In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Phobia, Shmobia.”
Fears evolve over time. What is one fear you’ve conquered?
During the holiday season, at the age of five. I watched the “Wizard of Oz” movie and after viewing the wicked witch and those flying monkeys. I was terrified of going into the basement of my home for most of my childhood.
My brother, who is five years older, contributed to my fear. He reinforced the belief, the flying monkeys from the “Wizard of Oz” lurked in the basement of our home when the lights were on.
When I was ten years of age, my sister who is two years younger, watched the same movie with me during the holiday season.
However, my mother caught me teasing my sister similar to how my brother teased me years earlier. After some stern disciplining, she explained to my sister and me, how we should never be afraid of the dark and we should be cautious of what’s in the dark, but never afraid.
After the disciplining and talk, I overcame my “Phobia, Shmobia” fear of being in the basement with the lights on.
Later that evening I went into the basement with the lights’ on and my brother jumped from behind a wall with his arms raising and lowering like the flying monkeys.
I screamed at the top of lungs, peed my pants, ran up the stairs to the second level, and found my mother.
After that, my brother developed a phobia of scaring me.