My name is Flooty Hobbs. Maybe you know me...maybe you don't. There is an 8 year old boy named Michael Jeremy Smith who knows me all too well.

I was the scariest bedtime monster in Atlanta. Why, I had no trouble scaring Larry, Wayne and Bob. I used to be great! Everyone was afraid of me.

Until I met Mike.

I'll never forget that awful night when Mike got the best of me. The whole thing is just dreadful. Now, I'll never be the same (sniff).

As always, I waited through the usual bedtime routine.

First, the night clothes.

Then, teeth were brushed.

At last, the bedtime story was told.

Finally, the lights went out in Mike's bedroom. It was time for me to make my appearance.

I approached Mike's bed with all my scary friends. As usual, I got to go first. I made my most frightening face. But all I heard from under the covers was, "Tee hee, tee hee, you don't scare me!"

"Step aside, Flooty," said Spooky Luke, as he pushed me away. Luke pulled his cheeks apart to make his famous, wide-mouth face. Then he turned to face Mike. Again came, "Tee hee, tee hee, you can't scare me!"

One by one, we all took turns making our scary faces...and one by one, we all got the same response from Mike. We were very puzzled. Finally, we all decided to make our faces together on the count of one...two...three!. . .