His older sister looked up from her messy desk. “I can’t. I’m cleaning my room.”
“But there’s something in my closet.”
Liz rolled her brown eyes. “There’s something in everybody’s closet.”
“I know,” Miguel said, “but my something is alive.”
“It’s probably just Roddy,” Liz said.
“No, Roddy is right here.” Miguel pointed at the floppy-eared spaniel.
“Then you’re imagining things,” Liz said.
“No. I’m not,” Miguel said. “There’s something in my closet, and it’s making noises.”
Liz sighed. “If I come and look will you leave me alone?”
“Okay.” Miguel grabbed Liz’s hand and pulled her down the hall.
Liz looked around. “How do you keep your room so neat?”
Miguel grinned. “Easy. I—” His eyes widened. “Listen,” he whispered.
“I don’t hear anything,” Liz said after several seconds.
“You will. Move closer to the closet.”
Liz took one step, two, toward the closet. “I still don’t hear any—”
Rattle rattle. Thump bump.
“See?” said Miguel.
“Woof!” barked Roddy. He sniffed at the door.
“It’s a monster,” said Miguel.
“Of course it’s not,” Liz said, taking two steps back.
“Then why’d you back up?”
Liz scowled and crossed her arms. “Because.”
“I bet you it is a monster. It’s probably the scariest monster in the whole world.”
“I still don’t believe—”
Rattle. Bump. Rattle. Thump.
“It must be a giant monster bug,” said Miguel. He scooped up Roddy and held him close. “A Monster bug with fangs and hairy legs and—”
Bump Thump. THUMP BUMP.
“I’m going to tell Mom,” said Miguel. “Then she can call the police and the firemen and the—”
“I’m opening the closet door,” Liz said. She took two steps forward, then two more, and reached for the doorknob.
“No!” Miguel buried his face into Roddy’s fur, then peeked.
Liz turned the knob slowly, pulled the door open and—
RATTLE RATTLE! THUMP BUMP! BANG CRASH!
“EEEK!” Liz cried.
“AAAAA!” cried Miguel.
Stuffed animals, super hero figures, puzzles, games, books and clothes rained down on Liz. “So that’s why your room is so neat,” Liz said at last. “You stuffed it all in your closet.” She shook her head. “Mom just might call the police if you don’t clean up this mess.”
“But what about my monster?”
“There wasn’t any monster.” Liz said. “Just a monster mess.”
“Will you help me clean it up?”
“I can’t. I have my own room to clean.”
“What if I help you and you help me,” said Miguel. “We can get rid of two monster messes.”
Liz narrowed her eyes, then smiled. “Great idea.” She petted Roddy. “You want to help, boy?”
