this is one of them.
All best wishes,
Sarah
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A very uncomfortable story, so well written
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Thank you, Neil. I felt uncomfortable writing it, and that feeling hasn’t left me hours later D:
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Now you’re writing like me. LOL My wife says I write “dark” too well. I think she’s worried about me. 🙂 Well done, Sarah, and Happy New Year to you.
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When I was in my 20s, I showed some of my poems to a boyfriend’s mother. Before she read them, she’d liked me. After she’d read them, she was really worried about the mental state of someone who could write such dark things D: I’m a great fan of Nordic Noir and we all know how dark that is! Happy New Year to you, too, Billy 🙂
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Ewwww! Very disturbing, but well done!
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Thank you, Debra. I’m feeling disturbed by what I’ve written D:
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Dark, sad and angry Sarah, of course there are far worse bogeymen inside.
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Quite. They’re often masters of disguise re their true colours, except to the poor victim who’s too afraid to tell.
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If only the bear could be made real. I would applaud a well placed dismembering.
Ugh, I hate the real predictors.
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Now that’s an idea…bring on the grizzly!
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Better to take his chances with the real bogeyman. Good one, Sarah.
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Absolutely right, Sandra. The real bogeyman is far preferable to a monster uncle.
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his legs’ defensive drawbridge
Wow! this line says so much but the reader certainly doesn’t get it til the end. So very well done.
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Thank you, Alicia. I’m so pleased you felt that the drawbridge analogy worked.
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EEEWWWW! Creepy, creepy. I’m with Sandra … better to fall into the bogeyman’s hands.
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Absolutely … you know a bogeyman is malignant, but uncles are meant to be benign…
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Ugh I feel totally grossed out. Well done to you for doing that.
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Thank you, Fatima. I guess there’s no nice way to describe something so horrendous D:
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The writing is just right for such a sensitive subject and stirs all the right emotions. Nicely done.
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It was a tough one to pen, so I’m glad you thought I handled it right. Thank you, Michael.
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I hope the bogeyman will come for uncle Rob.. I think he will at one point, but alas too late for Toby.
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Uncle Rob certainly deserves a dose of his own medicine, and who better than the bogeyman to give it to him.
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A very dark, powerful and yet sad story.
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And it’s all so extra tragic because incidences where the perpetrator is a family member so often go under the radar.
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This was a fine piece of writing. When a story wants to be told it has to be written
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It’s every kid’s nightmare…the bogeyman. LOL. But great descriptions and visual cues here! 🙂
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Thank you. Indeed, I remember going through a spell as a child, when I checked under my bed and in all my cupboards before going to bed each night in case there was a bogeyman lurking there! D:
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I wish these were a myth, and the bogeyman can live.
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I would very much like to see a ginormous bogeyman come to life, and remove that uncle permanently.
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Yes, and all his kind.
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he was the bogeyman! I do get that you felt uncomfortable. It’s a difficult subject but this sounds like it could be an excerpt for a full story!! ( Pardon my perpetual being behind ness. I am constantly catching up these days) Loved loved Dessication and will write a review soon.
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A full story … I’m not sure if I could bear to write anything longer. It would depress me too much, and researching it would be liking walking through a minefield.
Perpetual being behindness has been the story of my life in 2016 and threatening to continue through 2017, unless I get a bit bloody minded, plus, find something magical called “energy”.
Cybele, I’m thrilled that you loved Desiccation. A review would be fabulous. Thank you. It would really cheer me up, hugely 🙂
Wishing you a peaceful, happy, and productive 2017
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and many joys and successes to come for us both hopefully!!
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