"Goodnight Mason, sleep tight." Says the boy's father. He kisses his son on the forehead, then turns off the light and walks out of the room.

"Daddy, wait!" Calls the little boy.

"What's wrong?"

"You forgot to check for monsters."

His father sighs, then flicks the light on. "I've told you a hundred times," he says as he trudges over to the closet. He swings open the doors, causing Mason to duck under the covers. "There's no monsters in your closet. Not tonight, not last night, and not the night before."

"Yeah, but monsters are sneaky." Mason protests.

"How would the monster get in your closet? We always lock the doors."

"Maybe he climbs through the window."

His father rubs his face and lets out a long sigh, "There's no monsters, okay?"

"Okay Daddy."

"Now go to sleep."

"Okay Daddy."

His father flicks off the light and gently closes the door.

Mason stares into the open closet, watching as shadowy hands form from the dark, beckoning him to come near.

Mason throws himself under the covers. "It's not real. It's not real."

He silences his breathing and listens: nothing. Slowly, he pulls the covers away from his face. Peering into the closet, the only thing he sees is his clothes hanging from wires and an overflowing box of toys. No monsters.

He relaxes, then plops his head onto his pillow, allowing the weight of his eyes to drag him deep into sleep.

***

"Mason."

The young boy peels his eyes open.

"Mason."

"Hm?" He sits up, examining the room, and spots a faint, white glow seeping out of the closet.

"The monster.." He whispers.

"Mason."

"Who are you?" He's not sure why he asked such a silly question. He knows who it is. But something's odd. Don't monsters hide in the dark? Why is this one glowing?

"You know who I am." Says the voice softly, not at all like a monster.

"You're the monster that hides in my closet." Mason replies, every word shaken by fear.

"Am I?"

Mason doesn't answer. He doesn't know how. What do you say to a monster?

The glow becomes brighter as the monster takes a step out of the closet.

Mason scoots back, pressing himself against the wall and gripping his blanket against his lip.

The monster takes another step, and Mason sees that this is no ordinary monster. Its feet are bare. And look like mine, he thinks.

The figure steps closer, revealing a kind smile and gentle eyes.

Those aren't monster teeth. And its eyes aren't red. Don't monsters have red eyes?

"You're not a monster." Mason says at length.

"I'm not?"

"No." Mason examines the figure. "Monsters are dark and scary, but you're not."

"Then who am I?"

Mason shrugs. The figure picks up a children's Bible laying on the lamp stand beside Mason's bed. It points at a character on the cover.

Mason gazes at the character. His eyes widen and his mouth gapes open when he realizes, "You're Jesus!"

"Yes, I am."

"Wow." Says Mason. "My grandma told me all about You! You did lots of good things for people, but they killed You. Why did they do that?"

"Because, that's what had to be done to save everyone."

"But why did You have to die? Wasn't there a better way?"

"My Father said I had to die, there was no other way. But you're forgetting something."

"That's right! You came back three days later! My grandma says that's her favorite part."

"Mine too."

After a moment of silence, Mason asks, "Why are You here?"

"I've come to help you."

"Me? But I don't need help. Unless You mean my homework. I'm not good at minus-ing big numbers."

"No, I've come to help get rid of your fear."

"Fear? What fear? I'm not scared of anything."

"Really?" He chuckles.

"Well.. maybe a little."

"Why don't you tell me about it?"

Mason looks down at the blanket in his hand and sighs, "Daddy always says there's no monster, but when he leaves, the monsters' always there. Why do I see the monster and Daddy doesn't?"

"Your dad doesn't see it because the monster doesn't live in the closet."

"It doesn't? Then where does it live?"

He taps Mason on the forehead, "In here."

"In my head? What do You mean?"

"The monster doesn't live in the closet because it's not real. It lives in your head, where you made it."

"No! I didn't make the monster! Why would I do that?"

"That's just something people do."

"Other people make monsters too?"

"Yup. Everyone has a monster. Some are big, and some are small. But what people may not know is that you can always get rid of them."

"I can?!" Mason jumps up. "How?!"

"Tell it to go away."

The boy's face twists in confusion, "That's it?"

"Yup. Tell it I say to go away, and it will. Why don't you try it?"

Mason gazes into the closet. Monstrous, black hands dripping shadows creep out, seeming much larger than before.

Mason throws himself under the covers.

Jesus places a hand on his shoulder, "Don't be afraid. Do you remember the verse you learned at Sunday school?"

"Uh.. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. Psalm 118... 6?"

"Very good. The monster can't hurt you because I'm here, so don't be afraid."

"Okay. I'll try."

Mason slowly drags the covers away. Reluctantly, he crawls out of his bed and inches closer to the hands. He stops in front of the monster, and clenching his fists, takes a deep breath.

"I'm not scared of you." He says low, "Jesus says go away."

The hands reach further forward. Mason steps back, "I'm not scared of you. Jesus says go away."

Again, the hands reach forward. This time Mason stands his ground. "I'm not scared of you! Jesus says go away!"

The hands shrivel back, screeching and hissing, then melt away into the dark.

"I did it.." He whispers. A bright smile grows on his face. "I did it!"

"You did!" Jesus kneels beside Mason. "Remember, there will be more monsters in your life, but if you do what I told you, the monsters can't hurt you."

Mason grins and puts his fists on his hips, "Look out monsters! You don't scare me anymore!"

Jesus laughs, and pats the child's golden hair. "It's time for me to get going."

"What?! You can't stay?"

"Not physically. But don't worry, I will always be with you."

"Really?" Mason lifts his head.

"Yup. Right in here." He points to the child's heart. "Whenever you need me, just say my Name."

"Thank You." Mason says. He jumps forward and hugs Jesus.

"Alright, now back to bed."

"Okay." Mason skips to his bed and hops under the covers.

Jesus kisses Mason's forehead, then walks into the closet and disappears, leaving only a faint glow about the room.

Mason lays his head down, and peacefully allows sleep to take over him.

No more monsters.