Facing Fears and Late night Talks: Regina and Henry

   
Henry slipped silently out of his bedroom and down the hallway of his home. He couldn’t sleep and the storm wasn’t making things any better.

    Ever since he can remember, Henry has been afraid of thunderstorms, to the point he hated them. When they were really bad he wouldn’t even be able to move. He would just freeze up and stay in place. His parents always said he would go to them if he was scared, but it was late and he didn’t want to bother them. He knew his dad had to be at the office early in the morning, and if he was woken up he would be in a grumpy mood for the rest of the day. Unlike him and his mom, his father was not much of a morning person.

    Henry froze when a very bad clap of thunder boomed close and he backed up into a wall. "Stop being such a baby and get moving, Henry!' He thought to himself. Maybe he should have woken up his parents.

    "Henry? What are you doing up sweetie? Can't sleep?" Henry sighed in relief when he heard his mother’s voice behind him.

     "I'm fine mom," Henry replied.

     "Come on, how about some hot cocoa?" His mom asked with a soft smile.

    "Sure, thanks mom." Henry said with a blush. He was eleven years old – he shouldn't need his mom to help him walk around in his own home during a thunderstorm! His mother slipped her arm around his and together they walked to the kitchen.

    Once they were inside, Regina began making the hot cocoa on the stove. She often said that hot cocoa tasted better made on the stove than in the microwave and Henry had to agree. Once the hot cocoa was beginning to heat up, he and his mom sat down at the table.

    "Are you okay, Henry? You didn't answer my question, would you like to sleep with us?" his mom asked softly, placing a hand on his.

   "I'm fine mom, really." Henry said, not looking at her.

    "Henry, I'm your mother. Don't you think I know when you're not fine?" his mom asked, still speaking in that soft voice of hers.

     Henry sighed. "It's just so frustrating. No one else my age is afraid of thunderstorms. Why do I have to be different?"

     His mom gave him a reassuring smile and squeezed his hand gently. "I know that it can be difficult, but Henry, everyone has something that they're afraid of and every time you face your fears you're becoming stronger." she said.

    "I know all that, it's just embarrassing when I'm at school or a friend's house and it's raining really badly," Henry said.

   

 "I know sweetie, I know. I'm sure that things will get better. I mean, you may not realize this, but you've come a long way since you were younger. When you were younger, you wouldn't even leave a room when it was storming really hard and now you do. I'm sure it'll pass as you get older." his mom said.

    "I just wish I wouldn't be afraid of thunderstorms at all." Henry muttered under his breath.

    "I know you do sweetheart, but you are making progress and I'm sure you won't even realize it's raining soon enough." his mom told him.

    "I hope so." Henry said.

    Regina got up to check the hot cocoa and made them both a cup. "After this I want you to go to bed, okay dear?" his mom said, handing him his cup of hot cocoa.

    Henry nodded and blew on his cup before taking a couple of sips.

   "Are you sure you don't want to sleep with us tonight, sweetie?" his mom asked.

    His mom's words from earlier popped into his head – "every time you face your fears, you're becoming stronger." She was right; he had to face his fears and he was sure that there were people out there that had faced worse fears than thunderstorms.

    "Thanks, but no thanks, mom. Like you said, I have to face my fears." Henry said.

   His mom gave him a smile and said, "Remember, dear, you don't have to face your fears alone."

   "I know, but I'll be fine, thanks." Henry said with a small smile of his own.

  He was a big boy and big boy were supposed to be brave, and that is exactly what he was going to be.