That Which Goes Bump in the Night

I remember my old basement. We actually had a finished basement in our old house. And I can still remember the day that my parents finally liberated me from the torture of sharing a room with my brother and they told me that I could have my own room in the cellar.... or in the dungeon, to be more specific. Of course I had mixed feelings, being elated at the prospect of my long awaited independence from sibling sharing traditions. (You always had half of everything, nothing was ever truly 100% yours...) But at the same time being terrified of the complete and utter darkness that was down there. I tell you it was an unholy darkness... as if every incarnated childhood fear lived and thrived down there. It was a very courage shattering experience. I can remember lying there the first night and trying not to jump 10 feet in the air every time the house creaked or when the 50 gallon boiler (that happened to be located on the other side of the wall) came on and sounded just like the NASA shuttle lift-off. (Without the countdown of course.) In any case, suddenly my independence wasn't so important anymore. Funny how that night, all those fears were so frightening and paralyzing.. and now I don't know what I wouldn't give to have my old room back.