Hey Dummy.

I have long been plagued by night terrors. The kind that leave me frozen in the bed for hours, staring at the ceiling and wishing for morning to come. Most are some readaptation of a childhood nightmare, only made extra rated R.

Well, Saturday night, I had one. My whole extended family was at conference. Hubby and our kiddos, my folks, my sisters, their husbands and kids, etc... Also along for the day was our new little brother. My parents only had girls and we often bothered them for a little brother. Well, apparently they obliged, in the form of a dummy. You know the kind, little tuxedo, strange upturned smile, creepy head movements, and always wanting to sit on your lap. He also had just the littlest bit of blood on his pointy teeth. eek. I avoided him, but was charged with taking him into the next conference to babysit him. I hesitantly sat him on my lap and that little wooden head turned so slowly to face me, he opened his mouth to say something to me and I heard, "Mama, come get me." "Mama, come get me." "MAMA, COME GET ME!"

I jerked awake, still groggy and jumped out of bed to go get Conway. I fumbled for my glasses in the dark, turned around, and bumped into Conway. He was standing right in front of me in the dark with his arms outstretched up to me. I screamed very loudly.

Elizabeth, it's the big one, I'm comin'!