Flash fiction story: “Eight Tips for Living with the Monster Under Your Bed”

by look i have opinions

“Eight Tips for Living with the Monster Under Your Bed,” by Derek Heckman

Appeared here in Wigleaf, December 12th, 2018

1,002 words (I’m rounding down to count it as flash fiction)

This seems to be—pardon my literal-mindedness—a story of childhood schizophrenia, and how it gradually becomes unbearable. The last line, the bit in italics, is surely spoken by an imaginary version of the boy’s brother.

The use of second person imparts a sense of intimacy. Perhaps second person is a good substitute for first when the character is incapable of narrating (in this case because of his age).