I try to keep my monsters locked in the closet, and out of trouble, but every now and then one or more of them manages to sneak out. Some nights listening to them gnaw at the door, I just give up and, open the door to let them all come out to play. The next day they always seem a little more appeased as I tuck them one by one back into the closet where they spend the next week or two sleeping off their drunken debauchery.

But tonight I can hear the old green eyed beast trying to fight its way out from the back of the closet. I had heard him rumbling unhappily a couple days ago but I kind of figured he would settle down a little if I just left him alone. Nope, he had just spent his time stewing over things, growing more and more annoyed with his lot in life, and now he wanted out!

The door shakes as he pushes against it, testing its security, he growls low in his throat. I know it is only a matter of time before he figures a way out. I'm thinking that maybe I should just give up, open the door and, get it over with. But that isn't an option that I want to happen. They can just get into so much trouble when they are out, that I really don't want to allow them to escape, if I don't have to.

Of course, the old green eyed monster has to be one of the worst ones too. He never travels alone. He always brings his gang of imps out with him, and the pack of them wreak havoc in my world, till I somehow manage to knock their leader back into a submissive state again. It's horribly embarrassing not to mention dangerous. He's cost me the loss of a couple relationships and at one point almost cost me my job. He's bad news.

He screeches behind the door, begging to be let out, I just try harder to ignore his insistent pleas. He's nothing but trouble! The telephone rings and I get up to answer it. It's Andrew and his timing couldn't be worse, the monster is banging it's battle thirsty body against the closet door, and I'm torn as to what I should do. Let the beast out so it will maybe not break the door down and bring out with itself the remainder of the horde from the closet. Or hang up on Andrew and give myself time to reinforce the door. The wooden door creaks under the stress, groans loudly then cracks and falls, the monsters are free.

Time seems to stand still in moments like this. You know that time is passing but it is difficult to measure the length of it. I hear the hissing and screaming, see talons flashing and hear teeth gnashing, it seems to last forever but for all that I know it may only have lasted just a few minutes. Then it is over. There is silence in the room and silence on the line. I whisper "hello" but there is no reply.

I glare angrily at the green eyed beast and he looks sheepishly back at me. Then he turns around and quietly slinks back into the closet His partners in crime silently follow one by one behind him. I slam the door behind them.

It's too late to change anything today so for now things will have to stay as they are. I go to the fridge and grab myself a beer. I've already made up my mind that tomorrow is the day that I go downtown to buy a deadbolt. I've put it off for too long and enough is enough. They won't get out on me again.

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