Billy was completely hidden
underneath the covers
with only enough of his head sticking out
to see the curtains flapping
like bat wings in the breeze.

There was a vampire in the closet
hanging upside down from the clothes rod,
the same vampire from the late show.
Billy knew he was there
because he hadn't heard him -
you never hear vampires
until it's too late.
And now he was waiting for Billy to move
from the safety of his bed
and the crucifix on the wall.

And if Billy were to get up -
Zap!
the vampire would bite him,
right on the neck!
And Billy would be a vampire, too.

Poof!
Billy would appear
in Mrs. Addison's sixth grade class,
his black hair slicked back
and his cape still flapping
from the flight in.
Billy could hear them all screaming
when he showed his fangs,
and they would run away -
except for Mary Ann Walker,
whom Billy would hypnotize.
One bite and she would be
in his power forever.

Billy never looked back at the closet,
waiting for the bite that was surely coming,
as he got up to go to the bathroom.