SOLVED. Horror short story 70's/80's about boys walking home where there is a monster. [s]

[Raj]

I am trying to find out the name of a short story horror genre written either in the 70's or 80's or earlier.

The plot is told in flashback by an adult. He and his friend as kids used to walk home past a scary area in their town at night. They believed there was a monster hiding there but they could always outrun it.

In the present day, a local boy has been found dead in the same area. This boy was fat and out of shape. The adult narrator believes he and his friend mentally created this monster which killed the boy.

Title and author?

[Raj]

That's it! Thank you!