The Dark Is Just the Day Asleep

Eli did not like the dark.

When the lights went off, the dark seemed to fill up his whole room. The wardrobe became a tall, watching shape. The dressing-gown on the door became a long-armed person. Even his teddy looked a little different in the dark — like he was thinking about something Eli couldn't see.

"I want the light on," Eli said, every night.

His mum sat on the edge of his bed. She was warm and she smelled like the soap from the kitchen.

"What if," she said, "we tell the dark a story? Sometimes when we know who someone is, they aren't so scary anymore."

Eli pulled the duvet up to his chin. "Tell me who the dark is."

"The dark," his mum said, "is just the day, sleeping."

Eli's eyes got round.