Once upon a time there was little boy who arrived rather late in the day. His sisters, although considerably older, were pleased to see him. His grandparents, who, arguably, were not initially impressed to hear of his impending presence, fell instantly in love with him. The little boy was a delightful character and everyone was content to let their worlds revolve around him. As he grew, he worked hard at school, had a penchant for hats, was never seen without one and developed a healthy appetite for exotic foods. He was comfortable in the presence of adults and had lots of friends amongst his peers. In fact, he was as perfect a child as could ever be wanted.
One day, however, a terrible thing happened. When he was thirteen years old, the charming little boy went quietly to bed one night as usual and woke up the next morning having turned into a monster. The monster continued to be pleasant and polite towards his grandparents and other adults which was a blessing. His mother, however, turned into an object of hatred and derision who had lost the ability to do anything right. No matter how hard she looked for the little boy, he had completely disappeared whilst the monster grew bigger, ganglier and uglier. All she could do was try to keep the monster fed and provided with clean clothes and hope that her little boy would return one day.
Many long years passed, not without incident, until one day the mother noticed signs of the monster changing again. Sporadically, he was beginning to look and act a lot better until, at last, she realised he had grown into a very personable young man. The other monsters with whom he had been associating had also become fully formed and seemed to be successfully emerging from the darkness. There were odd relapses but, generally, the mother felt happy and even proud to be in the company of this new person.
Before long, it was time for the young man to leave and seek higher education. When he left, the mother was bereft: it seemed that such an expanse of time had been spent caring for him and his long gone sisters that she had forgotten what else she could do. She spent a lot of time wondering and wandering. The sisters were fine and did what women do but the mother fretted about the young man. When he came home for Christmas they had a lovely time even though he was rightly full of his new life. She welcomed into her home a small female of the species who seemed to have become attached at the hip to the young man and looked forward to the long summer vacation.
When the young man returned after the first year something had happened to him again. In fact, it wasn't him at all: the monster was back! Well, that wasn't in the book she thought.
One day, however, a terrible thing happened. When he was thirteen years old, the charming little boy went quietly to bed one night as usual and woke up the next morning having turned into a monster. The monster continued to be pleasant and polite towards his grandparents and other adults which was a blessing. His mother, however, turned into an object of hatred and derision who had lost the ability to do anything right. No matter how hard she looked for the little boy, he had completely disappeared whilst the monster grew bigger, ganglier and uglier. All she could do was try to keep the monster fed and provided with clean clothes and hope that her little boy would return one day.
Many long years passed, not without incident, until one day the mother noticed signs of the monster changing again. Sporadically, he was beginning to look and act a lot better until, at last, she realised he had grown into a very personable young man. The other monsters with whom he had been associating had also become fully formed and seemed to be successfully emerging from the darkness. There were odd relapses but, generally, the mother felt happy and even proud to be in the company of this new person.
Before long, it was time for the young man to leave and seek higher education. When he left, the mother was bereft: it seemed that such an expanse of time had been spent caring for him and his long gone sisters that she had forgotten what else she could do. She spent a lot of time wondering and wandering. The sisters were fine and did what women do but the mother fretted about the young man. When he came home for Christmas they had a lovely time even though he was rightly full of his new life. She welcomed into her home a small female of the species who seemed to have become attached at the hip to the young man and looked forward to the long summer vacation.
When the young man returned after the first year something had happened to him again. In fact, it wasn't him at all: the monster was back! Well, that wasn't in the book she thought.
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