Writer's Workshop: Why You Can Never Pray Too Much

I'm joining in on Mama Kat's Writing Workshop, but before you read that: will you please vote for me to win a trip to Kenya to volunteer with clean water efforts?! I'm at a pitiful 30 votes and the leader is at 1400 something. Each vote provides water for a day, so vote everyday. Vote here
Go ahead...I'll wait... You did it?! Thank you!! It means so much to me! Now on to Writer's Workshop!

Today's prompt from Mama Kat? Things you oddly obsessed about as a child.

Odd doesn't even begin to describe my childhood obsessions!

I was raised Catholic, and at a very young age I saw The Exorcist. (poor parental decision, maybe?) Do you see where this is heading?!

So, I saw the Exorcist, and I was convinced, that I too, would be possessed. I just knew that if I didn't pray enough I would be spitting pea soup everywhere and speaking in scary voices! And I hate pea soup! So, I wasn't about to let that happen!

Every night, I tucked myself into bed, with all my stuffed animals surrounding me. Literally, they surrounded me! 360 degrees, from head to toe, with Papa Smurf in one hand, and Peepers in the other (the gerbil/mouse thing with huge eyes.) If I forgot an animal I felt guilty and had to get it, but I couldn't touch the floor because the monster under the bed would get me, so I kept a yard stick near the bed. I would grab it, and crawl to the edge of the bed and stretch out to turn on the light, (this got easier when we moved to the trailer...it had a much smaller room.)

With all animals now in bed, I once again got situated with all my animals to protect me, (they were like some kind of furry stuffed force field,) and I pulled my sheets up over my ears. (somewhere, I got the idea that witches would steal my ears?! I don't know!  I can't make this shit up! To this day I still pull my covers up all the way!)

Anyway, so I'm physically protected from the darkness in the room, Not THE Darkness: ♪ touching you, touching me I believe in a thing called love♪
the pitch black evil cover of Demons and monsters darkness! Now I must protect my soul! So over and over and over I repeat my prayers. "Now I lay me down to sleep, pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."

"WAIT! What?! No I don't want to die! Why am I praying about dieing?! Oh no! oh no! Forget I said that! don't take my soul oh my gosh oh my gosh! Change it change it!"

"Now I lay me down to sleep...Wake me with the morning light! Wake me! Did you hear that part?! WAKE ME!" (of course, God and I were old pals, and he heard every word of this internal conversation)

"Say your prayers, again, maybe it wasn't enough! Don't let the Demons in. Satan is always waiting, Now I lay me...Now I lay me..."

Of course, all this obsessing about demonic possession, never stopped me from sinning! It just made me pray harder...because... I was Catholic, remember... sin all you want, just ask for forgiveness...but, let your prayers slack and you'll lose your soul! (and have to eat Pea Soup)

♪ In the midnight hour, I can feel your power Just like a prayer, you know I'll take you there♪  (Madonna)