In this assignment for my writing class, we had to write about a child who has to deal with the problem of being told to be nice, even if that denies their real feelings. The child needs to either decide to deny their feelings, or else let their feelings out and face the results of not being “nice.”
“Mommy?” Katylyn stood in the kitchen doorway, watching her mother put something in the microwave.
“What is it, honey?”
“You said I suppose to be nice to everybody.”
“Yes, that’s right. You need to be nice to everybody.” Her mother started stirring a pot on the stove.
Katylyn frowned. “Even monsters?”
“Even monsters. If you’re nice to the monsters, then they’ll be nice to you.”
“Even big green monsters?”
“Yes, even big green ones. Be nice to everybody.” The microwave beeped.
“Even evil monsters?”
Her mother sighed. “Honey, Mommy’s busy fixing dinner. Just be nice to everyone. Now go clean up your toys in your room, OK?”
“OK.” Katylyn climbed the stairs to her room, closed the door, and took a running leap onto her bed. Lying on her tummy, she clutched the bedspread and gradually lowered her head and shoulders until she could peer under the bed.
Three red eyes glowed dully in the middle of a slimy green face.
“Mommy says I suppose to be nice to you, and you be nice to me.”