My Short Short for the Day

 “Raptorman, Raptorman.  Does whatever a Raptor can.”

Mary smiled at her son as he sang the song to the tune of Spiderman’s theme song.

“He steals the children.  To build a nest.  Never stops. To take a rest.”

Mary’s face scrunched up.

“Watch out for Raptorman.”

Mary turned to her 5 year old son.  “Honey, what was that song you were singing?”

“I dunno.”

“Well, who did you hear it from?”  Mary squatted down near the boy who continued to play with his tiny toy trucks on the linoleum floor.  “Was it someone at school?”

“No.”

“Oh, was it a kid from the neighborhood?”  Mary leaned in a bit.

“No.”

“Well, where did you hear it?”  Mary’s brow furrowed deeper.

“Oh, just somewhere by the bushes.”

“The bushes near the playground?”  Mary tensed.

“Yeah.”

“Was someone in the bushes?”  Mary struggled to keep her voice calm.

“Yeah.”

“Did you see who it was?”  Mary asked.

“Yeah.”

Mary took a calming breath.  “Do you know them?”

“Yeah.”

Mary was reaching for her cell phone.  “Who was it?”

“Raptorman.”