“I heard a noise, and now I’m scared,”
he says through all the tears.
I wipe his face and pat his head
and hug away his fears.

I check for ghosts inside his room
and look behind the door.
I scare off all the bogeymen
and tell him, “Cry no more.”

I understand his fear of ghosts.
It wouldn’t be so bad,
but it’s really kind of silly—
this fraidy cat’s my dad.

Text © Matthew M. Fredericks, reprinted from Dinner with Dracula, published by Meadowbrook Press. Illustration © Mike and Carl Gordon. Any copying or use of this poem or illustration without consent is unlawful.

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