Mattress People Go to Bear Park — Richard Phillip Marsh

Ellyn, a bright, articulate and imaginative four and a half year old child, told me that she could not sleep because she thought there were "things in her closet and under her bed." To satisfy her fear, we added the closet and the under-the-bed check to our nightly ritual. __ As with all small children fighting the sandman, Ellyn expanded the adventure to include me singing, counting, and ultimately story-telling. She would have me crawl in next to her and tell her stories of my childhood, my life, and anything else I could concoct. __ One night I drew an imaginary circle on the bedsheet with my index finger and told Ellyn it was the magical doorway to Mattress Land and the home of the Mattress People. She was exhilarated at the possibilities and each night was a different adventure followed by her exhausted repose. __ Ellyn's youngest brother Joe, age one and a half, was moving to his bunk bed below his three year old brother John. John never had sleeping problems, but like his sister, Joe was having fitful nights during his transition. __ This is the true story as created and told in the their own words, using names they chose. This was the night that Ellyn, John, and Joe became one... in Mattress Land.