Ankle Snatcher

by Grady Hendrix

He told me that I had to be careful and leave all the lights on after he left or the boogeyman might get me too.

I never told them my dad said the boogeyman got Mom because she stepped out of bed without turning the light on first. I never told them that for the rest of my life I’ve never once gotten out of bed in the dark.

They live in our closets and under our beds, and after dark they come out when we break the rules. We’re serving time for the boogeymen’s crimes.”