66. When the Creepies Come Calling

That night I hear scratching coming from somewhere.

Normally I might get up or get freaked out. But then again, normally I’d be asleep.

I can’t go to sleep because I keep thinking of my current situation with Mom leaving in another week or two and being gone for who knows how long. I keep imagining inviting Lily over here and then … Well, I’m imagining stuff any teen might imagine. Or any guy who is into a girl like Lily. Or really any guy into any girl. Period.

With thoughts like this, my mind wanders and floats and goes back and forth. I think of crazy things like when Mom and Dad were young, did they feel the way I’m feeling? I guess they must have, but that seems like the Dark Ages or something because I never knew them to be anything close.

I’m thinking of what Lily might say after I tell her the news when the scratching sound starts.

It first sounds like it’s downstairs. But then I realize that it almost sounds like it’s coming from …

From under my bed?

No. That’s crazy.

But I feel Midnight shift on the bed and then hear her slowly growling. A muffled, weak little growl that wouldn’t scare an insect. It’s more cute than courageous.

“Come on, Midnight,” I say as I reach over and scoop her up.

The scraping sound seems louder. As if someone is under my mattress trying to get out. I peer over and look down but know that there’s no way to look under my mattress. The mattress and box springs are in a rectangular wooden frame that suddenly makes me think of a coffin.

That’s great.

Nothing big could get in. Not even an animal like a squirrel or a chipmunk.

I’m trying to not get spooked out. I’d rather keep thinking of Lily. But the scratching continues.

It keeps going until I finally feel something sharp and rough rubbing against my back, like Freddy Krueger giving me a backrub.

I jump out of bed, flailing like a crazy person and reaching for the lights. I half expect a snake or something on my bed.

But all I see is my tangled sheet and light blanket. Midnight is just sitting there giving me a look that says Can we sleep now?

I look around the three sides of my bed, trying to see if anything is off. But nothing looks abnormal. The bed is against the wall as always, right below the windows that are slightly opened. Nothing slipped in either, because the screens are still on each window.

When my heart slows down a little, I go and check my phone for any messages. I see that it’s almost three in the morning.

Maybe I’ll buy a camera and videotape myself à la Paranormal Activity style. Then I’ll be able to watch myself sleepwalking and getting up to make pancakes and then standing over Midnight dangling a piece of bacon.

Get some sleep.

I shut off the light and try to fall asleep.

I think of Lily again and dream of her being here.

Not so I can live out some crazy teenaged fantasies with her. Just so I can have another person to hold close late at night when the creepies come calling.