Last time, Iggy had a little party for his friends to celebrate the New Year. At the party, Tamara told Iggy that her sister has trouble sleeping at night because she’s afraid of the dark. When Iggy asked why Tamara’s sister was afraid, Tamara answered that it was because her sister was afraid of the things that she couldn’t see in the darkness. Iggy didn’t think much about it at the time, but later, as he tried to sleep in his dark room, Iggy became afraid. Every noise in his dark room seemed big and scary. Iggy was frightened! But, he didn’t know what to do. He wanted to call for his dad, but he didn’t want his dad to think he wasn’t brave. What did Iggy do? Let’s find out in Iggy and the Dark, Dark Room, Part II!

The room seemed darker than ever before. Iggy was frightened. He didn't know what to do.

Sean had laughed when Tamara said her sister was afraid of the dark. Maybe it was a silly thing. Iggy wanted nothing more than to call for his dad to turn the light on. But would his dad laugh at Iggy the same was Sean had laughed?

There was that creaking noise again, followed by a loud thump!

Iggy wanted to cry he was so scared.

"What should I do?" Iggy thought.

Iggy tried to sink deeper into his pillows. He thought that perhaps if whatever was making the noises didn’t see him either, he would be safe. The creaking continued. Iggy peeked over the top of his blanket. The moonlight coming through the window next to his bed made strange blue shadows on the carpet. The shadows seemed to move—sometimes, they looked like monsters.

“It’s just the shadows of the trees in the moonlight,” Iggy tried to tell himself.

Iggy’s heart began to race again when he heard a low moaning noise. “It’s just the wind blowing against the house.” Iggy said to himself. But, he wasn’t quite sure of it.

Iggy tried to shut his eyes and relax. He tried to go to sleep. But, he just couldn’t. Every time he started to relax, there was a noise and his heart would beat harder again.

Over and over again, Iggy wondered if he should call for his father. All he could think about was Sean saying, “Afraid of the dark? You’re too old for that!” Iggy decided that he would not call for his dad. He didn’t want his dad to think he was afraid.

All that night, Iggy stayed awake. He couldn’t fall asleep. He was too scared.

The next morning, when Iggy’s dad came in the room, he was surprised to find Iggy awake.

“Well, hello, Ig. Good morning to you!”

Iggy was very sleepy and grumpy. “Good morning,” Iggy muttered.

Iggy’s dad wheeled Iggy’s wheelchair over to the bed and lifted Iggy up into it.

“You look sleepy, my boy.” Iggy’s father said, “Didn’t you sleep well?”

“Not very well, no,” Iggy said softly.

“Well, why not?” Iggy’s father asked, feeling his son’s forehead, “Do you feel sick? You don’t have a temperature.”

“No, I feel fine.” Iggy said.

“It’s Sunday. Let’s get you ready for church!” Iggy’s father said cheerfully. After he had helped Iggy get dressed, Iggy’s dad made a nice breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast and fruit salad for the two of them. The tasty breakfast helped and Iggy was beginning to feel better. His mood began to improve, but he was still tired.

In church, Iggy found that his eyes began to close from weariness. Iggy tried to fight it, but he was very sleepy. Looking up, he saw his dad looking at him crossly as if to say, “Iggy! No sleeping in church!”

Iggy knew better and he felt very bad about not giving his full attention to the mass. He was just so tired he couldn’t help it.

After mass, Iggy’s father helped Iggy into the van and then said, “What’s all this business of falling asleep during the service?”

“I’m sorry dad,” Iggy sighed, “I’m sleepy.”

“I understand Iggy, but it’s very disrespectful to sleep in church.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” Iggy’s dad asked. “Maybe we should take you in for a check-up tomorrow. I don’t want you to come down with something.”

“No, no dad. I’m okay.”

“Well, why don’t you close some eyes and rest on the drive home?” Iggy’s father suggested.

Iggy did just that and fell right to sleep in the van. When Iggy woke up, he was in his room, on his own bed. It was still daylight. Iggy looked around and saw his father sitting in the blue armchair in the corner.

“Hello sleepy head,” Iggy’s dad smiled. “Feel better?”

“I do, a little.” Iggy smiled.

“Good. It’s dinnertime and then, I think you should go back to bed and get a full night’s sleep tonight. You know, your sleep is very important.”

“I know. But, maybe we can stay up and watch a movie.” Iggy said quickly.

“No, you’ve got school tomorrow. I think you should turn in early and be rested up for tomorrow.”

“Ummmm…but, I like sleeping during the day better.” Iggy answered, blushing.

“What? Why, Ig?”

“I don’t know. It’s fun.” Iggy answered.

“But, it’s easier to sleep in the dark,” Iggy’s dad chuckled.

Iggy said nothing.

“Isn’t it?” Iggy’s dad asked, beginning to look concerned.

“I guess,” Iggy answered softly.

“Are you afraid of the dark, Iggy?” Iggy’s father asked.

Iggy wondered how his dad knew. Iggy nodded, and added, “Not so much the dark as what’s in the dark that I can’t see.”

“Oh,” Iggy’s father answered.

“You’re ashamed of me, aren’t you?” Iggy asked.

“No…why?”

“Because I’m a chicken,” Iggy said quietly.

“You’re not a chicken. You’re very brave. Iggy, even the bravest of people have things they’re afraid of.”

Iggy looked puzzled. “Really?”

“Yes. You know what makes them brave?”

Iggy shook his head.

“The bravest thing in the world is to admit when you’re scared. Only a coward won’t admit when he’s scared.”

“Oh! I never thought of it like that!” Iggy smiled.

“You see! And as far as being afraid at night, that’s all right, too. But, let me tell you, there’s nothing for you to worry about. You’re very safe here with me in this house.”

“But, there were noises and weird shadows!”

“I see, but that’s just the way nighttime looks. And you know something? You don’t have to be afraid of the darkness. God made darkness, too. Darkness is beautiful in its own way. Besides, if we didn’t have dark, how would we know when it was sunny out?” Iggy’s dad said gently.

Iggy laughed. “That’s true.”

“Is that why you didn’t sleep last night?” Iggy’s father asked.

“Yes,” Iggy answered softly.

“Why didn’t you call for me? Because you were embarrassed?”

“I guess.”

“You know better now, right?”

“Yes I do, dad.”

“You can always tell me anything, Iggy. We’re here to help each other, you know. We can get through anything—even the scary things we don’t know anything about yet.” Iggy’s father said with a smile. “Now, how about some dinner?”

“Dinner would be great! I’m hungry!” Iggy answered.

“And, then, early to bed?”

“Yes sir!”

Iggy did go to bed early that night. And, he did get a little scared of the funny shadows, but he called his dad, who reminded Iggy that everything was all right. After that, Iggy became less and less scared of the unknown things in the darkness and the only times he ever didn’t get a lot of sleep were when his dad let him stay up late to watch a movie.