you know what sounds good right now my grandfather
asked from the red recliner by the front window
a nice big bowl of ice cream from the deep freeze
what do you think Squirt want to go down to the freezer
Squirt was me and I was having nothing to do
with going down into the haunted basement
there be monsters a sign should read above the door
or beware of the portal to Hell or doorway to death
the first three steep steps had no handrail
so it seemed like stepping off into the abyss
uncarpeted glossy wood slippery to child sized shoes
no traction no handhold a sudden fall an instant death
I don’t want ice cream but my grandparents
insisted I conquer my fear of the basement
staring down into the chasm I could almost see the monsters
starring back at me from dark empty shelves
my grandfather’s power tools could be nightmares come to life
the deep freeze grumbled threateningly from the darkest corner
I could tell where the witch hid which corners the ghosts crouched
I knew what lived underneath the workbench
going to the basement for ice cream meant a battle
with my deepest fears fear of falling of slipping of dying
fear of dark corners and empty shelves of mythical monsters
and cunning beasts all waiting for my small self to wander in
all waiting for grandpa to want ice cream grandpa I said
can you come with me he just chuckled you’ll be all right
the monsters and creatures and witches may not have been real
but the fears and the deep terror in my heart were
one more night I faced the monsters alone and wished someone
would hold my hand and show me gently the way to safety
