The Threat of Imagination

Everyone always says imagination is good. They encourage it in our youth. Just give us a cardboard box and we're good for at least an hour, if not two. I always loved cardboard boxes. Sticky tac was my favorite toy when I was little. I would make all sorts of animals out of sticky tac. Create entire cities and play God. Let my imagination run away with me. It was a blast and everyone thought it was great for me.

So now I'm 18. I had a Monster at work today and two Krispy Kreme donuts tonight. Turns out my imagination turns into a twisted evil monster when it's fed sugar and caffeine and ginseng and all of that other terrible stuff. Locking up the house I imagine a man dressed in all black busting through the front door and attacking me. Doesn't happen. Stupid imagination. Locking up the back door I expect to see a face just staring at me through the window. Doesn't happen. Very stupid imagination. And walking upstairs I swear that I can feel eyes on me. Turn around and no one is there, of course. Stupid, stupid, stupid imagination.

So I guess no more caffeine and sugar for me. Now I know why my mom wouldn't let me have caffeine past noon when I was little. And why she would always make me turn my head and plug my ears for the scary parts of the X Files. Thanks mom, I owe you one. I guess now its my turn to take responsibility of myself. I'm tired of staying up until 1...2....3 in the morning watching Friends just trying to calm down enough to stop imagining a rapist with a chainsaw running up the stairs and holding me hostage.

So no more caffeine after 12 and cutting back on my sugar intake. And I better try to go to sleep by 12 every night. It will help if the last thing I hear is my man saying "Goodnight baby, I love you. I'll talk to you tomorrow."