The Coat on the Chair
An original Tuck In Books story

Lumi the fox knew every corner of her room in the daytime. Her yellow coat hung on the chair. Her slippers waited by the rug. But when the lamp went out, something tall leaned against the wall. Lumi pulled the blanket up to her nose.

“Papa?” she called. Papa came to the doorway. “That shape is making me scared,” Lumi said. He sat beside the bed. “Let’s look together.” He switched on the little lamp. The tall shape disappeared. There was the chair and the yellow coat.

Lumi touched the sleeve. It was soft, just as it had been in the morning. Papa held it up. The sleeve made a long shape on the wall. Lumi lifted one paw. A small shape lifted beside it. “The light is making the shapes,” she said.

“Where shall the coat sleep tonight?” Papa asked. “On the hook,” said Lumi. They hung it by the door. Lumi chose the little lamp to stay on. Papa sat for their usual song. When the song ended, he told her where he would be.

Lumi listened to Papa putting away the cups. She could see her slippers and the round corner of the rug. A tiny shadow sat behind her water bottle. She knew that one. She took a sip and set the bottle back.

The next evening, the coat was already on its hook. Lumi looked around before they sang. “Little lamp again,” she said. Papa nodded. Lumi did not have to like every shadow tonight. She had her familiar room, her small light and someone she could call.

The End

A few words for tonight
- Read with whatever lighting feels comfortable.
- Ask which familiar object Lumi noticed.
- Keep the ending quiet; another question can wait.

Read more: https://www.tuckinbooks.com/stories/afraid-of-the-dark/
Free for personal family reading.