PJ's Nightmare

During the course of a typical week, we get to have PJ over on Thursday night. Dustin either drops him off before going to work or I pick him up at Dustin's. When I pick him up, the first thing we do is go to Wendy's or McDonald's whoever has the best toy. After dinner, we go to Walmart where I get some groceries, usually dog food, strawberries for Nana, and a small bottle of strawberry milk for him and chocolate milk for me. After we check out, we have to go to the playroom where they have three rides for kids. One is the boar from the Lion King, one is a jeep with a monkey and elephant as passengers, and the last one is a helicopter. PJ insists on putting the quarters in the slots himself and has ridden them so many times that he gets bored so he climbs out on the front of the rides (I'll take a photo next time and attach it). By the time we get back it is fairly late and has been very dark (in the winter). When we get home I turn on the lights in the back and we go feed and water the chickens and sheep. PJ likes the sheep and calls them Budgie Boy and Mattie (Mudge and Maggie). However Mudge is quite loud when he is hungry and I think in the dark that PJ gets a little frightened. Several weeks ago, Dustin and PJ slept over Thursday night and he must have had a nightmare because ever since then, he talks about the time Mudge came in the house and tried to get him. When we're downstairs, he points to the door of the bedroom and says "this is where Budge came in and my Daddy shut the door". When we're in the family room he will point to the door and say "that is where Budge came in to get me". I try and discourage these thoughts by telling him that Mudge can't open the door because he doesn't have hands and fingers. At that, PJ will laugh and say "yea, he just has black feet". But a few minutes later, he will again describe the time Budge came in to get him.

I wonder if he will remember this nightmare all his life like I remember the nightmare I had when I was his age. The terror of my nightmare was a panda bear. I remember standing behind a screen door and watching the pandas coming to get me. If anyone else out there has a favorite nightmare they want to share, be sure and post it for all the rest of us to read.