Duvet cover

Duvet Cover

Lights off. Today, for a few hours, I couldn't see anything. Just
darkness, even though the light was creeping in around the edges.
Peeking at me from down by my feet, reminding me its only just gone
break time. I couldn't see anything because my mum had gone down the
launderette and so I was left with 'itchy'. Thats what I call it.
'Itchy', the naked coverless duvet. It smells of big empty classrooms
and draughts. When I stick my head under the duvet all I get is boring
old dark, not even pitch black. That might be exciting.
'Mum?' I called. No answer. I bet she's talking to someone in the
launderette. How can she know so many people? So many boring
people?

Break time is probably ending about now. I hope Jo fell over and grazed
her knees on the uneven concrete. She told me I was weird because I
don't come in to school very much and, when I do, the teachers are
always really nice to me and she says that makes me weird. I tried to
tell her that my mum says I'm not weird, only different, but she said
that my mum only says that because she's my mum and so she has to. I
did not tell her that I am the worlds greatest Mite killer... she
wouldn't understand. I really hope Jo fell over and grazed her
knees.

I can't go to party's. I can't sit with the other kids in the class
room. I can't go to a friends house after school. I've got to stay in
my bed and battle on, day after day. I can never stop fighting. And I
fight best from my bed. Well...in bed...but not really in bed if you
know what I mean.

My mum goes to the launderette to get me a new duvet every day. When
she puts it over old 'itchy' we are ready to fight. You see, as James
'the Mite Muncher' Wickes, its my job to rid each duvet cover of the
evil mites that infest it.

''Hi sweetheart, I'm home" my mum shouted from the bottom of the
stairs. I got caught up with Mrs Davies, you know, she's Jo mum. You
know Jo, she's from your school. She says Jo told her they are doing a
really fun project on plants this term. She said she would happily take
in some work that you could do at home to add to the project? She says
all the kids understand how hard it is for you with your dust
allergy.'
Pah. Dust allergy, what a joke.
'James?' my mum called, straining.
'I hate 'Itchy'!' I shouted. And I hate Jo too, I said to myself. I bet
I could do a better project than her.
'I know dear. I'm coming.'
Mum put the 'clouds and rainbows' cover on and I told her I was going
to have to fight particularly hard to defeat the mites today. They look
bigger and nastier and with even more teeth than the ones I killed
yesterday.
'Thats good dear. Say hello to them for me,' said mum.
I dont think she understands.
'Light off except for the one on the landing please.' I said.
'You know its one in the afternoon? Oh, okay dear, lights off.'

Lunch time in school. Pink custard day, today. Not that I care.
Probably lumpy anyway.

I thrust my head under the duvet and I was in. The clouds parted and I
followed the rainbow as it dipped and swerved. Then all of a sudden the
rainbow started to dive towards the darkness down by my feet. It dived
and dived and the clouds flew up past my ears. I curled up into a ball
ready for impact. Slowly, a shape started to appear from the dark. An
ugly, tentacle covered, warty mite. A really big one, probably a queen
mite. I dodged as it spat deadly venom from its mouth. The poisonous
orange dribble dripping from its teeth was burning holes in the ground.
As the giant mite made a dart for me I jumped onto its back and grabbed
hold of its horrible hairy tentacles. As it reared and bucked I could
see it's warm breath making misty clouds in the darkness, smelling like
the acidic stink of rotten fruit. It swung me round and round until I
thought I couldn't hold on any more. Then I had an idea. I threw my
arms round its head and put my hands over its eyes. Next thing I knew
it stopped on the spot. Very slowly I carefully grabbed the mite
mangling wand I hide in my pyjamas while still keeping one arm over the
giant mites two huge shiny damp white eyes. Ever so gently I raised the
wand above my head and just as I slipped off its back I cried 'NIGHTY
NIGHT, MIGHTY MITE!' And with that, it was gone.

Its P.E. in school right now. I am really good at rounders so the
teacher says. But I can't play for too long because I have to save my
energy to fight the mites when I get home. I sometimes miss being in
school. Obviously, its more exciting being a world famous mite killer
but just sometimes...

Its break time again, I wonder if they are playing football. I scored a
great goal once, everyone ran up to me afterwards and told me it was a
great goal. Phil, and he is really good at football, even said that he
would pick me first at break time tomorrow because he liked me and it
was a really good goal.
I didnt get to go to school the next day. I had to stay here and
fight.

I put my head under the duvet again. Lights off.