Poke-Mom End of Childhood #1-2

On her way from school, Laura heard water splashing and a soft whimper from a rain barrel by the side of the road. She looked inside and could hardly believe her eyes. A blue-green cuddly toy was floating there. Not as if it were made of lifeless material, but like a real live animal. But the question was: what kind of animal does it look like? She pushes up the sleeve of her jacket and reaches boldly into the water, building a bridge to the animal. She dries it off a little with the edge of her sweater and packs the creature into her rucksack, right next to her lunch box. At home, she only tells her mother that she found something on the way. Yes, fine. Clean it up first and then your hands. Her father just nodded and continued reading the newspaper from the day before. Nobody was interested in her little world. Laura took some of the food with her at mealtimes for the little guest who slept and ate with her from then on. When the parents came into her room, it was so quiet and still that you thought it was just a cuddly toy. It never spoke a single word but always listened attentively to her and seemed to understand every word she said. It lay on her bed during the day and at night it slept in a box with a soft cloth underneath. Laura was never lonely, scared or alone because when she left the house she always took it with her. Years later, Laura woke up with a slight stomach ache and went to the bathroom to check the cause. She knew that the day would come. Then today was the day. She had actually slept well and even dreamt a lot. About a monster sleeping under her bed. Fortunately just a dream.