Lewis James was only four years old and it was bed time, he was scared and he knew his father was angry even though his father did not show he was angry.

Lewis felt silly. he knew monsters did not live under beds but this was different, he just wish he could tell his father but he knew he was not allowed.

"Lewis, there are no monsters...none in your toy cupboard" his father said as he crossed and opened the empty cupboard that just showed teddy bears, toy buses and action figures.

"I'm going to look under your bed and prove nothing..." his father began to say.

Lewis began to cry, that ended up as a high pitch wail which stopped his father, his father had not expected this and he softened towards his son.

"Lewis, tell me what's wrong" he said.

"I'm not allowed to tell you, he said it would be against the game" Lewis blubbered, wiping his nose in his In The Night Garden PJ's.

His father looked confused, he stroked his son's head and was slightly concerned, but Lewis was not hot with any fever and he looked terrified.

"He's under the bed" Lewis sobbed.

His father smiled, "I am not scared of monsters, I will show you".

His father got on his knees and peered under Lewis's bed, and suddenly something gripped him and dragged him under.

His father had no time to scream and a gushing of blood sprayed out over the bedroom room wall.

A dwarf appeard from beneath the bed and smiled with with jagged sharp pointed teeth, he waved a finger as a sign to say "no, no, no".

Lewis began to cry as the Triman spoke "You knew you must not tell....that was the game, tut tut".

Suddenly the bottom jaw of the Triman grew, about five foot and swallowed Lewis whole from his bed.

The Triman returned to normal and wiped the corner of his mother, "Tasty" he said.

He turns to go but suddenly looks back, he speaks. "Oh hello again, I didn't see you there for a moment, I hope you like reading and I wonder....".

He grins and then says, "Would you like to play a game" ?

copyright Chris Smith