was created especially for

Michael Jeremy Smith

at the age of 8

With love from

Mom and Dad

September 2, 2003

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My name is Flooty Hobbs. Maybe

you know me... maybe you don't.

There is an 8 year old boy named

Michael Jeremy Smith who knows

me all too well.

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I was the scariest bedtime

monster in Fort Wayne. Why, I

had no trouble scaring Larry,

Wayne and Bob. I used to be

great! Everyone was afraid of me.

Until I met Mike.

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I'll never forget that awful night

when Mike got the best of me.

The whole thing is just dreadful.

Now, I'll never be the same (sniff).

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As always, I waited through the

usual bedtime routine.

First, the night clothes.

Then, teeth were brushed.

At last, the bedtime story was told.

11

Finally, the lights went out in

Mike's bedroom. It was time for

me to make my appearance.

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I approached Mike's bed with

all my scary friends. As usual, I

got to go first. I made my most

frightening face. But all I heard

from under the covers was, "Tee

hee, tee hee, you don't scare me!"

15

"Step aside, Flooty," said

Spooky Luke, as he pushed me

away. Luke pulled his cheeks

apart to make his famous,

wide-mouth face. Then he turned

to face Mike. Again came, "Tee

hee, tee hee, you don't scare me!"

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One by one, we all took turns

making our scary faces... and one

by one, we all got the same

response from Mike. We were

very puzzled. Finally, we all

decided to make our faces

together on the count of one... two...

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...three!

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This time, Mike remained silent.

A quiet stillness filled the air. We

blinked in the darkness.

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Straining to hear, I leaned

closer to Mike's bed. Then, we all

leaned closer... and closer still.

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Suddenly, Mike's covers flew

off and out jumped a Jiggling, Jolly

Gollywobber! Everyone shrieked,

shrank and scattered, except for

me. I just stood and trembled.

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...And who could blame me?

Mike knew that a Gollywobber,

(especially a jolly one that jiggles),

is one thing that strikes terror into

the hearts of all bedtime monsters,

including me, Flooty Hobbs. Mike

had tricked us!

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"You don't have to be afraid,"

said the Gollywobber. "I'm really

Mike Smith. If you look closer,

you'll see I'm just pretending to be

a Gollywobber. I can see that you

and your friends are nothing more

than shadows in the dark. You're

nothing to be afraid of."

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With that, I knew Mike would

never look at me the same way,

so I had to leave in ruin... never to return.

32

The last thing I heard Mike say

as he snuggled under the covers

was, "Tee hee, tee hee, you'll

never scare me." And you know,

he was right.

35

From this day forward, everyone

will know that Mike Smith

is

"The Kid Who Isn't Afraid!"

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