My name is Flooty Hobbs. Maybe you know me... maybe you don't. There is an 8 year old boy named Michael Jeremy Smith who knows me all too well.

I was the scariest bedtime monster in Atlanta. Why, I had no trouble scaring Larry, Wayne and Bob. I used to be great! Everyone was afraid of me.

Until I met Mike.

I'll never forget that awful night when Mike got the best of me. The whole thing is just dreadful. Now, I'll never be the same (sniff).

As always, I waited through the usual bedtime routine.

First, the night clothes.

Then, teeth were brushed.

At last, the bedtime story was told.

Finally, the lights went out in Mike's bedroom. It was time for me to make my appearance.

I approached Mike's bed with all my scary friends. As usual, I got to go first. I made my most frightening face. But all I heard from under the covers was, "Tee hee, tee hee, you don't scare me!"

"Step aside, Flooty," said Spooky Luke, as he pushed me away. Luke pulled his cheeks apart to make his famous, wide-mouth face. Then he turned to face Mike. Again came, "Tee hee, tee hee, you don't scare me!"

One by one, we all took turns making our scary faces... and one by one, we all got the same response from Mike. We were very puzzled. Finally, we all decided to make our faces together on the count of one... two...

...three!

This time, Mike remained silent. A quiet stillness filled the air. We blinked in the darkness.

Straining to hear, I leaned closer to Mike's bed. Then, we all leaned closer... and closer still.

Suddenly, Mike's covers flew off and out jumped a Jiggling, Jolly Gollywobber! Everyone shrieked, shrank and scattered, except for me. I just stood and trembled.

...And who could blame me? Mike knew that a Gollywobber, (especially a jolly one that jiggles), is one thing that strikes terror into the hearts of all bedtime monsters, including me, Flooty Hobbs. Mike had tricked us!

"You don't have to be afraid," said the Gollywobber. "I'm really Mike Smith. If you look closer, you'll see I'm just pretending to be a Gollywobber. I can see that you and your friends are nothing more than shadows in the dark. You're nothing to be afraid of."

With that, I knew Mike would never look at me the same way, so I had to leave in ruin... never to return.

The last thing I heard Mike say as he snuggled under the covers was, "Tee hee, tee hee, you'll never scare me." And you know, he was right.

From this day forward, everyone

will know that Mike Smith

is

"The Kid Who Isn't Afraid!"