This Is How You Run from Monsters

1. Open your eyes. I know you don’t want to. Remember, sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do. This is one of those times. Open your eyes.

2. Breathe. You were so smart to hide. Under your bed was perfect.

3. Move to the door. Open it a little. What do you see? Is it too dark in the hall? The curtains are open. You’re able to see by moonlight. I’m so glad you have such good eyesight. You’ve never needed glasses. Do you see the phone? Find the phone. Aren’t you happy now that we never replaced it? Yellow turns out to be a useful color now.

4. Listen. Try to quiet your breathing. You need to concentrate on what’s going on out in the living room. Do you hear them? Or are they gone? Wait for a long time before you move at all. Sing “Twinkle, Twinkle” in your head three times. You were just learning that on the violin. I know you know it! Can you sit criss-cross applesauce for me? Keep your knees still. Pretend you’re a little Buddha, meditating. Listen with your whole body. Sometimes we hear things on our skin. Do you sense anything breathing or moving?

5. Now, I want you to get to all fours as quietly as you can. Even quieter than that. Look for the phone. Pretend you’re a baby jaguar. Walk on all fours, perfectly silent, toward that phone.

6. Don’t look at anything other than that phone. The cord is piled on the floor, so don’t get tangled in it. I need you to get to that phone without looking around. There will be monsters out there, but they won’t bother you if you don’t look at them. They won’t take shape unless you look. And you don’t want to look, because that means you’re not looking at the phone. You need to get to that phone.

7. Are you moving? Good girl. I know it’s hard, but maybe it’s better that it’s so dark. Remember, they’re harmless if you don’t look.

8. What are the monsters? Sweetheart, what a big question for such a big girl. Well, these men came to our house looking for stuff. They weren’t looking for us. They wanted our TV and our VCR and yes! Your Walkman. And all Mommy and Daddy’s tapes and Mommy’s jewelry. They just wanted our stuff. You’re learning about carnivores and herbivores and omnivores, right? Well, these guys, I think, are kind of like omnivores. Imagine you’re an animal sniffing around for some food in the forest, but something scares you. And you look up, and it’s a big thing that is going to keep you from your food. You’re an animal, and you’re not thinking straight because you’re so hungry. So you get scared and attack. You don’t know what you’re doing, other than trying to keep the food for yourself. I think these men are like that, baby. I don’t think they meant to hurt us. I think they got scared when Daddy came out with a baseball bat. Honey, people get scared and angry sometimes. And sometimes they turn into monsters.

9. Keep moving, please. Steady, quick, quiet. If you feel something on the floor, just stop. Don’t scream. Don’t make a sound. Did you stick your hand in something? I’m sorry, baby. Don’t look at it. Just pretend it’s juice in a puddle. Why would there be juice in the hall? How silly! I know. This is awful. I know how you don’t like to be dirty. And this is a different kind of dirty. It’s warm? Oh. I wish I could hold you right now. I would grab you and take you away from all this. But right now you need to just wipe it off and keep moving forward. Very quiet, very quick. Don’t think about Daddy and me. We’re with you, honey, but we can’t help you. You are a big girl who can do hard things, and we believe in you. You can do this all by yourself!

10. Did you stop? Do you hear something? Voices? Breathing? Now it’s time to move, quick.

11. Does it sound like they’re getting closer? Yes, you’re right, baby, those are the monsters. They’re hurt and they’re mad. You remember Milo, right? Remember when Daddy stepped on his tail when you were little? He didn’t see Milo. Milo was so quiet, such a sweet big guy, wasn’t he? He would be so helpful right now. But remember how he jumped up and snarled? He snarled at you, but he wasn’t really mad at you. You were just there. I saw it and I grabbed you and moved you out of his way before he bit you. But he was just in pain, baby. He didn’t mean to scare you. I don’t think he knew what was happening, he was just reacting. But honey, these monsters are in pain and, I’m so sorry, they do want to hurt you. They didn’t know you were here, in the house, when this all happened. And they’re hurt. They can hurt you. Thank god you weren’t with us when we scared them. I’m so happy you stayed in your bed all night long tonight! They didn’t think anyone would be home, honey. So they’re hurt and they’re scared, and they’re going to want to hurt you, too.

12. So you need to move, baby. Stand up!

13. Run.

14. Forget the phone! Just run.

15. You’re such a brave, brave girl. Remember this. Your mommy and daddy love you so much. We always will.

16. The monsters are coming. Baby, they’re right behind you.

17. Get to that door. Get to the door!

18. Be careful. The glass is going to hurt. It\'s broken, it\'s everywhere. But you’ll survive. You’re a goddamned survivor.

19. Feel the night air on your face. Feel it wipe your hair from your sweaty neck as you run. Remember how I always loved doing your hair. Pulling it into a ponytail. Brushing it, even though you whimpered and yelled at me that it hurt. Remember how much I loved your beautiful hair. Now run, as fast as you can. Just run.

20. You survived this. You can survive anything. Everything. I love you, baby. I love you, and Daddy loves you, too. We will always love you so, so much. Remember that.