"Oh honey, there aren't any monkeys in this room," said his mom. She handed him a cup of warm milk and she pretended to look behind chairs and in his closet. "See? There's no monkey," she said.

"He's under the bed."

His mom pretended to look under the bed. "Well if he was here he's gone and good riddance," she said. "He won't bother you again. Now go to sleep." She kissed him and tucked him in once more, shut off the light and closed the door just to a slit. Jimmy saw her turn off the hall light, heard the bed creak in their room.

"So ya wanna play tiddlywinks next?" asked the monkey?