by Rohini Chowdhury

"Mamma," whispers Vidisha,
"Don't go up those stairs!
A goblin black and fearsome
Is hiding in the dark!"
I stop and stare into the blackness,
Only stairs I see.
But two big eyes are dark with fright,
And small hands hold me tight.

Vipasha laughs and turns on the light,
"Look," she points. "He's gone!"
Vidisha lets go and lifts her head
And peers up the stairs.
No goblin there - just shadows
But
She doesn't quite believe us.

Every time I climb those stairs,
I try to see the goblin.
I cannot - only Vidi can,
And she WON'T go up those stairs.
She says he has a squeaky voice,
Long green nails and yellow eyes,
He's the biggest goblin there ever was
And she WON'T go up those stairs!

But as my Small grows bigger
The goblin shrinks in size
Now she will venture up those stairs
If Vipasha goes with her
For Vipasha knows how to make him run
"Say Boo!" says Vipasha.
"There is no goblin anyway," I say
Smiling brightly.

But when I climb those stairs alone
I say "Boo" as loud as I can,
For even if I can't see the goblin,
I know that Vidi can
And I'd rather be sure
He isn't there
When I go up those stairs
Alone.