The MONSTER in My Basement 
A City of Light Imprint
I found a monster
in my basement, oh what a big surprise! 
His hair was red and matted.
Yellow were his eyes.
He looked so sad and lonely. I wondered what to do.

He said, 
I’d like a bite to eat. 
How about you?"
I wondered what he wanted: fruit or tuna fish?
R Chicken FO or a hot dog or ice cream in a dish? 
How about spaghetti?
or sweet potato pie?

Then he drooled 
and looked me straight in the eye!
I began to... Shake a little bit, shake a little bit,
shake, shake, shake,
shake, shake... I wondered— R had I made a FO big mistake? 
He said his name was,
HOWARD.
I said my name was
DavE. 
He said, I’m really hungry.
Would you like to see my cave?"
I tried to answer, No, sir," but I found it hard to talk.
So he grabbed my hand and we began to walk.
We strolled out through the courtyard and down the merry lane.

He told me 
he was starving. 
I tried to feel his pain.
We stopped to buy some napkins, some pepper and some tea.
Oh, what would you do if you were me?
I began to... Shake a little bit, shake a little bit,
shake, shake, shake, shake, shake...
I wondered— had I made  a big mistake? 
We came around the corner and there was
Howard’s mom.

Who’d you bring 
for dinner?" she asked so sweet and calm.
I gathered all my courage " and said, My name is DavE.
Then she grabbed my arm and pulled me into her cave.
Howard set the table. His mother poured the tea. She asked me quite
politely if I had a family.

I answered, Yes, I do ma’am, who someday you should meet."
Then she smiled and said, It’s almost time
to eat!"

I began to... Shake a little bit, shake a little bit, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake...
I wondered—
had I made a big mistake?

Howard put his bib on, and a grin spread through his face.
My heart was thumping loudly as we bowed our heads
for grace.

Just then I heard the doorbell and what to my surprise,
Stood a man with two dozen pizza pies!
We sat and ate our pizza, which I must say was quite great.
I stayed to help with dishes, til I noticed it was late.
I turned and said, I’m sorry," as they finished up their tea.
But for a while I thought your dinner would be
ME !
"

They began to... Laugh a little bit, laugh a little bit,
ha, ha, ha, ha, ha...

It seems that I had made a 
BIG mistake!
THE END
