Cute and terrifying all at the same time. 

Amanda woke with a start to find Mackenzie standing right next to the bed, staring intently at her in the dark. She looked at the clock. 1:36 am.

"Kenz, what is it? Bad dream?"

Mackenzie shook her head.

"Are you sick?"

Mackenzie shook her head.

Amanda sighed. "Monsters again?"

Mackenzie nodded.

"Sweetie, we've been through this before. There are no such thing as monsters."

Mackenzie just stared at her.

"OK, fine. Want mommy to show you?"

Mackenzie nodded.

Amanda got out of bed and reached for her robe. She took Mackenzie's hand and they padded down the hallway to her room. Mackenzie stood in the doorway while Amanda got down on all fours and lifted up the bedskirt.

"See. No monsters under your bed."

Then she got up and went over to the closet. She opened the door and stepped inside.

"See. No monsters in your closet, either."

"I know," said Mackenzie.

"Kenz! Then what's the problem?" said Amanda, tired and frustrated.

Mackenzie pointed to the Silly Slippeez slippers underneath her desk.

"Your slippers? What's wrong with them?"

"They stare at me while I'm sleeping."

"Mackenzie Jo. You are being silly. They are not staring at you. Their eyes just glow in the dark, remember?"

"I need to go potty but the floor is cold."

"Well, that's exactly why we bought you these slippers. They're plush and warm, and they won't slip on the tile."

"I'm afraid."

"Afraid of what, sweetie?"

"I'm afraid that if I put them on, the Sneaky Sharks will chomp their jaws and bite off my feet!"

"Kenz. You're a big girl now. You know that will not happen."

Mackenzie was not convinced.

"Fine," said Amanda, too tired to argue anymore. "Tomorrow we'll take back the Sneaky Sharks and get you a different pair, OK?"

Mackenzie nodded.

"For now, just put on some socks when you go to the potty."

"OK. Nite nite, mommy."

"Nite nite, sweetie," Amanda said and headed back to bed. "Ugh. I knew we should have gone with Princess Kitty."

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