My Rough Sketch: Children's Book

About a Boy named Edward

“Daddy?” asked Martin.        

“Yes, son?” responded Mr. Snagelfritz

“Did you ever get made fun of when you were a child?”

“Well, when you have a name like Snagelfritz, you can’t really get away from all the jokes and games that other kids play on you.”

“Why? What’s going on at school? Are the kids teasing you because of your last name?” asked Mr. Snagelfritz.

“No. Worse. Mrs. Sasselfratz calls it a Pho-bee-ah. She said that I have it.”

 “She did?” asked Mr. Snagelfritz

“Yeah, she said the other day that I have AR-ACK-NA-something.”

“Arachnophobia?”

“Yes! That’s the word!”

“So you are scared of spiders then?”

“Yes! How did you know that?”

“Well, son, that’s what it means.”

“Oh. You’re so smart daddy!”

“Not really. I just know from experience. When I was your age I was also afraid of those creepy crawly things. Now I can squash one with my bare hands!”

“Ewwww!  I wish I was that brave.   

 “Martin, you can be brave too. Sometimes you just need to face your fears head on.” Mr. Snagelfritz lovingly responded.

ARACHIBUTYROPHOBIA

“Here, let me tell you a story about this boy named Edward. You see, Edward was a strange little boy. Well, at least he was in the eyes of his classmates.

 “It’s the beginning of the school year at Rumpledump Elementary. Edward is a new student. Some of his friends are sitting around the table in the lunchroom eating their lunch. Ella had a turkey sandwich with mayo, Richie had a roast beef sandwich with horseradish, and Phillip had a tuna melt with pickles. Edward opened his lunch sack and realized his mother forgot to pack him his sandwich. Another boy, named Sam, wasn’t so hungry so he offered little Eddie his sandwich.

“Here you go, Eddie. I’m not very hungry today. You can have my sandwich.” said Sam.

“Thanks, Sam.” Eddie accepted.

Edward had just finished his last drop of milk. He took one bite of the sandwich and froze.

“What’s this?” Eddie asked.

“It’s a sandwich, silly.” said Phillip.

“I mean what is in between this bread?”

Sam answered, “It’s peanut butter, why?”

“I…I…I can’t stand the feeling of peanut butter on the roof of my mouth! It makes me squirm!”

Eddie fell off his chair and started to breathe heavily. He felt the flush of heat in his face as he turned bright red. All the kids in the lunchroom looked down at him and broke out into laughter. He was feeling even hotter by now. It felt like he had a fever coming on. One of Eddie’s teachers was nearby and heard the ruckus.

“Come on, Edward. Let’s talk.”

She grabbed his hand and walked away with him from the crowd as dozens of half eaten peanut butter sandwiches were chucked into the air after him.

It was not a good day for Edward.

FELINOPHOBIA

“Here kitty kitty. Here kitty kitty,” cried out the neighbor lady.

“I like most animals, but cats drive me crazy!” said Edward.

“Why so?” said Ella.

“Every time I go outside to play with my remote-control car, Jack comes out and starts rubbing his fur ball face against my legs. He starts to climb my leg and tear at my pants. What did I do to deserve that?! Then he always nips at my ankles when I’m minding my own business sitting down on the porch.” 

“It sounds to me like he likes you.” Ella laughed.

 “It’s not funny. He has the most ferocious teeth and pin-picking nails! My throat dries up and I can’t even swallow when he gets too close to me. I usually try to push him away, but he is a persistent little bugger. Then when I get mad, I just run inside and steam for a while.”

“Sounds to me like you need a chill pill,” said Ella.

“A what??” said Eddie.

 “You need to calm down and relax. You’re too uptight.”

“Sure, Ella, whatever you say.” Edward responded sarcastically.

SYNGENESOPHOBIA

“Eddie!” cried Mr. Dimpleknott

“Yes, Papa?”

“Your Aunt Hilda is here!”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Eddie grumbled to himself.

 As soon as Eddie got word of his aunt visiting, he bolted right up to the attic to hide. He locked himself up in an old wooden trunk. He was starting to vomit in his mouth as he could hear his aunt calling out his name.

“Edward? Where are you? Your favorite Auntie is here!” 

“Where is that little boy? He is hiding on me isn’t he?

“I don’t know, sis.” Said Mr. Dimpleknott.

The day goes by, and Eddie ends up falling asleep in the trunk.

BACK TO REALITY

“Daddy, wasn’t Eddie afraid of being all alone in the attic where there are spiders and creepy crawly things all over the place. It’s so dark in that trunk too!”

“Son, I think that he was so worried about his aunt that he didn’t even think about those other scary things.”

“Really?” asked Martin.

“Really.” Said Mr. Snagelfritz

“So can I overcome this AR-ACK-NA…”

“Arachnophobia.”

“Yes, that word.”  

“Martin my little boy, you can overcome this fear.”

“Thanks daddy.” 

“But there’s more, son. The young Edward overcame his fears eventually. He fell in love with the neighbor cat, Jack. His parents bought him a cat for his birthday. He decided that he liked peanut butter and jelly sandwiches after all, and he finally let his Aunt Hilda come into his room and sit beside him. A few inches away, I might add. But it was a start, a good one.”